How to Properly Gravel Vacuum a Fish Tank (Detailed Version)
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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - How to start a gravel vacuum for a fish tank
1:59 - How to start a gravel vacuum the easy way
3:15 - Pinch your aquarium siphon hose
3:40 - How to properly gravel vacuum a fish tank
5:37 - How to remove a siphon from an aquarium
5:54 - How to gravel vacuum a low aquarium
8:13 - Fish poop and mulm is beneficial for aquarium plants
8:34 - How to gravel vacuum a planted tank
10:04 - Outro
#Aquarium #FishTank #AquariumMaintenance
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I’ve purchased the marina gravel cleaner doesnt seem to me picking the water up i don’t expect u to know what one but i cant find any videos of it being demonstrated
Id join a discord.... :)
I am shocked at the sheer amount of filth in your gravel,,,,,, that cant be optimal water for your fish to live in,,, the total amount of filth I would collect over 20 full vacuum cleanings of my 40 gallon tank with a dozen fish in it would not add up to one suction with your vacuum in your tank, gross.
Gv
that was probably the most educational video i've seen in a long time. How did I not know this until now?
@Keane Mahony That's not what he meant
I've just added an almost identical comment I cant believe I've been doing it the hard way for so long lol
I just said the same thing to my girl, been doing tanks for yrs and never thought to do that technique
I feel the exact same way!! I’ve watched hundreds of hours of aquarium videos over the years and I have two tanks (10, 75). This is even making me rethink my approach to substrates! Good stuff
Same here buddy😂😂
Pinching to allow the gravel to settle was a great PRO tip.
Can ubdo this with sand
@@Tonyinterviewz yes, you can see it done with sand later in the video
Kinda common sense really
I've been keeping fish & turtles for close to 40 years on and off, and never realized that I was vacuuming wrong until just now! What a GREATLY INFORMATIVE VIDEO!!! You are a genius Sir! Subscribed in the hopes that you give me some more gems like this in the future!
Just like everyone else, can’t believe I was doing wrong all these years!! Thank you so much
Finally someone explaining in detail how to use this thing, I’ve spent more than 1 hour looking for someone explaining how to use this, I did a mess in my aquarium trying different useless tutorials, but now I know how to use it, thank you so much you’re the best
Really
15 years, 15 bloody years vacuuming my aquarium and NOW you show me how to do it properly?!! Really the most educational aquarium video I've seen in ages, thank you Cory! 👍👍
Yes
I just realized I need wheels on my buckets. Lol
Hahahaha 35 years here and feeling the absolute same doh!!!!
Something so basic.
Tell me about it..! this is genius.!!
Cory, I’m an educator and this was a really great video. Great pacing and clear demonstration of process. I also appreciate showing multiple scenarios and how it can be different. The balance of reaching the hardcore audience and the newbies is very hard, I teach Freshman through Seniors in a single class, I get it. This content is invaluable as you continue to try to make the hobby better, more friendly, and educated. Well done!
What a meaningful and lovely comment. I agree, he is very good at this and provides a great value to the hobby and the hobbyists!
Cory is that rare combination of a fanatical hobbyist, a fantastic teacher, and a savvy businessman, which is what has led to his well deserved success. Add "excellent work ethic" to that list too, he works extremely hard as well!
Right!? Oration takes skill and this guy has that in spades. Can’t wait to catch some of his more in depth talks about advanced subjects.
I agree, thankyou for putting into words the effect of this great 👨🏫 educator
So simple & so helpful 🙂 Pinching the hose and allowing the gravel to settle is such a great tip! I have tiny nano tanks (1.5g & 3.5g). It can be very tricky to gravel vac thoroughly without pulling off too much water, especially when working on such small tanks. I'm sure this advice is going to help me tremendously. Awesome THANKS!
Almost 2 years into the hobby and I just now learned the proper way to vacuum my gravel. I tried this today with my water change and it worked so well! Thanks!!
Pinch is a pro tip, thanks
Did not expect to see you here at all, you should make a video on your tank :)
“And nobody likes poopy water on the floor”... Truer words have never been spoken! 🤣😂😄
Someone give this man a prize. Amazing video, simple, objective, informative. Really liked it thumbs up.
Omg. I'm really new to the hobby and have watched SO many videos about aquariums, aquascaping, etc. But THIS video, by far, has been the MOST useful! I can't even thank you enough! I can't wait to get home and try it out!! THANK YOU!!
Everybody else is just showing off how they know how to use a gravel vacuum. You actually taught me how from scratch, and every tip in these 10 minutes was valuable.
