I want to provide you with some in-depth reviews about the five best gravel cleaners for aquariums that the market has to offer, so let’s get right to it.
Best Gravel Cleaners
- WOFDALY Electric Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
- Aquarium Vacuum Gravel Cleaner
- 5 in 1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
- Laifoo 5ft Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Cleaner
- Fluval GravelVAC Multi Substrate Cleaner
Top 5 Best Gravel Cleaners for Aquariums
1. WOFDALY Electric Aquarium Gravel Cleaner: Our Top Pick
- 【MULTIFUNCTION】Our aquarium vacuum gravel cleaner is equipped with three suction nozzles,...
- 【30W STRONG SUCTION】This aquarium gravel cleaner boasts an upgraded 32-watt pump that offers a...
Here we have a multi-function aquarium gravel cleaner that can perform a wide variety of tasks, such as cleaning gravel, sand washing, water changes, and even basic water filtration. It comes complete with a wide variety of attachments to complete all of these tasks with ease.
It also comes complete with all of the tubing and other accessories that you need to perform water changes, and much more.
Technically speaking, this unit can even be used as a filter, as it comes with an attachment complete with a filter sponge, as well as a shower or waterfall feature that cascades water down into the tank. This really does allow for excellent water cleaning capabilities.
To help make life even easier for you, this unit features a 32-Watt power motor with flow rate of 528 gallons per hour.
This means that you don’t have to do any manual siphoning, not to mention that this model is designed to be very quiet, under 40 decibels. Even better is the fact that the handle is completely telescopic, so it works well for small and large aquariums alike.
Pros
- Multiple functions
- Good price
- Strong motor
- Quiet operation
- Very versatile
Cons
- Requires a plug
If you want an aquarium gravel cleaner that makes life much faster and easier, then this is it.
2. Aquarium Vacuum Gravel Cleaner
Here we have another multifunction aquarium vacuum gravel cleaner that comes with a wide variety of attachments designed to keep your fish tank clean and crystal clear.
It comes complete with a sand of washing tube, an algae cleaning blade, a fish manure sucking head, and a regular sand washing tube. It also comes with extensions to allow you to easily clean gravel, and more.
It also features a filter cup and filter sponge to ensure that any water that comes out the other end is as clean as can be. You may also appreciate how the tube can be extended anywhere from 27.95 to 33.6 inches, which means that it should work fine for relatively deep tanks.
I personally like how this is one of the easier-to-assemble aquarium gravel cleaners out there, especially as far as its advanced functionality and features are concerned. This unit comes complete with an 18-Watt motor that helps to suck up several 100 gallons of water per hour, which should be more than enough for any home aquarium.
Pros
- Great durability
- Many accessories and functions
- Features water filtration
- Powerful motor with a great flow rate
- Adjustable length
Cons
- A bit expensive
If you don’t mind investing a good bit of money into a high-end piece of equipment, this is a great one to consider.
3. 5-in-1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner
- 5 in1 multifuntional: Suitable for Glass cleaning, Raking sand, Aquarium water changing, Aquarium...
- More Convenience:Changing water and clean your tank is no longer a difficulty,Easy to install and...
Here we have yet another multifunction aquarium gravel cleaner that can perform a variety of tasks. You can use this model to clean gravel, change water, clean grass, remove excrement from the water, clean sand, scrape algae, and more.
It really is quite a versatile tool, and it doesn’t even cost very much money. In fact, this is one of the more affordable units on the list today.
One of the reasons why it is more affordable than the others is because it is not electronic, but rather manual.
That said, it still comes with a simple air pump suction feature so you can simply create a bit of suction by pumping with your finger a few times, so it’s still quite easy to use. It might not be electric, but it still doesn’t take much work, effort, or knowledge to use properly.
Something I do also appreciate is how all of the accessories and items here are fairly durable and built to last, especially considering the low price that everything comes in at.
Pros
- Great price
- Easy to use
- Many functions
- Relatively durable
- Compact
Cons
- The pump can take a few presses to activate
If you’re looking for a super affordable aquarium gravel cleaner that can still perform many different functions, this is a fantastic model for you to invest in.
