Eheim Automatic Gravel Cleaner - Should I buy it ?

[nagukush]

Hi Friends,

Hope all is well and great !

I've been planning and saving money to buy the Eheim Automatic Gravel Cleaner for a long time now and I think I can buy it now. Just wanted to request you Friends, to kindly guide me if its good and really worth the Cost. Its about 4000 in my currency but if its good, then it can really help me to keep my Fronts healthier and happier

My main concern is that my Black Gravel (Which are very-very tiny chippings of a black colored rock) are about 0.5mm in size and the manual of the Eheim Auto Gravel Cleaner states the following -

"Aquarium gravel not coarser than ø 2 mm. Not suitable for cleaning sandy
bottoms"

Kindly guide me on what ø means? Will the Auto Gravel cleaner be suitable and good for my tank ? Also if some gravel is sucked up by the cleaner will it break / damage the Impeller ?

Kindly guide me if I should buy it or not.
Thanks a lot !
Regards and Care to all
Kush

 

[LuciferSam]

Why not just get a siphon?

In my opinion it is not worth the cost.

 

[customdrum]

that cleaner seems really expensive, you can get a python gravel cleaner cheaper

 

[deondrec]

dont do it. i bought it for a 20 gallon long with ada in it. I was alot happier when i traded it for a Python.

 

[JoeLaX28]

I'm pretty sure that symbol is for diameter. But if your substrate is smaller than recommended, I wouldn't buy it.

 

[Riiz]

I would rather just use a normal syphon-vac and change some water at the same time, cant beat waterchanges.

 

[nagukush]

Hi Friends !

Thanks a lot for all the replies and for caring. I have decided not to buy it. I do my Water Changes regularly but I wanted something to clean the Gravel of Solid Wastes. We dont get the Python here in India and the only choice was the Eheim. Anyways, I guess its not worth such a huge investment...

Thanks again for kindly guiding me Friends - Really grateful to you all !
Have a Wonderful Day and Keep smiling
Regards and Care
Kush

 

[SMinNC]

I found this available here in the U.S. Maybe just a different name?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3895

If thats the same thing your talking about. You could get a H.O.T Magnum for less. And have something with alot of different uses/capabilities.

But then again, with the limited supplies for you, its probably not available.
But just in case. This > > > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3895

 

[coach_z]

I agree. Do not get this unit.

If you cannot find any gravel vacuums in your country/area. Then go and find 10 feet (3.04 meters) of 1/2" (1.27 cm) ID (internal diameter) tubing, a 1 foot (30.48 cm) of 1" (2.54 cm) pvc pipe of sort and adapter to fit it all together. Use it to create a siphon that drains into a bucket and hover it above your substrate(gravel) to clean all the stuff off of it.

good luck!

 

[Squawkbert]

Depends on your currency - is your currency valued closer to Pesos or Euros?