silly problem

[Benny2k1]

Hey all, i feel realli silly asking this but how do u get the Gravel cleaners/syphons to actually get the gravel to rise!!

we have the Interpet Manual Gravel cleaner

it says bounce it up and down 4 times to begin syphoning it doesnt suck any of the gravel up.

probably bein stupid, but me and my mother can not get to grips with it :$ any advice welcome

Thanks

[frizzlefish]

I would think that it would be the size of your gravel that's causing the problem. If you have the huge river rock size it won't go up into the tube.

[Benny2k1]

its really small gravel!

http://www.geocities.com/benbeacroft/DSC00056.JPG

[frizzlefish]

Then I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be going up into the tube a bit? Do you put it right down onto the surface of the gravel?

[cocoa_pleco]

...........


You just suck the end of the tube to get the water siphon effect started, then you just swish the gravel. I cant see why it didnt work for you

[Benny2k1]

yes on the surface

[frizzlefish]

So, is the water coming out of the end that isn't in the tank?

[Benny2k1]

yeh little dribbles of water just no gravel!!!

[cocoa_pleco]

It's not supposed to dribble, its supposed to kind of gush. what's the diameter of the siphon?

[Benny2k1]

cocoa_pleco you are a legend! i sucked the end and got it working thank u soo soo much!!


Thanks to every 1 trying to help, wish the instructions had said "suck on the tube" lol, got alot of rubbish out the gravel

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, that wasnt too hard.


You also can get a attachment so you dont have to suck on it

[cocoa_pleco]

and the reason you have to suck is to get the air out. once all the air is out, the water fills the space in the siphon and gets brought down in the tube due to gravity.

[Benny2k1]

lol me and my mum feel slightly embarrased its taken us ages to work it

we were reading the instructions.....

put tube on gravel syphoner
place in tank,
bounce up and down and wait for gravel to rise

nothing about sucking hehe

anyway thanks again!!! no wonder i failed science/common sence

[Rue]

...I always suck to start the siphon, but you don't have to...if you fill the entire syphon with water from the tank...and hold the end closed with your finger while you put it in the bucket, it should also work...

...make sure the bucket is lower than the tank...

[Froglips]

No way in heck will I suck tank water! I usually just fill the siphon from the sink, and make sure both ends are closed until I get one lowered into the bucket. That way I can go gently around my plantings and decorations, without having to fit the whole long tube in the tank.

I had also seen the advertisement for that siphon that supposedly works if you pump it up and down a few times. Didn't buy one, I couldn't figure out any logical reason why it would work. Glad now that I just got a regular one.

[YaYgoldFish]

I just use a gravel vaccuum, its cheap and probably one of the best things ive used..no sucking needed :)

[cocoa_pleco]

i use a python now

[YaYgoldFish]

I would too but i don't have a water source in my basement , plus i dont want to spend my money on that really..