4. Laifoo 5ft Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Cleaner
- FUNCTION --- Easy to control, convenient to siphon fish faeces, impurities, turbid water out of fish...
- 5 Feet HOSE --- Made from clear & elastic plastic. Makes it more durable and anti-kinking. Harmless...
What we have here is by far the simplest aquarium gravel cleaner on the list today, as it consists of an ABS hose clip, a 2-millimeter-thick PC hose, detachable filter screen, a gravel tube, and a PC siphon ball.
Yes, this is a manual unit, so it doesn’t have a motor or any kind of electrical features. You simply have to press the pump on the end of the tube to activate the suction feature. It might take a few squeezes, but it should always work.
The front features a gravel tube that is able to suck small particles such as fish waste out of the water without taking the gravel in along with it. It also comes with a special filtration unit to ensure that no gravel gets sucked out of your aquarium.
You also get a 5-foot-long hose that is made out of clear plastic, which should be more than long enough for any size of fish tank that you might have at home.
Although it’s certainly not the most durable piece of equipment out there, it does actually come with a three-month warranty from the date of purchase, just in case anything goes wrong with it.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Simple but effective
- Good warranty
- Serves various functions
- User friendly
Cons
- Not overly durable
If you really just want the most basic aquarium gravel cleaner possible, then this is likely your best bet.
5. Fluval GravelVAC Multi Substrate Cleaner
- Easy Start siphon for quick priming - starts with just a couple of pumps
- Thumb-operated flow regulator allows you to adjust speed as you clean
To round off the list, here is another very super simple and basic aquarium gravel cleaner. What we have here is a gravel cleaner that comes with an easy start siphon for quick priming which should be able to start with just a couple of manual pumps.
It may not be electric, but it should work perfectly fine. It also comes complete with a thumb operated flow regulator that allows you to adjust the speed or water flow as you clean the gravel or sand.
On that note, this unit is set to be suitable for all types of substrate, whether rock, gravel, or sand. It features a very special tube in the front designed to suck up water and all sorts of small debris without sucking in sand, gravel, or other substrates.
Moreover, this product is ideal for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums that are up to 20 inches deep. Remember, this is a very small unit design for small fish tanks, but it’s also very compact and convenient.
Pros
- Basic but effective
- Good price
- Works for most types of substrate
- Easy to prime and start
- Durable design
Cons
- Only good for small tanks
If you have a really small fish tank you need a decent aquarium gravel cleaner fork, this is likely the best unit on the list today.
Gravel Cleaners for Aquariums Buyers Guide: What To Look Out For
Before I wrap things up for today, let me just provide you with a few important purchasing considerations to keep in mind when choosing an aquarium gravel cleaner for your fish tank.
Functions and Accessories
Some aquarium gravel cleaners are designed specifically to clean aquarium gravel and nothing else, whereas others can also perform water changes, clean sand, remove fish waste, and some even come complete with accessories designed to clean aquarium glass and scrape algae.
Therefore, you need to consider what exactly your purposes are.
At the very least, the unit you get should come with a long gravel tube at the front to help clean gravel. These gravel tubes should also have some kind of built-in filtration mechanism to prevent the gravel itself from being sucked in.
Size & Adjustability
As you can see from my reviews, some of these units can be several feet in length, whereas others are much shorter.
Therefore, you need to consider what size of aquarium you have before you choose any aquarium gravel cleaner, especially in terms of its overall length.
Getting a model that features a telescopic rod is also ideal, because this can be used for various sizes of fish tanks.
Power or Manual
One of the biggest choices you have to make is whether you want a powered unit that uses an electric motor to help make life easier for you, or if you want a basic model that uses nothing more than a hand operated pump.
One of these is going to be much easier to use but also much more expensive, whereas the other is far more basic, takes a bit more time and effort to use, but is also much more affordable. This is not to say that manual pumps don’t work however.
Materials and Durability
Of course, it’s always important that you go for a model that is fairly durable. This is something that you will most likely be using for years on end, so going for something that will last through a bit of punishment is ideal.
Cost
Although cost is usually never the first thing I am concerned with, it is something I always keep in mind. After all, there is no point in spending three times as much on a gravel vacuum when there is something much more affordable available that still gets the job done.
