I am going to be using a gravel vacum for my 2.65 gallon tank?

Question

Its for my betta and i am getitng this gravel vacuum (the smallest size)http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752298&keepsr=0 and i want to know how to use it like some people say you suck on an end and some people say you shake it but WHAT DO YOU DO???

Answer 1

personally

1.i hold my thumb over the tubing end

2. i fill the whole thing with water

3. i quickly dunk the wide end into the tank

4. and release my thumb making sure the other end goes into a bucket

like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_440OaQ...

Answer 2

Honestly, siphoning a 2.5 gallon tank is not worth the trouble. It will suck out all the water before you even get done cleaning the gravel! It would take you less time to just change the water. Believe me, I have three 2 gallon betta tanks and one 5 gallon betta tank. It's only really worth it for the 5 gallon.

Answer 3

If you suck the end you can get fish water in you mouth

ewwwwwww :(

Answer 4

I have one of these. It's self starting so you just shake it up and down until the water starts flowing. It takes a little practice, but it's a lot better than getting a mouthful of dirty water.

edit: Why the thumbs down? I own the exact same siphon she's talking about. I know how it works.

Answer 5

This is what I use to start a siphon: http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/...

It's very easy, and you don't risk getting a mouthful of tank water.

E-mail me for any questions!

Answer 6

First get a 10 gallon tank!!! Anything smaller will be a maintenance nightmare.Unstable water conditions are very stressful on fish and they will not live long or be happy.

As a general rule it is better to learn about a pet and caring for it before you get it.

Good Luck

Answer 7

I just looked up 'gravel vacuum' on YouTube and this is what came up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGU-IQk_x...

It looks to be pretty accurate. It isn't how I get my gravel vacuum to start [I don't suck on the end, either] but this one seemed the closest of being able to help you.

Answer 8

Just some advice, I used to have a small 5 gallon tank and starting a ciphon with such a small tank is a very hard task. You may need to just put the fish in a fish bowl with treated water and pour out the aquarium water, filter the gravel, and treat new water for the aquarium. That's what I do with my mom's 2 gallon tank for her beta. You have to be able to rock the ciphon back and forth in the water to create the suction.