What is an easy way to clean undergravel filters?

Answer 1

Answer:Here are some ways to clean an undergravel filter: For Bigger Tanks:Gravel Vacuum/Siphon-

Gravel vacuums are plastic hoses that have the ability to suck up debris of your fish tank. They will not work if your fish tank is on the floor.

Directions:

1. Get a bucket that can hold at least 1 gallon more water than what your tank has. Place it under the place where your tank is (below tank level).

2. Leaving one end of the vacuum in the bucket, submerge the other side into the tank. Gently move the vacuum up and down to get it started. Press it against the gravel, and it will start to suction up all of the debris. You will see all of the dirty water and stuff dribbling down into the bucket.

3. To stop the siphoning process, just tank the vacuum out of the tank.

4. Remove dirty water from bucket.

Another way with gravel vacuum/siphon:

Directions:

1. Get a gravel vacuum that can fit in the lift tube of your UGF.

2. Turn the UGF to its lowest level, or turn it off if you can't do this.

2. Unscrew the powerhead if your filter has one, or remove the airstone. Stick the gravel vacuum into the lift tube and try to get as far down as you can. Try to get under the gravel plate, but if you don't, that's fine.

3. Move the siphon up and down to get it working, and your tank is clean.

(If you tank is run by an airstone, it might get damaged when you do this. But the airstone will only cost you a couple dollars. It will be fine if you have a powerhead. :P)

For Smaller Tanks:Turkey Baster/Pipette:

You can buy a turkey baster and use it to clean out your small tank. For even smaller tanks, you could buy a pipette. Some tanks already come with pipettes. These devices are small pieces of plastics with a round shaped ending which you can squeeze and release to trap debris.

Directions:

1. Take your turkey baster or pipette and squeeze the top of it.

2. Insert it into your tank or bowl.

3. Release the top of the turkey baster or pipette slowly and start moving it around the gravel to suck up the debris.

4. When the pipette or turkey baster is full of water, just remove it from the tank and squeeze all of the water out. Then repeat until your tank is clean.

Don't clean out more than 1/4-1/3 of the water!!!Answer:You can get a device called a gravel filter vacuum at your fish/pet store. It's just a clear plastic 2" diameter tube with a plastic air hose on the end of it. What you do is get a 5 gallon bucket, then submerge the vacuum into the tank until the tube and hose area completely full of water. Put your finger on the end of the hose (or kink it) take the end out an put it in the bucket (make sure the bucket is lower than the tank level). Once you take your finger off or unkink the hose, the siphon effect will start the vacuum process. Then all you need to do is to use the tube to vacuum the detritus (big particles) from the gravel.

You need to be careful not to suck out any more than a 1/3 of the tank water or you could stress your fish.

While U/G filters are good, the work best when used in concert with a mechanical filter as well. You also need to use small sized, rough gravel stones or you won't get any beneficial bacteria growth in the gravel, which is what breaks down waste material. Stay away from smooth, painted, or large stone gravel as they won't work well with a gravel filter.