Gravel Cleaning Syphon

I used one for years when I had gravel. They are really good as they suck the muck right out of the gravel. You can watch the bits floating upwards. The type that you shake up and down to start are harder to get used to but easier to use once you get the hang of them.
I also found that the betta's 25 litre tank was half empty by the time I'd finished.

I've got sand in all my tanks now and you clean those differently as all the muck sits on top of the sand.

The technique is to hover the end of the tube about half an inch above the sand and make tiny swirling motions to make the muck float a bit and it goes straight up the tube. I started using an ordinary siphon tube but didn't like the wide bit on the end so took it off and just used the tubing. Then decided that was too short and 'rescued' the siphon tube from an old wine making kit in the attic, which is longer and narrower. I start the siphon by filling the tube under the tap, carrying the full tube to the tank and with a thumb over each end I lower one into the tank and the other into the bucket. The other alternative is to suck the tube to get the water flowing 
As for the sand I suck up, I empty the bucket carefully, wash the sand in the bucket under the tap and put it back in the tank. The tiny amount of undechlorinated water that goes in with it won't do any harm.

Do you have just gravel on the bottom or is there a plant substrate underneath? If it's just gravel, then it's just the fish poo, uneaten food etc that's collected in the gravel. There is a slight chance that kicking up this sediment can cause an ammonia spike, so keep your eyes on that for a few days after it happens.

Do you have just gravel on the bottom or is there a plant substrate underneath? If it's just gravel, then it's just the fish poo, uneaten food etc that's collected in the gravel. There is a slight chance that kicking up this sediment can cause an ammonia spike, so keep your eyes on that for a few days after it happens.

torch and goggles