10 Best Vacuums for Aquarium

10 Best Vacuums for Aquarium

Buying Guide: What to Look for When Buying the Best Vacuum for Aquariums

What is an Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner?
Just as the name suggests, this cleaner is a tool used to clean aquarium tanks to provide a cleaner and healthier environment for your aquarium fishes. The cleaner is made from a plastic siphon and then fastened to a long tube.
When properly installed, the vacuum for aquariums will extract any debris from your aquarium tank.

Types of Aquarium Vacuum Cleaners
There are two kinds of vacuum cleaners for aquarium tanks available in the marketplace: electric gravel cleaner and manual gravel cleaners.
Electric Gravel Cleaners
Electric gravel cleaners use batteries to run and are mostly 2-in-1 versions. 2-in-1 version means that they have both a cleaner and filter. Electric versions are used to clean smaller aquarium tanks.
When it comes to installation, all you need to do is position the cleaner upright, and it will instantly start sucking up the wastes and debris from your tank water.
The downside of the electric aquarium vacuum cleaners is that they are expensive and users have a hard time finding replacement parts for them. Moreover, they are a little noisy when in operation due to the vibration of the motor. This might scare your fish and other aquarium animals.
Manual Gravel Cleaner
The manual gravel cleaner comes with a standard and clear tube attached to the siphon. When compared to electric gravel cleaners, they are cheaper and easy to use. Moreover, the replacement parts are readily available in the market and stores. When it comes to its installation, however, some users might find it a bit tricky because it requires an effort to get around the process.
When using it to clean an aquarium, ensure the hose is upright in position and that you have a bucket to drain the water. For proper and seamless operation, place the bucket at a level lower than that of the aquarium tank.

Why you need a Gravel Vacuum or Siphon?
Do you have an aquarium in your house but don't know how to clean it? Having the best aquarium cleaner will help you keep your aquarium clean and healthy for your fish. Moreover, you will have an easy time changing the water regularly.
Clean fish waste and uneaten food
The food you put in your aquarium for fish eventually settles at the bottom as fish waste or uneaten food particles. This waste will make your aquarium dirty and unsafe for your fishes over time. As such, cleaning regularly and changing water is necessary for the fishes' survival.
Having the specialized cleaner will make the whole process of cleaning the dirty water in your aquarium easy and safe for your fishes.
Make Water Changes Faster and Easier
Aquarium vacuum cleaners come with a siphon to help change your aquarium water easily without disturbing the peace of your fish.
Traditionally, you would have to make several trips to your tap to fetch water to fill the tank by pouring it. However, the cleaner lessens and streamlines the refilling process, thus saving you time and the likelihood of mixing dirt and clean water in your aquarium tank.

What to Look for When Buying the Best Vacuum for Aquarium

An aquarium vacuum is a valuable addition to your aquarium. Having the best one will ensure you keep your aquarium tank clean and healthy always. Freshwater for fish is like having fresh air for us.

However, with the many models in the market ( amazon), how do you buy the best aquarium cleaner for your tank? Fluval, Nicrew & Sungrow also make decent cleaners but they did not make it to the top 10 in our review. Well, let's look at the things you can consider to buy the best vacuum for aquarium.

Size of your Fish Tank

Keeping in mind the size of your aquarium tank is important, since cleaners are designed to clean various sizes of tanks. So, having a small vacuum cleaner for a large tank only means that the cleaning process is going to be sub-standard while having a large vacuum cleaner for a smaller aquarium tank will only endanger the fishes in the tank. As such, make sure the cleaner you buy is proportionate to the size of your aquarium tank.

Substrate or Gravel Size

Substrate size or fish tank gravel size refer to the same thing. Vacuum cleaners for aquarium gravel are meant for tanks filled with gravel. Food particles and fish waste often settle within the gravels. But if your tank's bottom is filled with sand, vacuum gravel cleaner is not recommended. As such, consider buying a cleaner that is designed for cleaning the substrate material ( like sand) in your tank.

Aquarium Inhabitants

Before you buy your aquarium cleaner, consider the size of aquarium inhabitants. If you have small-sized fishes, consider purchasing a cleaner with a small-sized nozzle. This way, you will prevent the little fishes from being sucked up the tube during cleaning.

Moreover, you could buy vacuum cleaners for aquarium that come with safety features. With it, you will ensure the safety of your small and sensitive fishes in your aquarium.

Hose Length

Regardless of the size of your aquarium tank, it is important to consider picking an aquarium's cleaner that comes with a longer hose. The long hose offers you the convenience to either drain or dispense water without a hassle or worrying about spillage.

How to Use Aquarium Vacuum Cleaners

Even without detailing the step-by-step process of how to use an aquarium cleaner, it is imperative to note that usage varies between models. As such, it is best to check the manual for usage instructions from the manufacturer on specific vacuuming techniques. It is also very helpful to use some other complementary tools like an aquarium glass cleaner or an algae scraper to further assist in the cleaning process.

Regardless, this short video offers you a quick guide on how to use your newly acquired cleaner for aquariums. However, ensure you have read the manufacturer's instructions if you want to learn how best to use the cleaner.

Conclusion

Using a vacuum for aquariums to clean your fish tanks is important if you want to maintain a healthy and hospitable environment for your fish or plants. Regular cleaning of your aquarium prevents the rising of ammonium levels, which might endanger the survival of fish in the tank.

Moreover, aquarium gravel cleaners make it easy for you to change water without creating a mess. Aquarium vacuum cleaners are made in different types and sizes so that you can find the best aquarium vacuum cleaner for your needs that is also within your budget.