Keeping your fish tank clean is essential as it is no different than any other pet sanctuary. A dirty aquarium won't just hurt your aquarium's integrity, but it will also bring in harmful debris, excess algae, and the growth of bacteria which will cause your fish to get ill and even die.
Whether you have an aquarium with bioactive salt water or fresh water with store-bought décor, it is necessary to clean your aquarium at least once a month.
Gone are the days when your aquarium's gravel would require manual cleaning. Not only is it a long chore, but it's also pretty tiresome. A good electric aquarium gravel cleaner will ensure the gravel cleaning is done fast with little muss and fuss making your life easier.
The electric aquarium gravel cleaners that are available in the market bring exceptional value with multifunctional models that provide water cleaning, sand cleaning, and various other functions. They are also very affordable and make water changing easier than you think.
These aquarium cleaners allow you to suck up the leftover food, waste, or any other dirt around your tank or on the bottom and filter it for easy removal while ignoring the helpful bacteria needed for a healthy environment.
However, it's still necessary to know and understand what you should look for before buying and eventually get your hand on the one that will be effective and suit you and your aquarium gravel best.
How We've Made Our Selection
Within the search for gravel cleaners with a price tag of up to $100, you can expect to buy a good electric gravel cleaner. Keeping this budget in mind, we divided the gravel cleaners into three segments.
At the lowest end, we looked for the most easy-to-use and reliable gravel cleaners that did the cleaning pretty fast but were rather small in size. In the mid-budget range, we looked for mid-sized gravel cleaners that were faster and even better in terms of ease of use and reliability. At the lowest end, we looked for the best electric aquarium gravel cleaners that your money can buy.
The gravel cleaners were narrowed down, keeping the customer review in mind. We selected the ones that were great in terms of overall rating and were most trusted by customers.
Finally, we were left with seven electric aquarium gravel cleaners that we will now review.
7 Best Aquarium Gravel Vacuum Cleaners
1. UPETTOOLS Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
Why We Love It
UPETTOOLS is here to make your aquarium maintenance easier and more efficient than ever before. Their powerful water pump motor maximizes flow and has a top speed of 1700L/H – so in just 0.5 hours, your 180-gallon tank be pumped out! Plus, the flow level is adjustable, allowing you to customize it according to your needs.
Their upgraded aquarium gravel vacuum cleaner offers six different functions: a water changer, a sand washer, a debris cleaning, a water filter, a water shower, and water flow – making it perfect for freshwater and seawater tanks of various depths. Now that's advanced convenience!
What You Should Know
Some consumers found it difficult to use. So, watch their instructional video before using this cleaner - otherwise, it can be a bit tricky!
2. Nicrew Automatic Gravel Cleaner
Why We Love It
Nicrew's automated gravel cleaner is the future of aquarium maintenance! This electric aquarium vacuum cleaner is a 3-in-1 unit that traps debris and doubles as a sponge filter. This fast, easy-to-use cleaning system is perfect for any fish tank, freshwater, or saltwater. So whether it is sand washing or getting rid of fish waste, Nicrew has got it covered.
Nicrew's automatic gravel cleaner has been designed to solve the problems of traditional methods. The flow adjustment valve will allow you to adjust the water flow rate, height, and inclination to suit your need. Choose from three different cleaning modes--slow, medium, or fast- to ensure a complete clean.
What You Should Know
Make sure that you use this gravel cleaner while fully submerged in water.
3. Fluval ProVac Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
Why We Love It
The Fluval ProVac aquarium gravel cleaner may seem a little pricy. But if you're looking for value for money, this is your go-to product. With powerful and consistent suction, it has an exceptional cleaning ability that removes debris and dirt in a flash. It comes with a spotlight LED and an extender nozzle for deep aquariums, so you don't have to worry about cleaning areas that are hard to see or a breeze in a dark corner. It can easily trap small or large particles, leftover food, waste, or debris because it comes with a dual-density filter pad.
Fluval pro vac also allows you to set your speed with a couple of speed-setting options and even allows you to pause if you wish to release trapped gravel. It features a gravel guard and a quick-release filter cartridge, so this gravel cleaner will not allow clogging of any sort. It's also very easy and comfortable to use, mainly because of its ergonomic handle.
A little bit about Fluval: much like the products it makes, it is a well-recognized brand known for its quality, reliability, and multifunctional aquarium products that are comfortable and easy to use. This company has been in the aquarium business since 1975 and highly emphasizes innovation and delivering value. It's a brand that you can rely on!
What You Should Know
There have been complaints of the discharge's bypassing filter cartridges while spraying around the red filter. There have also been rare complaints regarding the sealing not being well enough, which results in leftover debris.
Some customers also feel that the price is slightly higher than what it should be. However, the majority have no price-related dissatisfactions.
