Monster size gravel vac

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
heres my diy gravel vacs
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85232
2nd page has my 2 footer
i use it to suck out the poop and stuff off the bottom into buckets.
then dump buckets in the toilet,its only a few.
then i use a python to suck out water for the waterchanges.

smaller diameter tubes suck better.
when your trying to suck 2 feet up its tuff.
i think bigger diameter tube might suck more water but has less suction.
my diy vacs work better then my python does because the tube is smaller then the python. "tube not hose"
bigger hose does help but not much for getting poop to go 2 feet up.
i might be a bit off but i think im close lol
 
ken 429;1528475; said:
what brand,type of glue are you using and of course pics please
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Embarassed to say that I used Amazing Goop- Plumbing (yes, I know I should have read the label, but you live and learn). But...I read that a user on here has used it in his tanks for 4+ years without problems.

Nate77;1528698; said:
Hook some hoses up to this.
Click to expand...

That's a little more aggressive than what I had in mind, but thanks.

calamari;1530182; said:
Just cut the bottom off of a 5 gallon plastic water jug and attch a 2'' hose to the top!:grinno:
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Using such a large "tube" (a 5 gallon water drum) I wouldn't think that there'd be enought lift/suction to actually pull the large crap out of the gravel, but I might be wrong. Maybe if you hooked your vac up to Nate77's pump, you might be onto something :headbang2


midnight;1531711; said:
heres my diy gravel vacs
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85232
2nd page has my 2 footer
i use it to suck out the poop and stuff off the bottom into buckets.
then dump buckets in the toilet,its only a few.
then i use a python to suck out water for the waterchanges.

smaller diameter tubes suck better.
when your trying to suck 2 feet up its tuff.
i think bigger diameter tube might suck more water but has less suction.
my diy vacs work better then my python does because the tube is smaller then the python. "tube not hose"
bigger hose does help but not much for getting poop to go 2 feet up.
i might be a bit off but i think im close lol
Click to expand...

Thanks Midnight. Your vacs look nice. Mine definitely does not look as clean as yours. I'll try to post some pix later.

I would think that having a larger hose would really increase the suction in the tube. I'm still using the python 20" long tube that is 1 3/4" in diameter, but I'm using a 32 ounce gatorade bottle cut in half at the end of the tube to be able to vacuum a larger surface area. Not sure how well it's going to work...i'm still waiting on the goop to fully cure. I'll probably give it a test drive this weekend.
 
I used my gravel vac for the first time and it worked perfectly. I cut down on the time that it takes me to vacuum my gravel by at least 1/2. I think if I use a 64 ounce Gatorade bottle at the end of the python tube it will work even better. This thing generates some serious flow. Below are some pix. You can see the standard 5/8" tubing of the Python on the left side for scale.



 
midnight;1545563; said:
nice
that huge hose is why you have good suction tho not your invention on the end.lol
i dont think the end would work good with the standard size hose.
good job tho on that.that thing must drain fast.lol
Click to expand...

Thanks for the props Midnight. I know it's the larger hose that gives me the increased flow. What I meant is that by expanding the width at the end (by using a 64 ounce gatorade bottle cut in half) would make it so that I'm vacuuming a larger area of the gravel bed; I wasn't referring to the flow, but the actual surface area that I'd be cleaning every time I place the thing into the gravel.

My next task is attaching a ball valve, so that I can stop/decrease the flow whenever I want without having to prime the siphon every time I stop to move to a different area of the tank (my tank has four openings/access points and whenever I want to move to a different quadrant, I have to pull the tube out, which means I have to prime the siphon again to start on a new area of the gravel). In regards to the flow, I think it actually drains my tank too quickly. The ball valve would let me control that and help me keep the thing primed as I move to different areas of the tank.

All in all, I think the time I'll save was well worth the time and $ I put into building the monster vac.
 
What about using a clear "whale bone" glass. You know the plastic glasses that are sometimes 36" tall. You can get them at a party suppy or restraunt supply store for a buck.
 
LextacySC;1545622; said:
What about using a clear "whale bone" glass. You know the plastic glasses that are sometimes 36" tall. You can get them at a party suppy or restraunt supply store for a buck.
Click to expand...

I haven't been able to find what you're talking about. I've done some google searches on "Whale bone glass" and I've looked at a couple party and restaraunt supply stores with no luck.

Tap Plastics sells some tubes that are pretty large (up to 6" diameter), but they are expensive at $75 for 6'. If you could give me a link to where they are sold I would appreciate it.

Thanks.
 
I think its called a yard glass

The ones I got were around 30-36 inches and diameter of 3.5 inches for the long narrow center

Didn't realize how many nasty things would come up when I googled "novelty glass":ROFL:
 
fire truck?? ha ha water change on my lake anyone?
 
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