I can't get this right no matter what I do
@@maverickworld8192 took me some time to get a feel for it but finally did
Legit aye. Tiny ass video and I’ve learnt everything and it’s like the 3rd video I’ve watched. This man is the greatest
Not me shaking the gravel out instead of PINCHING THE TUBING I feel like such an idiot 🤣
Jody Jansa ... ha ha ha ha ha. Me too.
… 😶
Aww, don't beat yourself up Jody. An idiot is someone who sees a better way yet refuses to learn how to do it. I don't have a tank anymore but when I did it was all about shake Shake SHAKE🤦 If I tank again it will be all about *PINCH* 👌 just like you 😀
So glad I found your channel. Just stood up my very first planted tank not too long ago and have the exact same vacuum coming this weekend. My little 5-gallon project needs a good cleaning already and I'm so glad I know how to do it right!
I can't believe I've been water changing for 8 years and never thought to crimp the tube to help... Thank you SO MUCH! You are the best!!!!
I love vacuuming my tank. There's something so satisfying about seeing the water go from brown to clear
Hello. I wanted to ask a question 🙋♂️ and I really really need help. I have a 75 gallon tank and to be honest I don’t know what else to do with this tank. I personally think it’s curse or something. This the problem I have been having with this tank, ammonia spike like big time. All of my fish died like literally all of them. I than thought ok well I’ll do an 80 percent water change and than try again. Same result a second time. I put one fish dead 💀 as well. I than said ok maybe the gravel is holding the ammonia and I literally threw out the gravel and put a new one in and put in two new sponge filters and a 350 marine filter as well. The same result again happen. I have literally put everything in the tank water conditioner, stress coat, fluvial that battle s ammonia and brings it down. Just yeasterday I did a 100 percent change I literally rinsed the whole tank wipe it down and basically started it like a new tank. I have two heaters in there and the water temperature is at 78 . I don’t know what else to do . I really need help it’s the only tank I have problems with. I have a 125 and it’s fine and I have a 40 gallon Also fine and a 20 long also fine but this 75 one is no go.
@@anthonym6202 I would assume that the nitrogen cycle hasn’t settled properly. My understanding is that you shouldn’t try to change more than 40%, in extreme cases no higher than 60% at once. Also changing the gravel completely and cleaning your tank entirely clean with new sponge means you’ll have got start the cycle process, which takes weeks at least. Sound like not enough bacteria for the tank. I would recommend buying nitrifying bacteria bottles and check you water parameters of your WATER SOURCE. Whether using tap water with conditioner, or RO water, they still might contain ammonia level too high. And lastly to make sure you buy a good conditioner for your water, one that neutralizes ammonia and everything bad (cuz not all bottles eliminate ammonia). I hope it helps. Good luck. 👍
@@anthonym6202 you’re not letting the microorganisms that eat ammonia and nitrite grow. You’re making huge changes to the tank. I would never do an 80% water change, nor would I just throw out old gravel, nor would I completely switch around the filtration. Set the tank up, do weekly 20% water changes. Stop dumping chemicals into the water if you don’t know what they do.
@@jencycarranza4957 you’re making horrible recommendations to someone who doesn’t have the skill level to keep one tank alive. That bottled bacteria? It’s just food for the bacteria, largely those bacteria are dead and aren’t useful to anyone. It’s just snake oil. RO water? Do you even know what his water parameters are? If he has soft acidic water what good will that do? There’s too many ifs ands or butts. Keep it simple, you don’t have to be a chemist to enjoy fish.
@@anthonym6202 Pinch some media from your established tanks, and use that in your 'new' tank. Almost an instant cycle. I say almost, because you still have to grow the bacterial colonies to handle the bioload of the tank. Don't add any more fish yet. Make sure you have a good water testing kit - the liquid ones are the most accurate, dip strips are pretty useless, especially when establishing a cycle for the first time and accuracy is important. Don't touch or clean the filters for eight weeks - give the bacterial colonies time to grow and establish. If you already have fish in the tank, test daily. If ammonia or nitrites go above zero, water change until they're at zero. If nitrates go above 20ppm, do a smaller water change. Water changes aren't the problem here (so long as you use water conditioner and temperature match the new water to the tank temp), the beneficial bacteria don't live in the water, they live in the filter and on hard surfaces. The substrate, decor, plants, tank glass etc. You added too many fish, too soon, by the sounds of it. Or before your tank was cycled. Then ammonia spike, and you're playing catch up. Resist the temptation to add new fish. Once it's cycled - meaning ammonia and nitrites are always at zero, and you are getting nitrate readings, then you can begin adding fish - but do it slowly. Add a few fish, feed lightly, since more food in means more ammonia waste coming out - give the tank bacterial colonies time to adjust to this increased bioload, before making sure ammonia and nitrite stay at zero again, then adding a few more. Spaced weeks apart. Read up more on the nitrogen cycle, Big Al's has a fanastic video here called The Nitrogen Cycle - watch that one. Plus a video Cory did on this channel about optimising filters, one about the nitrogen cycle, and ones about water changes. Don't panic, the tank is not cursed, you just rushed things too quickly and that led to disaster. Learn from this, you're not the first nor the last to make these mistakes!
