Review on Aqueon Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Mini: Compact 5-Inch Cleaning Solution by Christine Sandoval

Good size siphon for my 5 gallon battle tank. Several reviews said it drained the tank too quickly or was difficult to start. Here's how I do it. So we all know that water flows down a slope, but in reality water flows up a siphon when the end of the pipe is below the top of the pipe and no water enters. You can hold your thumb on the bottom to stop and start the flow as needed. No need to suck water through the hose with your mouth if you simply fill it with water before placing it in the aquarium. With that in mind, prepare for siphoning by placing the bucket under the top of the fish. water in the tank. I put it on a chair next to the tank. The water will drain faster if the end of the siphon is lower. Once the bucket is ready and you've removed the container lid, fill the siphon with water by adding water to the large end. Keep your thumb mostly over the small end and lower it below the level of the big end. The water flows down and pushes the air out. Use your thumb over the narrow end to control the air/water and when the air runs out and the entire siphon is filled with water, close it completely with your finger. Hold your finger over the narrow end and lift the large, hard end of the siphon into the container. It's important not to let air in, so don't turn it upside down and put it in the tank, otherwise water will flow out and air will flow in. water and then turn it over once it is fully submerged in water. The point is to keep air out of the pipe. Otherwise you'll have to suck it with your mouth, and who knows what kind of bacteria is there? Hold your thumb over the thin end, place it in the bucket and drain to check the flow. Your thumb acts as a valve, releasing as much water as you want, as fast or as slowly as you want. Don't let the water run freely into the bucket, in a small tank you should focus on the dirtiest water and pick up the rest, releasing your finger only when you're actively sucking up the dirt. Gravel contains most of the organic material, so allow the flow to increase as you push the wide end into the gravel. If you hit a good spot, the brown dirt will climb up the chimney and then the gravel. Because the organic matter is lighter and rises before the gravel, you can prevent the gravel from clogging the pipe by plugging the end once brown water has flowed through. Once the flow stops, the gravel will fall down. This allows you to look for pockets of organic material that forms ammonia. However, be careful with plant roots!