Water pump

[daginge]

Does anyone know how I can butcher an unused aquarium filter to make a kind of vacuum cleaner to clean the bottom of my aquarium?

[sddsddean]

Many (like 30+) years ago when I kept tropical fish, I had a 'purpose built' vacuum cleaner. All you had to do was hook it up to the air supply from the filter pump to work it. The nozzle was shaped like a vacuum cleaner head and narrowed into a narrow tube. The air feed was fed in by the tube from the pump being located just inside the nozzle. All the crud on the bottom of the tank was 'lifted' with the rising air and deposited into a 'muslin' bag attached with a rubber band to the end of the tube, which was about 8" long. The muslin let the air and water out, but held in the crud. I've just looked on google to see if I could find a picture (but can't) and noticed there are loads about for £3-£10. Is it worth the hassle of building it yourself?

[daginge]

Probably not but it would keep me and my 4 year old from under Wifos feet for a bit LOL Thanks anyway

[Dodger666]

Rather than use an eletrically powered pump you can do it just as well with a long stiff tube, preferably clear as you can see inside it.

Hold your finger over the one end and dip the tube into the water to just above the rubbish you want to get out. Then take your finger off the tube and the rubbish will be sucked up into the tube. Put you finger back on the end of the tube and take it out and empty it. Repeat the process until finsihed. It may take longer but it will keep you out the way of the "Wifo" a bit longer.

[tamborine]

quicker....insert pipe into gunk & suck till water flows - try not to inhale (unhealthy).

[daginge]

Cheers all!