hi i am using http://www.petco.com/product/102258/JBJ-Instant-Siphon-Gravel-Cleaner.aspx that gravel vac. when i start it up it seems to just suck water seems like its not strong enough to suck up anything doesnt even move the rocks. am i doing something wrong?
gravel vac sucks....
- Thread starter GaryF
- Start date
what's the height difference between your tank and your (bucket/drain/...)? The greater the difference, the stronger the "vacuum" is.
It's not supposed to suck up you gravel and remove it but remove whatever crud that's between your gravel.
It's not supposed to suck up you gravel and remove it but remove whatever crud that's between your gravel.
You need to check the flow path through your vacuum. At a 5 ft difference, I would expect a gravel vac that touches the gravel to pick it up enough to stir it well even though it should not lift it out of the tank. I found a small snail stuck in my check valve recently and the flow had gone down to almost nothing. The check valve is located where the hose attaches to the rigid tube. I ended up poking it with a ball point pen to knock it loose.
Poke it down into the gravel a bit, then slowly drag it around (or lift, poke, repeat if there's stuff you don't want to push around).
I too would check to make sure there is nothing stuck in the smaller tube where it meets the actual vac. I had a wad of moss stuck in mine without realizing it and it was acting similar. Has the vac ever worked properly?
I have that vac too..works "ok",make sure the shut off valve is opened all the way.I have some trouble with mine,it sucks quite a bit of air through the twist connection on the vac end/to small tube no matter how tight I try to get it,and it does get junk stuck in the valves that that you have to work at to get out.The air thing I still haven't been able to fix,I think I'm just going to have to silicone it to seal it up,didn't want to that because then I cant take it apart
if you cant find something stuck in it i would look into a python. whats great about it it uses water from the hose to give you greater sucking power.
me too koter!
and as mgamer says. if you want the BEST gravel vac. You need to get a Python brand gravel vac. Walmart for 25.00? for 25ft!
But as earlier said.. I too would check for a plug, make sure the valve is all the way open.
p.s. NOOOO more buckets with the python!
and as mgamer says. if you want the BEST gravel vac. You need to get a Python brand gravel vac. Walmart for 25.00? for 25ft!
But as earlier said.. I too would check for a plug, make sure the valve is all the way open.
p.s. NOOOO more buckets with the python!