The Aquarium Cleaning Machine

[Star_Rider]

I just recently joined this forum after reading this thread while surfing the internet for "aquarium cleaning".

I was rather taken aback by the answers to this question as it is obvious that knowone really has used this machine nor bothered to research what some aquarium professionals think of it either (sorry to sound insulting, however I am really bugged by anecdotal information).
This machine is popular with aquarium service professionals (which is how I found out about it) where products that do not work are quickly discarded.
With this machine you can change out only 25% of the water (so a to not cause osmotic shock due to large water changes) and the CONTINUE to vacuum the tanks removing as much organic mulm form the tank as possible that otherwise lead to high DOC and poor Redox. This mulm is removed simply by cleaning the micron filter when finished (unlike a standard filter that is run continuously).
Also, as to the micron cartridge, I have rinsed these over 25 times in a bleach/water solution and then reused the cartridges (which keeps this end of the operation relatively inexpensive.
Considering I have built my own Python style gravel vacuums for my aquarium maintenance business long before these overpriced Pythons became popular, I can state emphatically that these Cleaning Machine go well beyond the Pythons in what they can do (realistically comparing the tow is like apples to oranges)

For a small FW aquarium I would say save your money, however for a tank over 60 gallons or for multiple aquariums or especially for marine aquariums these machines really pay for themselves.

have you used it?

I am curious as to how well it works.

 

[Plecosterone]

I dont see anything it does that a Python wont do.....other than eat your wallet up buying new filters everytime you use it

It "MAY" work better than a python, but as stated at a much heavier cost. Cleaning a tank is part of owning one. If all I did was look at my tanks I would get bored real fast. It is also another reason I use sand. I don't have to get into it like gravel.

 

[cstrohmeyer]

Yes I have used one (I currently own one) and even though I have recently sold my aquarium maintenance business, many of my colleagues use machines and really like them.

Once you get used to it is great.
I (and others) have also used it to "reverse pump" water from "mineralized" RO tanks for discus and saltwater mixing containers.

What is nice about this is that I can continue to vacuum after the desired water amount is removed (I attach a garden hose and exhaust the waste to a toilet or out the door); this is done with the polishing micron filter.

As to comparisons to the Python, the average Python set costs about $60 (although as I stated earlier I made my own using Lees Gravel Vacs and sink pumps and adapters for under $25), I think for the extra $100 this is worth it as this cleaning device does not waste all the water a Python or similar does plus it simply does a better job. However I guess it all comes down to what is more important to ones budget and aquarium accessories within ones means, but since I have maintained fish worth nearly as much as this machine (some Discus, Marine Angels, etc.) it is worth the investment to me to keep a healthier tank (lower DOC, improved Redox, etc.)

 

[IceH2O]

I think what he is trying to say is that its just like the python except when you remove the amount of water you want for a water change you then can flip a switch that lets you then continue to clean the gravel without losing anymore water.

The water that would come out of the tank while cleaning the rest of the gravel would instead be recycled and cleaned and put back into the tank. Its just a way to clean all your gravel without dumping all your old water and replacing it with new water.

In other words if you change out 50% of your water during changes and it took 75% of your tank water to be removed in the time it took to clean all your gravel you could now do it and only remove 50% of the water and the other 25% would be the original water just cleaned and polished. Then you'd just add back the 50% you would normally change.

 

[mozart]

I see now. I glanced at the slideshow and the ad earlier and that wasn't very clear. Welcome to AC cstrohmeyer, and thank you fo the insight. Many will appreciate your experience!

 

[chilligirl]

My lfs uses one of these, and it works like a hot ****. They still do water changes weekly on the tank, but, with their tanks stocked as heavily as they are, this really helps keep them clean in between changes. I've watched them use it. They wheel it out, stick the two ends in, stir the heck out of the gravel, and walk away. Come back a few minutes later, and move it over to the next tank.

I don't think it would be worthwhile unless you had a very large heavily stocked tank, or multiple tanks (like 10 or more).

 

[Sploke]

So when I set up my drip system, I don't have to worry about water changes...and I would basically get the same result from attaching a gravel vac onto a canister filter like an XP2 stuffed with filter floss?

 

[The Zigman]

I think the idea here is that you can vacuum your substrate without losing 75% of your water. I have lost more than half of the water from my tiny little 10 gal just by vacumming the gravel. The idea is you could vac till you are satisfied with the results, and not have to change more water than you want to. I thought about doing this by plumbing a valve and hose barb into my FX5 that I could connect a gravel vac to. then do water changes as a seperate task altogether. Sounds like a good idea to me, but I think I could build one with a pump, and a sediment Omni filter from Menards or Home Depot, and save a buncha cash..

 

[cstrohmeyer]

I see now. I glanced at the slideshow and the ad earlier and that wasn't very clear. Welcome to AC cstrohmeyer, and thank you fo the insight. Many will appreciate your experience!

Thank you for your nice welcome!

So when I set up my drip system, I don't have to worry about water changes...and I would basically get the same result from attaching a gravel vac onto a canister filter like an XP2 stuffed with filter floss?

I have tried similar applications, however these filters have more "flow by" and floss does not have the same polishing effect as filter floss.
You would acheive more similar results with something like a Lifeguard Micron system or Ocean Clear Micron filter conected to a gravel vacuum.

This device still does not replace the need for a water change, it just makes it much more efficient, especially for larger, multiple, or high bio load tanks.
For a single 20 gallon tank with a few fish it would take more time just to set it up, but when when larger tanks or high bio load tanks are involved this saves time as well.

 

[Star_Rider]

I actually think it may be a good idea.

I wish I could see on in action.

I gather that it treats tap water prior to adding into the tank? eliminating the need for prime(or other conditioner) ?


I like many here have several tanks my smallest is 29 largest is 110 marine/reef.