So I got me a small tank with an undergravel filter, how do I siphon it?

[Wind_Danzer]

The siphon I have for the 5 gallon tank will not work with this as the hose is extremely long and trying to get all the air out and force the water to flow through will be difficult with the new 2 gallon tank.

That said, how do you siphon a small 2 gallon tank to clean the gravel when needed?

Those with small tanks give me some help please!

 

[TMony]

I have a 2 1/2 gallon I use as a hospital tank and I just use a small piece of hose (1/2" or 5/8") to siphon it out.

 

[SdJaCK&SaLLy]

You can use a small hose to siphon something, that works, with a 2 gallon tank I think that you could possibly net the things on top of the gravel out. But a small hose will work, something you would use for an air pump.

 

[Lotus]

I found a turkey baster to be the best thing for small tanks.

 

[Wind_Danzer]

Thanks all... smaller hose, you think I would have thought of that... and the turkey baster sounds like a darn good idea too.

 

[Lotus]

I tried using airline tubing when I had a small tank, similar to yours. The gravel kept getting stuck in it, and it didn't seem effective enough to me at removing waste from under the gravel.

Also, I'd strongly advise a heater for the tank. My betta got sick when I had him in a small tank with no heater, and ended up with fin rot.

 

[Wind_Danzer]

I just went out and got a small siphon recommended from the LFS and also the Hydor mini heater, looks like a credit card (was going to buy the heater anyway.

My tank water is at 70 degrees and I'm hoping this heater will raise the temp to 75 degrees. Seems it is up a degree within the last 20 minutes of plugging it in.

You know, I hope the trick the guy told me about siphoning works, if so I've been getting soaked for nothing all these years.