Never did I think that watching a video on gravel vacuuming a fish was this engaging.
Wow. After watching countless videos on how to clean gravel, I stumbled into this video. THE BEST EVER. Thank you for explaining everything so so well!!!!!!! This like literally asnwered all questions I had!
Man Cory you saved the day again! I’ve been teaching these techniques to all of our staff here at multiple Petco’s!! It’s improved the quality by so much thank you!!
At 59 years of age I finally learnt how to do this the proper way. Thanks Cory.
42. Same. I now realize I've been dumping poop water back into the column and making my filter dirty faster. Haven't done much sand either, so that was nice to learn.
I’m 58 and it’s a first for me
@@amandacooper7975, so I guess they can teach ole dogs new tricks. 🙌🏼
Nice
I've been in the hobby about ten years and I never realised I was gravel vaccing improperly. Seriously, thanks for this video! I am a dedicated betta keeper so they're a bit hardier than a lot of other fish, but I still want to do right by my guys!
Thanks so much for a great beginner's guide to cleaning my tank! I have all of those tools but had no idea how to use them (I inherited them from my father who recently passed away). I'm totally going to dive into this hobby and wish now I had paid more attention to my dad when he was doing of of this. Now I can learn from you!! Thanks so much!!!
Wow, thank you so much, that was the most straight forward, yet in depth demonstration I've seen.
Ive been getting fish water in my mouth this whole time 😂🤣😂🤣 thank you for showing me the way 🙏
hannah09958 - and doesn't it taste awfull? Now we two have learned a good lesson from Cory.
yes
Brilliant
Hannah09958... same 🤣🤣🤣
me too hahahahaha
I’m new to aquarium keeping, this guy and a channel called fish for thought have helped me more ways than literally anybody else including stores. These two are amazing
Saaaame
Love fish for thought! You should also check out girl talks fish! Shes run into A LOT of the same problems i have with my first tank and has taught me a TON of tricks for dealing with it.
I love that you call aquarium keeping. It shows such a level of knowledge for the community. Perhaps it’s more aquarium than fish eh?
Such an awesome video!!! As a first time brand new tank owner you just saved me what I'm sure would have been Years of learning curve. My fish are going to live happier and healthier because of this video. THANK YOU!!!
I watched this a few weeks before I tried it while I was waiting for tank to cycle. Just watched this again and realized I was doing it wrong from what I thought I remembered from the video. This video is truly informative. The squeezing the hose will help my bucket not fill up so fast. Thanks Cory!
Same
You explain things in a way that every one can understand and I appreciate that SO MUCH!!
I knew how to properly start it, but it turns out I wasn't actually vacuuming most efficiently. Thanks Cory!
This changed my life. Thank you! This newbie truly appreciates this because I watched another video and was so confused.
I’ve been on KZhead over 12 years now give or take. I’ve left maybe 20 comments in that time. Just not a chatty person on YT, but bro? You taught me a lot in a short time about stuff I thought I already knew about. I’m so glad I clicked this!! Excellent tutorials and delivery. I could learn a lot from the likes of you. Thank you!!
"You could be derping around cleaning your tank and all of a sudden you have water all over your floor" Pfff as if I have ever done that, ever... 😬😩
hahaha I just love that phrase "derping around"
Nice
There are VERY few KZhead channels I actually enjoy watching. This is one of them. You are an excellent teacher, Cory! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience. I definitely have wasted A LOT of water while gravel vacuuming. Oops!
Nice
This was so incredibly helpful!! First time fish owner and first time vacuuming, and I was beyond frustrated. Thank you!
I've been in the hobby for 2 years now and nobody showed me how to properly vacuum a fully planted tank. This is so helpful!
I've been cleaning my gravel wrong all these years. Just tried this and the amount of crap that came up was astounding.
You are the best at explaining the oh so necessary basics. Minor caveat- When a tree seed sprouts the initial root that goes straight down is the tap root. Plants from cuttings have a fibrous root system. The hairlike roots absorbing nutrients are feeder roots. Makes sense, no?
