Lee's6-Inch Slim Jr. Ultra Gravel Vacuum Cleaner, Self-Start

I've been using this gravel vac for about two years and it is still going strong. The flow is slower than larger gravel vacs, giving you much more time to sweep through the substrate in smaller tanks before you remove too much water. The downside to this is that this gravel vacuum is rather weak, so larger particles (especially uneaten algae crumbles, in my experience) won't get sucked up all the way.I'd definitely recommend this product. Keep its limitations in mind before you buy, though. For tanks around 10G or larger, I might consider choosing a larger one.

I used to clean my 3 gallon bowl with a turkey baster but it took forever to sift through all the gravel and remove 25% of the water. I did not know they made gravel vacuums this small but I was so pleased to find this! It now takes me about 15 minutes to do a weekly water change. It is the perfect size for 2-5 gallon aquariums, if you have anything above 5 gallon I strongly recommend you buy a larger vacuum as the nozzle on this is very small and it would take a long time to vacuum.A few tips:The instructions are very clear however I had a hard time the first time I used this. First off unless your arms are a mile long you need to cut the tubing shorter. I have my fish bowl on my desk and a 2 gallon bucket on a stool on the floor. I measured from the tube in the water to the entrance of the bucket (the bucket must be lower than the aquarium) and cut it there. This minimized the kinks in the cord and allows me to put my finger over the end of the tube.Before using I recommend you run hot water through this for several minutes. This cleans it and helps remove the kinks.The way to self start the vacuum (as it says in the instructions) you should pump the end up and down rapidly to get the water flowing then you MUST keep up the rhythm, do not stop or pull the siphon out of the water unless you are finished because if you stop it is very hard to start it up again. Move it up and down along the gravel to lift the waste out and if you want to slow the water suction while vacuuming simply put your finger over the end of the tube and the release.After you finish I recommend you thoroughly rinse it out with hot water and occasionally put a small amount of vinegar in it and hold my finger over the end of the tube and allow hot water to run through and clean it before removing my finger and flush out all the vinegar. This help to thoroughly clean it.Overall a great product for small aquariums that makes water changes much faster and much easier.

It took me a while to get the hang of using this gravel vacuum. It is described as self start but I was unsure of the motion I was supposed to use. The way I personally got it to work (there may be a better way) is to move it up and down through the surface of the water. Once I get to start it has good consistent flow. I have a 10 gallon tank and it does not empty too fast; I have enough time to clean the gravel before too much water is emptied out of the tank. So far I have not had any problems with it sucking up the gravel. I was afraid my betta fish would get sucked up into because the opening is big enough but he stays very far away from it (also even if he did he wouldn't get very far but it could hurt it). My one complaint is that it does not come with something to keeps the end in the bucket. It is manageable.Pros: easy to learn how to use, good priceCons: no way to fix it to the bucket*I have a 10 gallon tank with gravel, a filter, no live plants an one betta fish

Once you figure out how to get the suction going, it works really well. I have a 3 gal planted betta tank so this size is actually perfect for me. You hold the hard hose piece submerged under the water and kind “jerk it” back and forth lengthwise for a lack of better description, and it starts siphoning up the tygon hose on line. Once it makes it past the high point in the bend, it’ll flow by itself. Took me a few tries as none of the descriptions were easy to visualize... but that’s how I would describe it.

We got this because the one we had was too big for any of our aquariums 10 gallons and under (there are 5 of them). This fits even in our 3 gallon and is slow enough you can properly get out all the gunk. :) I especially love it for our 10 gallon because the snails poop a LOT and I have to take my time to get everything out.I've seen a few reviews that talked about how it's hard to start. Please don't suck on the end and get fish water in your mouth! People have been sent to the hospital for serious illness doing that! Just put the end in your bucket to catch the water, then lower the vacuum tube down into the water facing upward. Let the tube fill, slowly lift it up, wait until it starts to drain, then quickly lower it back under the water (still facing upward) before it has time to drain all the way. Then the suction will start and you can vacuum as normal. :)

I haven't had to buy a new aquarium hose in many years. I was very into aquariums about 10-15 years ago, but fell out if it during college and the after college years. I was used to getting them started in a bit more yucky way. (Or by filling it all up with water to get the suction started). These are pretty cool. If your aquarium is very full this bob-up-and-down start can get the water sloshing a bit, so maybe skim a bit of water off the top. This is a perfect size for my 3-4 gallon planted betta vase. The hose is very long, much longer than I need, but its always better to have extra hose rather than not enough. There is no downside to having extra hose, at least in my experience. The hose is flexible enough I just wind it at the bottom of the waste bucket.

Julio 2017Excelente producto,1 sifones el acuario sin llevarse la arena2 al ser pequeño cabe en cualquier esquina3 es muy fácil de iniciar el SifónSin dudas lo volvería a comprar actualizare si llegara a pasar algo malo con el

Un sifon que cumple su función. Los peces no se quedan atorados si por algo se introducen dentro, por el precio es ideal para cualquier acuario mediano a pequeño.

Buen producto

Cumple con su función para aspirar la pequeña pecera que tengo sin problemas y sin invadir a mi mascota

Es muy practico para peceras pequeñas. Me gusto el artículo