Has anyone used the Eheim Sludge Extractor/Battery Powered Gravel Cleaner? It's a tad pricey, but I have to have a submersible due to tank depth - and this one is submersible. Due to some reviews on the web and elsewhere from a few folks who complained that the battery compartment leaked, I want some feedback from serious fish keepers before I jump off and buy one. Maybe Eheim has improved the design, if in fact it did leak at one point? Any one have good or negative impressions of this product? (Obviously I use a Python for water changes but I need to be able to just do routine gravel cleaning too.)

And of course, if anyone is aware of another model or brand that is submersible and battery powered which they want to recommend, I'd be so grateful to hear about it!

I have an Eheim and I really like it. I use it probably once a week, maybe twice, in between water changes. Easy to use if you have the depth. Not sure if they have more than one size? The one I used on my 45 gal tall works only so-so on the 20 gal because it isn't as deep.

Batteries wear out kind of quickly if you use it often, but to me it's worth it. And I haven't noticed any leaking at all.

On full batteries (and anytime), watch that you don't suck up any small fish because it is powerful! Any sucked up fish would be truly lost because of the impeller/gears etc - it doesn't just suck them up like a siphon where you can rescue them from your bucket, it's job is to not only collect solids but to break down solids into small enough pieces to enable the tank filter to remove them. So it makes the water cloudy for a little while til the filter does its job. Just hover close to the gravel and keep your finger on the power button at all times just in case somebody gets too close.

Sounds like it is scary but not really! Like I said, I really like mine...it does a good job. Oh and I have a gravel base not sand. I think sand would be more problematic on full batteries, but never tried it so not sure. Maybe someone else has used it with a sand substrate and can comment further.

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Niki

4 tanks, all planted:
20 gal tall
10 gal
2 - 5 gal tanks

anubias, java fern, java moss, water sprite, vesuvius, wisteria, red cryptocoryne wendtii
48 Watt T5HO on the 20

many happy guppies
one crabby betta

Thanks so much, Niki, for the great information on the Eheim sludge extractor/gravel cleaner! Your experience from using it and sharing it with me is so valuable. I hate to learn things the hard way .... in this case, the power of the cleaner and how to watch out for small fish being sucked in. The only gravel cleaner I have ever used was years ago, and I would have never guessed that they had souped them up! I am going to go ahead with my purchase. Many thanks!

You are most welcome! I'm sure it will be very helpful to you with your tank maintenance!

__________________
Niki

4 tanks, all planted:
20 gal tall
10 gal
2 - 5 gal tanks

anubias, java fern, java moss, water sprite, vesuvius, wisteria, red cryptocoryne wendtii
48 Watt T5HO on the 20

many happy guppies
one crabby betta