Thanks for this clarification!! I was a little distracted by that 😆. I was thinking to myself, I don’t think that is quite right.... but the explanation worked either way.
I was thinking the very same thing. I'm a master gardener, so picked up on it immediately
Nice
This is the most useful video I have ever watched. Thank you!
Thank You for the step by step instructions. I was getting frustrated with trying to work this simple piece of plastic to clean the nasty tank. Very educational and I thank you for your time in teaching.
Thank you so much! I'm 15 and have a 30 gallon tank in my room, and didn't quite have the ropes on vacuuming the substrate. You guys have helped me to learn a lot. Thanks!
I’ve been vacuuming my tank all wrong for years. Thank you for this video. I’m actually excited for my next water change/tank cleaning 🤘🏼
Doing a clean this weekend. I'm so trying this! It's going to make my job so much easier
Best video on how to clean debris off of the bottom of your tank ever! We have a bunch of debris from our originally planted tank, even though we've done a few water changes. I love the hose pinching technique, we will use it on our sand. Thank you very much. You rock! Corey!!
Thank you so much for doing these basic “how to” videos! I always find I’ve forgotten an easy tip one way or another (like just vacuuming the sponge filter if I’m in a rush). Always useful and informative!
How to fill a tank is next mine overflows everytime
@@aniketpatil1452 it's simple watch it don't let it overflow LOL 😆
Thank for this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve demonstrated this over my very long career in the hobby. Pinching the hose is a MUST and so glad you showed this. Thanks Cory.
been into freshwater gravel tanks 30 plus years never knew sand was actually cleaner substrait than gravel or the pinching tecnique
Best tank clean video I have found and I watched a lot of these. Tomorrow I will give it a try on my 60L tank. I have been struggling for years to keep the gravel clean.
Thank you for this! My first round of vacuming did not go so well but after watching your video I'm doing it like a pro!
We screamed at the TV watching the "pinch the tube to not suck up sand" trick. Absolutely amazing, thank you Cory for bestowing this knowledge upon us.
Thank you! Have liked siphon tubes since whenever they came out but your teaching how to start flow and how to clean, especially in different substrates, or in planted tanks, was so clear and to the point that I will never forget this video. Bravo!
This was the best video I’ve ever watched showing how to actually do this I’ve been struggling for months trying to learn this and I can do it with ease of pausing the video for 2 min and trying it out and just that simple it works I’m new to the channel and I can’t wait to start learning way more 😁🙏🏼
This is genius! I've been connecting mine to the water hose for years and had no idea it was this easy. Thanks for uploading this video!
I love seeing Cory’s friendly face and learning from this channel it just makes my day
Wow. Planned on just learning my tank, had no idea I’d be able to enjoy the video as much as I did. Great instructions and fun to watch! Great job.
The most frustrating thing about cleaning my planed tank just got 100% easier. Thank you soooo much!
I've been doing this for a tank since 1952. How easy. learn something new every day. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this! I just cleaned my betta tank before I saw this and now I feel like I should clean it again with this new knowledge! 🙏🏽
I'm a bit mad at how simple that pinching technique is. I can't believe I didn't think of it.
Wow. I've been gravel cleaning wrong for close to a decade. You made it seem so easy to do I subscribed just because of this video. Thank you so much
I was pleasantly surprised watching this video as I've used this type of siphon for years and thought I probably wouldn't learn anything new. I've just cleaned my tank but will try out the new techniques next time, thanks!
I like the practical tutorials that you produce for beginners, accessible and light-hearted. Subscribed. This video was very helpful for me as I was struggling to figure it out the first time (despite having used a siphon filter many times while camping).
Been doing planted tanks for over 15 years now. Thought I had a good way of cleaning out tank…not! Thank you for showing the little tricks of the trade. Some stuff I knew about, but others, never knew about it. Love the pinch method on that larger python hose. I went to a smaller size hose to avoid filling bucket up faster, never thought about pinching the hose 🤦♂️. Thanks again 👍😎
You could also get a little MacGyver ingenuity and put a open/shut off valve Incorporated into the hose😊
You are the best out of all the videos I have watched to explain and demonstrate I will take this and use it. Thank you very much
By far the best instructional video I’ve ever seen. Ordered that exact siphon after watching. Thank you so much!
This is like the third time Aquarium Co-Op has dropped a video on gravel vacuuming, but I’ll watch again every time just to refresh and maybe learn something new.
Cory is a game changer for us newbies to learn from. Thank you so much!
Omg!! This video just helped me figure out how to use my gravel syphon for my new tank. Thank you!!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 One of the very first videos that helped me get started in the hobby. Thank you!
i’ve learned more in the video on the internet then i ever did from a pet store worker!! thank you man!!
I've totally flooded my floor more times than I can count..love the "suctioner" though. Pinching the tubing..what a concept. Thanks
Thank you so much for this video, I have been fighting my tank and running out of water and honestly have never heard the pinching the hose tip. You have given me a game changer.
Thank you so much for this! I honestly was getting ready to just pack it in and rehome my fish b/c I felt I wasn't doing the water changes/ gravel vacuums right. This video helps me tremendously!!
Hands down the best video I've seen on aquarium keeping that I've seen in the last 3 years. And I've watched like a million videos. Love Cory overall but this was the best one!!
Thank you so much for this video!!! I can't wait to try your methods when vacuuming my tank next! I've been trying to "pump" the vacuum and that's a pain. Your method looked so easy! 😄
The best video I have seen that fully describes how to do this correctly. Came here looking for if I should move decor and you showed me how to use my vacuum much better than I was. Thank you!
This was extremely helpful. I'm setting up 2 aquariums right now after getting out of the hobby for a couple years after moving. I'm going to do a gravel planted tank and a sand tank. This video will help me a lot with both.
This was a great video! I have been keeping fish on and off for 30+ years and I learned some new things. Thank you!!
Such a great explanation, thanks! This style works really well, sometimes it’s hard to follow instruction videos with just words or people who are really familiar with what they’re explaining, because they miss smaller details newbies don’t know
Thank you soooo much for that video! All these years I have had fish tanks I never ever had thought about vacuuming my tanks this way! Great Video!
That was literally the best aquarium video I have ever watched in my life. You are a Master Jedi. I feel so slow. I have tanks all my life and never knew that pinch method. So much better cleaning now!!!! Sharing is caring, thx for that great info!!!!!!!
I’m digging these updated how-to videos. I’ve watched the old ones, but still learn new things with the new ones.
I'm so happy I found this video! I just got my first aquarium and became frustrated trying to clean my gravel, because yes... I drained half my water and barely cleaned my gravel! Also, the way I was told to get the siphon started was ridiculous. I'm looking forward to trying it this way, this weekend! Thank you!!!
How did it work for you? I don't have a tank right now so am eager to know how it went for your first time. 🐠😃
This is the best video I've ever watched! Thank you so much! I've been fighting with my siphon for years! After watching this, I had the best water change day of my life!
THANK YOU!!! All the videos I watch show you these tools based on they've been doing it all the time; forgetting basic steps, 'us' knobs, or beginners don't know. I've been frustrated with the entire cleaning process. 2 days later, after trying to do this, my water is still slightly cloudy from stirring up all the substrate. Thank you again for explaining your technique for beginners.
Easy planter, buy it now 🤣
Smooth shameless self-promo 🤣
I find it endearing from him because I know how much effort they put into coming up with these great products! I’m going to put one in my cart now, so effective too 😆
I've got like $50 worth of stuff in my cart from these videos. Only Cory can make this advertisement effective!
Im so freaking glad i found this BEFORE even starting upp my first tank ever 😅 Thank you for brilliant educational content, keep it up 🐡🐠🐟
Next cleaning will be my 2nd time gravel vacuuming. I glad I witnessed this method now. Big thanks!
Very informative. Different way of starting a syphon I hadn't seen before. Also, i always stir up the gunk, never thought of pinching the hose. Thanks for the vid
This was excellent! Will definitely start doing this - I'm actually exited to clean the gravel now 🤣
You explained everything so well, thank you!
Not sure how I missed this all these years but thank you. This is a game changer. Followed, liked, subscribed and about to load up on a bunch of aquarium coop merch. 👌
I've learned so much in more in this video than all the other cleaning tutorials I watched. Thanks so much! I'm in high school and I will use this to clean my betta's tank tomorrow.
This couldn't have come at a better time! Just introduced my female koi betta into her tank today
I've learned so much from you it's really unbelievable. I swear I feel like I owe you money. G.O.A.T.
Many thanks from the UK this is the only video that shows you step by step on how to do it correctly including the LARGE bucket to save the carpet!!! anyone can follow it and learn, brilliant 😁😁😁😁
Thanks very much for the Tip. I tried it and it work first time. Made cleaning the tank a lot easier.
Really wish I had watched this before syphoning and swallowing some gravel 😂 Thank you, I'll remember this for next time!
NICE! As many years as I've been taking care of aquariums I never thought to do it like that. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much! I’m newer to the aquarium hobby. I knew how to siphon but the *pinching* seems like it would be so much easier.