I can't get my danged vacuum to work.

[rsanz]

I bought a Lee's Gravel Vac from the store, but I tried to use it yesterday with little success. How does it work? The packaging says inserit it into the water, move it "up and down" rapidly 5 or 6 times and it should automatically start syphoning. That did not work for me. Can anyone give me some simple step-by-step instructions so that I can get some use out of this equipment that I spent money on?

Thanks!

 

[RockabillyChick]

is it just a thin tube with a wider part on the end?

if so, then you have to suck on the thin tube end to get it started. i don't know why they put all these weird instructions on siphons. it may work for the person who developed the technique, but its very hard to translate to other people without showing them.

 

[Rallysman]

you can also submerge the whole thing (including the tube) to fill it with water, plug the end of the hose, keep the suction tube full of water, unplug the hose and let it flow!

 

[blkwdw13]

I suggest Rallys way you don't chance getting a mouthful of water but then again some people like that.

 

[D Bass]

I just use a vacuum to get the siphon started.

Just make sure you move it from the vacuum to your bucket in time

 

[Rbishop]

The up an down motion they detail isbecause of a check valve they have in the line I believe. On the downward shove, water will go up as the tube is shoved in to the water. As you pull back, the valve should shut and trap the water. A lot of work that just agitates the whole tank.

When I use my python, without the sink faucet venturi, I pick a spot about 2-2 1/2 feet down from the vac tube, pinch it off with a double fold of the tube. I take the vac tube, and with the end that is connected to the hose, push it down into the water, open end of vac tube up, and when it is below the surface, it fills with water. Then I raise the vac tube up high, and water flows down to the pinch point. Then I put the vac tube back in, same as before, let it fill, then point the open end down onto the gravel, then release the pinch point and you have flow.

If I was going to a bucket,, I would just start it with a suck on the tube, but my 75 foot hose is used to drain the tanks outside.

 

[DormDweller]

I couldn't get that up down thing to work either.I suck to get it started. I put one end in my fist and suck the hole in my hand to get it started. Gives a little more room before the water gets you your mouth and you don't have to put your mouth directly on the tube that your fish's poop is coming out of. Key to not getting water in your mouth is to watch where the water is in the tube. :thm:

 

[yourchoice]

Mine you have to let the wide part fill up before you start shaking it.

 

[yonsu]

It's really not a difficult concept, assuming your tank is off of the ground. Put the wide part in your tank and the other end in a bucket on the floor. Get the wide part to be completely filled with water, then do the up and down motion to get the water to enter the thin tube some. Once the water reaches the point at which the tube starts to fall down (and eventually into the bucket), the water falls and naturally creates a suction.

Don't suck one end.

 

[WrittenLyric]

you can also submerge the whole thing (including the tube) to fill it with water, plug the end of the hose, keep the suction tube full of water, unplug the hose and let it flow!

So simple, yet I never thought of it! I'll have to try this next water change. My vac sucks..not in the literal sense either. I always have to manually (err by mouth) start it and yeah, that's not so great.

Thank you Rally! :bowing: