Python Pro-Clean Aquarium Gravel Washer & Siphon Kit, Small

I'm familiar with the Python Cleaning products because I used to keep big Cichlid tanks (90 gal & 75 gal) 5 yrs ago then left the hobby. I used one of Python's larger syphons that hooked right up to the sink and allowed me to clean these large tanks quickly and efficiently...but that's a totally different review. Getting back into aquaria...I have decided to go 'Nano' tanks. I have two 3 gal. acrylic cubes and one 2 gal. glass jar so they are considerable smaller in scale so small that at first I didn't even consider using such a tool as this for tank maintainance. Finally, after struggling with tank water quality I started reading Amazon Reviews on these 'Mini' or 'Small' gravel washers and I decided that I needed one. I not only read reviews on the Python product but also others. Finally I decided on the Python based on my previous experience with the company and product albeit the much larger cleaner. OK..on to the review. I am or was right in the midst of changing my substrates. I started with a black coral sand which was very attractive but compacting over time. I felt it was not ideal for the plants I am growing. I also felt this substrate was trapping debris and organic detrius contributing to poor water quality. It took me awhile to realize that it was FAR more challenging maintaining water quality in a 3 gal tank versus the 90 gal. 90 gallons of water allows for far more stability in quality and allows for more error and less maintainance. The other 3 Gal. cube I'd already gutted and started over with Black Laterite a porous clay more suitable for plants and much larger than sand. This Python worked GREAT on BOTH the sand and the Laterite. The sand you had to watch more closely and manipulate the cleaning end / suction end / business end to allow sand to drop back down if inadvertently picked up but the suction was pretty much perfect for me, IMHO. Not too strong and yet strong enough to pick up detrius and clean both sand and laterite. I know alot of aquarists use sand substrates so this is a key 'Take Away' for you sand people. Laterite while being much larger than sand is VERY light as it is highly porous clay but the Python handled it perfectly. I liked the tube length and found that I did not have to do anything special to keep the discharge end in my bucket. It is soft and pliable and curled up in the bucket and never moved. I cleaned the substrate until I'd sucked about 1/3 the tank or 1 gal. for a water change and it took only a couple of minutes so it was fast enough to limit the amount of time cleaning yet slow enough to allow for a thorough cleaning of the substrate. I'm very happy that I went with the Python. Heck, it was ONLY $3.74 on Sale! Free Shipping as an 'Add-On'...I thought....for $3.74 If I don't like it I'll throw it away and buy some other product. I spend more than $3.74 on my morning coffee! You can't please ALL of the people ALL of the time ....but I'd be willing to bet that this Python will please MOST of the people MOST of the time and for $3.74 you aren't taking much risk in finding out. It's a 'No-Brainer' !! Python Pro-Clean Aquarium Gravel Washer and Siphon Kit, Small

I love it! Exactly what I hoped. Works just like a larger gravel vac but without the clunkiness and hassle of in-take valves or pumps. This is perfect for my ten gallons and other nano tanks and it’s not so strong that it can take up fish. Although, while vacuuming my pearl weed carpet I did end up sucking up a few baby shrimp which I had to filter out with multiple nets. This is perfect for removing detritus and debris in a gentle manager and to avoid sucking up shrimplets id say a bit of pantyhose on the end should do the trick. I definitely recommend this product and I can see the difference in quality between this and the aqueous brand. I will say it’s instructions say to swirl above the substrate rather than digging in but as long as you don’t have stratified or powdery substrate it works fine this way as well. I used it over black diamond blasting sand and pavers sand.

Purchased and in use for 6 months; so far no material quality or functioning problems. Can fill a 5-gallon bucket in roughly 5 minutes, give or take a few depending on the height difference of your tank and water disposal container. Hose Is very pliable and works well, with enough suction that it will pick up sand granules. Gravel tube is sturdy enough to move gravel substrate around by pushing. Only issue is that the connection couple between the gravel tube and tubing can get clogged easily with anything > 1/4-inch like plant debris. Couple design 'traps' the debris there rather than forcing it through the tubing, which can work with or against you depending what you desire. Recommend

We use this to drain our turtle tank. I love that this pump works without batteries or plugs. I get good suction with it just by following the directions. You do have to submerge it completely. I start with the large end and then feed the hose into the water until I get to the other end. That's the easiest way to push the air out of the tube - which is necessary to get the best suction. After that, just put your thumb over the small end and pull it out of the water. Drop that line into your collection container and let it work. As long as you keep the large tube submerged, it will continue to draw. When there are large chunks, I sometimes have to unclog the connection between the large and small tube, but I've seen some surprisingly large items feed through without a problem. The only thing that would make this product better is if it had some kind of clip or hook on it so you could clip it to the collection container and a 'foot' for the large tube so you could prop it upright in the tank to get the water level as low as possible. I worry about it falling out or dropping under the water level on the collection container end, and when the tank gets close to empty I have to keep an eye on it to make sure the large tube doesn't come out of the water. Down side: You do have to get your hands dirty to submerge the tube and manipulate it, so wear gloves if that grosses you out. Otherwise, you might prefer a pump with a motor.

I was unsure about this product when I was reading the reviews, but it really is a simple and wonderful little tool. Submerge the entire vacuum in the water, seal the tube with your thumb, remove the tubing from the tank and drain into a bucket lower than your tank. Boom. Sucks up debris like you wouldn't believe. It is a little larger than I probably need for my 10 gallon tank; it took out a quarter of the water in about 5 minutes, but I am in love. I've now used this a few times and I have to say; it really does help keep my tank cleaner. It picks up so much of the uneaten food that escapes my fish as well as other garbage in my tank. I feel better knowing my fish are not living in filth. It also makes it extremely easy to change out water in my tank.

Purchased this on my wife's account, but putting the review on mine. Hence no verified purchase. What has a guy got to go to get people to believe him these days? Anyway, I digress. This thing is top notch. We have a Top Fin 10 gallon starter tank complete with a few real plants and Johnny Depp style pirate decor, with a top fin premium gravel base (see tasteful picture attached, complete with Mickey Mouse Platy and Blue Dwarf Gourami hiding at the back). The vacuum has no pump - it works purely on the wonders of physics and air pressure by creating a siphon. You submerse the empty tube completely in the tank and work out all the air (wiggle it around a bit). Then you put your thumb over the end of the small pipe to stop the water coming out, put that end into a big bucket below the level of the aquarium, and hey presto, water starts siphoning out of your tank. Don't take the big end out, and start to gently vacuum the gravel. It will suck up some of it, but with a little shake the gravel will all fall down again and only take the light dust and other detritus with it. Once the bucket is full or you have removed enough water (25% is good) you can lift the small tube above the level of the tank to stop the flow. Then take it out if you have finished, or empty the bucket and start again. Our first few weeks of ownership we lost 3 guppies because of steadily increasing nitrate levels (we were over-feeding), and also because we didn't have a vacuum. Two weeks of cleaning the gravel using this little beauty of a contraption, and we're back to safe levels. We did a 25% change twice a week, and learned a lot about the delicate bio-chemistry that exists in a fish-tank. The amount of dirt sucked up each change was pretty incredible, even after such a short time. You see it billowing up the tube. Guppies by the way are like the canaries of the aquarium - you only have to look at them the wrong way and they'll expire. A bit traumatic but nonetheless a good life lesson for younger kids. Anyway, can't fault this at the price. Well done Python people.

best product and cheap in case you have planted aquarium

The pipe was the length described. It felt like it is good quality tubing. I have very fine sand in my aquarium and it does tend to suck a lot of it out, but would probably be better on gravel.

This is a micro cleaner, the effective diameter is not much more than a finger's width and the drainage pipe is less than 5mm width IIRC. It works, but thanks to its size only slowly which makes it essentially impractical.

Excellent