For some reason the pictures I posted on the original thread that I created are not showing up. I think a DIY thread is worthless without pics, so here's a revised thread.
Items needed to make a Monster Gravel Vacuum:
1.25" Sump Drain tubing (25 ft) from local hardware store ($10)
1.25" Threaded Ball valve from local hardware store ($6)
(2) 1.25" PVC Barbed Fittings from local hardware store ($1.50ea)
Hose clamps from local hardware store (2) ($.99ea)
Hard plastic Python tube (various sizes can be purched online) ($10)
Gatorade bottle (64oz or larger)
I used the tube from my original Python. I bored out the cap of the Python tube so that the 1.25" sump tubing could be glued into the python end cap. I screwed the PVC barbed fittings into the ball valve and attached the sump hose by tightening the hose clamps. I cut the bottom out of the gatorade bottle and attached it to the hard plastic python tube. The gatorade bottle, while ghetto, increases the area of gravel I am able to vacuum each time I set the tube down into the gravel.
Presto: Monster Sized Gravel Vacuum.
This thing cuts the amount of time it takes me to do a water change by about 75%. Definitely worthwhile if you have to vacuum a large area of substrate.
Items needed to make a Monster Gravel Vacuum:
1.25" Sump Drain tubing (25 ft) from local hardware store ($10)
1.25" Threaded Ball valve from local hardware store ($6)
(2) 1.25" PVC Barbed Fittings from local hardware store ($1.50ea)
Hose clamps from local hardware store (2) ($.99ea)
Hard plastic Python tube (various sizes can be purched online) ($10)
Gatorade bottle (64oz or larger)
I used the tube from my original Python. I bored out the cap of the Python tube so that the 1.25" sump tubing could be glued into the python end cap. I screwed the PVC barbed fittings into the ball valve and attached the sump hose by tightening the hose clamps. I cut the bottom out of the gatorade bottle and attached it to the hard plastic python tube. The gatorade bottle, while ghetto, increases the area of gravel I am able to vacuum each time I set the tube down into the gravel.
Presto: Monster Sized Gravel Vacuum.
This thing cuts the amount of time it takes me to do a water change by about 75%. Definitely worthwhile if you have to vacuum a large area of substrate.