4. Londafish Electric Fish Tank Gravel Cleaner
Why We Love It
No list of the best electric gravel vacuum cleaner is complete without Londafish's electric gravel cleaner is a multipurpose gravel cleaner that you can directly connect to the adapter. You can use it with a battery if you wish, as the package comes with a 3V 2A connecter.
The cleaner is not limited to small or shallow aquariums; it can also be used for large or deep aquariums as effectively as in 3 different lengths. In terms of centimeters, you can choose 62, 73, or 100, whichever suits your tank best.
Its exceptional cleaning ability siphons large and small waste particles, leftover food, and other debris, ensuring effective cleaning of your gravel without needing to change the water. It is ideal for quick spot maintenance and can clean your gravel completely while ensuring high safety performance.
What You Should Know
When using the Londafish gravel cleaner, ensure the water level is kept between the maximum and minimum points before starting the switch.
Once the outlet can draw water, be sure to raise the gravel cleaner and let the head and outlet above the water.
5. EHEIM Quick Vac Pro Automatic Gravel Cleaner
Why We Love It
The EHEIM Quick Vac Pro is one of the most valuable gravel cleaners in the market. It is a highly powerful machine and sludge extractor. Easy to operate, it is a hassle-free solution, unlike gravel cleaners that are siphon operated and require hoses and buckets.
With the EHEIM Quick Vac Pro, you won't even have to worry about the smallest waste particles, as it comes with a super-fine mesh cartridge that is specially designed to trap microparticles that most gravel cleaners would miss. It is a feature that is highly effective and would ensure that your aquarium does not get polluted, as the tool is built to extract or remove waste before it even begins to break down. Also, you won't find any complexities when cleaning the cartridge as it is easily removable.
Using it will also enable the extension of intervals between water maintenance and water changes. In the case of water maintenance, it may also save you money as it is known for reducing the number of additives required.
While it won't let any micro particles go, it's also equally effective in picking up large waste particles, excess food, and plant debris.
With the inclusion of batteries, the EHEIM Quick Vac Pro, when fully assembled, measures around 24 inches.
What You Should Know
There have been a few complaints about the quality of suction needing improvement, which led to some debris in the gravel not being picked up. This, however, is the case of rare pieces that have faults.
There have also been a few complaints regarding the gravel cleaner not being able to run continuously but stopping in the middle of the process and dropping anything it was sucking up at the time. This, too, however, is rarely found in the EHEIM Quick Vac Pro pieces. You can return the product without hassle if you face any of these issues.
6. Homozy Vacuum Gravel Cleaner
Why We Love It
Homozy's fish tank vacuum gravel cleaner could be your perfect choice if you're looking for quality, durability, and ease. This machine features a lined filter bag that is designed for inhaling any waste particle, debris, or food, regardless of the size of the particles.
It won't trouble you to find the power outlet as it is very easy to use since it's battery-powered. It is a multi-function machine that won't just make the water-changing process easy but will also clean sand through a high-quality suction that would suck up even the smallest particles.
It's equipped with a soft water pipe, and the Homozy fish tank gravel cleaner is available for you in different sizes depending on the depth of your fish tank.
What You Should Know
There have been cases of the gravel cleaner getting damaged if turned on when it's not fully submerged in water. You must be sure to fully submerge the gravel cleaner inside the water before turning it on.
7. Aqueon Siphon Mini Vacuum Gravel Cleaner - Manual
Why We Love It
A powerful manual machine, the Aquion Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaner is one of our exclusive picks from the market. It is an easy-to-use gravel cleaner working in an up-and-down motion as it is a self-priming machine. The company and brand believe in the ideal aquarium environment by maintaining a natural balance. The Aquion Siphon is built to ensure simple and routine water changes while having a powerful suction that pulls even the smallest debris or waste particles out of the depths of the tank. Not only does it make the gravel cleaning job easier, but it is also very time efficient, and you'll be astonished to see how fast it gets the job done.
What You Should Know
You may notice or find that suction has too much pressure, which sometimes causes the flow to stop as the gravel gets clogged up at the top of the small siphon tube. Also, there may be instances where you might feel that the water is siphoned too fast to have enough time to get all of the spots before removing too much water and having to stop.
For the water flow to get started, it may take you a couple of tries, but once it does, it's fast and good.
How To Choose The Best Electric Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
There are a number of electric aquarium gravel cleaners available in the market. So, you need to understand the basics to make the right choice.
Types of Gravel Cleaners
Electric Gravel Vacuums
An electric gravel cleaner traps waste, junk, and any uneaten food by automatically pumping water through it without draining your aquarium.
Since you don't have to worry about draining water, there's no time limit on how much or how long you spend cleaning your gravel. However, electric gravel cleaners are costly, especially when you put them in comparison with siphon-style gravel cleaners, which are highly cost-effective. To give you an idea, you can get up to five siphon-style gravel cleaners for the price of one electric gravel cleaner.
There are also a few other downsides that you should consider. For example, sometimes, the vacuum bag is unable to properly trap the waste, which escapes and clouds up the tank.
Electric gravel cleaners also have a limited range of models and don't work with mini or small tanks.
Siphon-Style Gravel Cleaners
Amongst the most popular types of gravel cleaners is the siphon-style gravel cleaner. These are available in several sizes and are highly cost-effective as they only consist of a hollow tube and a hose, making them a favorite among experts and beginners. However, there are a few drawbacks to these aquarium cleaners. For instance, you will have to drain water from your tank whenever you need to clean your gravel. You'll also have to practice making sure you use it correctly because if you don't use it properly, it can easily result in spills.
Choosing the Correct Size for Your Gravel Cleaner
The last thing you would want is to buy an aquarium gravel cleaner that does not fit your aquarium's size. Since aquariums these days come in all shapes and sizes, it's easy to end up with a smaller or larger gravel cleaner than what would go with your aquarium, causing unnecessary stress while performing maintenance on your aquarium.
For example, if the gravel cleaner is larger than what your tank requires, it will drain water too quickly, and the use of it will be cumbersome. On the other hand, if you get a gravel cleaner that is too small, it will take you way too much time to clean the gravel as it will be highly inefficient.
Hence, to identify and choose the perfect size of an electric gravel heater, you must know the exact size of your aquarium or tank and, most importantly, its depth.
It's also more complicated in online shopping to identify the difference, as most of it is about the size of the vacuum tube on the gravel cleaner. The deeper your aquarium, the longer the tube has to be.
An electric gravel cleaner typically comes in three sizes. The large size is best suited for aquariums that are 20 gallons or over. The small size is suitable for aquariums between 5 to 20 gallons, and the mini size can be used for 5 gallons or less.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aquarium Gravel Cleaners
Here are the most frequently asked questions about aquarium gravel cleaners.
What is the best way to clean fish tank gravel?
The best way to clean fish tank gravel is by using a gravel vacuum. A gravel vacuum is a device that attaches to the end of a hose and has a suction cup on the other end. You put the suction cup into the gravel and pull the vacuum cleaner handle, which will suck all of the dirt and gunk out of the gravel.
If your fish tank doesn't have a filter, you will also need to clean the filter every week. To do this, remove the foam insert from the top of the filter. Rinse it under running water until all of the dirt is gone, then put it back in place. Using hot water, you should also rinse your fish tank at least once a month.
Are gravel vacuums good?
Yes, gravel vacuums are good for keeping your aquarium clean. They work by sucking up the dirt and debris that accumulates on the bottom of the tank. This helps keep the water clean and clear and reduces the amount of waste trapped in the gravel.
Gravel vacuums come in a variety of sizes, so be sure to choose one that is appropriate for your aquarium size. They are also available in manual and automatic models, so you can choose the type that best suits your needs.
How do you use electric gravel cleaners in an aquarium?
You can use an electric gravel cleaner in an aquarium by filling the tank with water just below the top of the gravel, placing the cleaner in the desired spot, and turning it on. The gravel will be sucked into the cleaner and discharged back into the tank. Be sure to watch your fingers if you're using a manual cleaner!
How do you clean fish tank gravel without removing the fish?
There are a few ways to clean your fish tank gravel without removing the fish. One way is to use a siphon to suck the dirt and debris out of the gravel. You can also use a brush to scrub the gravel clean. Another option is to vacuum the gravel with a special aquarium vacuum cleaner.
How often should you use a gravel cleaner?
It would help if you used a gravel cleaner every time you changed your fish tank water.
A gravel cleaner is an essential tool for keeping your fish tank clean. It helps to remove debris and sediment from the gravel bed, which can cause problems like clouding of the water and decreased oxygen levels. It's important to clean your gravel regularly, especially if you have a lot of plants or other decorations in your tank because these can trap dirt and gunk.
Using a gravel cleaner every time you change your fish tank water is best. This will help keep your tank clear and healthy for your fish.
What Option of Electric Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Is Best For You?
With all that in mind, it's time for you to decide on the best electric aquarium gravel cleaner for your home. All the options we presented can be great choices depending on your needs and preferences.
We hope this article has given some clarity on what you want in an electric aquarium gravel cleaner.
Remember, what works for one consumer may only work for some, so it's essential to find something that suits your specific needs.
Thanks for reading, and we wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect electric aquarium gravel cleaner for your home.
Items reviewed:
1. UPETTOOLS Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
2. Nicrew Automatic Gravel Cleaner
3. Fluval ProVac Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
4. Londafish Electric Fish Tank Gravel Cleaner
5. EHEIM Quick Vac Pro Automatic Gravel Cleaner
