The Best Aquarium Electric Gravel Cleaners for Your Tank

Large or small, an aquarium is an attractive addition to any space. From the gentle sound of the water to the colorful movement of the fish, it adds life and texture to any room. Proponents say a fish aquarium in your home makes you calmer, helps you sleep, and can improve focused creativity. The problem is, to do it right takes some work. You’ll need all the necessary equipment, from filters to bubblers, hiding places, and substrate, like gravel. And of course, you’ll need to keep it clean.

The gravel in your fish tank hides uneaten food, fish waste, and decayed plants, so it can become toxic for your fish if it’s not cleaned regularly. Cleaning the gravel by hand means taking everything out of the tank (including the fish) and thoroughly rinsing most of the rocks. Which of course, is time-consuming and a lot of work.

Fortunately, an effective electric gravel cleaner saves you time and hassle. So, we’ve done the research and made a list of the best aquarium electric gravel cleaners for your tank, including an increasing number of affordable, high-quality electric gravel cleaners.

Top Picks: The Best Aquarium Electric Gravel Cleaners for Your Tank Today

#1 Overall Best: NICREW Automatic Gravel Cleaner

In our review, the best overall aquarium electric gravel cleaner is the NICREW Automatic Gravel Cleaner for its powerful cleaning suction and ease of use. The NICREW Gravel Cleaner filters water as it vacuums your gravel by trapping debris and particles and then releasing the water back into your tank. You can use it as part of your complete aquarium cleaning or for quick spot maintenance.

There is no need for batteries since this electric gravel cleaner uses an electrical plug. But don’t worry, it’s still completely submersible, so you can get all the debris at the bottom of your tank. It also comes with an extension nozzle for hard-to-reach places and bigger tanks, an extension tube, and a suction nozzle.

Suitable for freshwater and saltwater aquariums, the NICREW works in up to 28 inches of water depth without an attachment. For deeper aquariums, you can add the tube or nozzle extensions. It has a 120-volt 6-watt motor, so it doesn’t take up too much electricity. With a flow rate of 90 gallons per hour (GPH), this gravel cleaner will quickly get the job done, whether you are spot cleaning or deep cleaning your entire tank. The parts used are all eco-friendly, and it is easy to assemble and take apart.

However, while this gravel cleaner can be used with saltwater or freshwater tanks, it is not designed to be used with sand. You should only use the NICREW Gravel Cleaner if your gravel is 2 millimeters or larger.

Pros and Cons of the NICREW Automatic Gravel Cleaner

Best Overall

NICREW Electric Aquarium Gravel Cleaner

• Powerful cleaning suction
• Easy to use
• Filters the water while you vacuum
• Works with both saltwater and freshwater aquariums
• Great for quick spot maintenance
• Works in 28-inch-deep water

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2. Best Tool Kit: UPETTOOLS Aquarium Gravel Cleaner

With six different functions, the UPETOOLS Aquarium Gravel Cleaner makes tank maintenance easier. Not only can you clean your aquarium with this tool, but you can also change out the water as well.

Made for freshwater and saltwater tanks of various depths, the UPETOOLS Gravel Cleaner is a powerful tool with a multi-use design. It can change out the water of your tank, clear your tank’s water of debris, and remove toxins and other impurities. In addition, it can perform three extra functions: sand washing, water flow, and water shower. It features a 100-volt, 28-watt motor and 449.09 GPH flow rate. That means you can completely change out the water in a 180-gallon tank in just 30 minutes!

This gravel cleaner uses four unique modes. The 360-degree duckbill head is perfect for cleaning gravel, while the 45-degree corner head allows you to change out the water without sucking up sand. The third mode is strictly a water changer, and the fourth is a water shower to add oxygen to your tank. With all these options, however, cleaning can become time-consuming as you switch between each setting.

The motor is detachable and can be easily cleaned without additional tools. The adjustable pump flow makes it suitable for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Plus, this gravel cleaner is lightweight, weighing only 2.2 pounds, so you can move it around easily. However, this model has a tendency to clog more quickly than some of the other options out there, so you may have to clean it more often.

Pros and Cons of the UPETTOOLS Aquarium Gravel Cleaner

Best Tool Kit

UPETTOOLS Aquarium Cleaning Kit

• Multi-function attachments
• Works in freshwater and saltwater tanks
• Includes tools like sand washer, debris cleaner and more
• Adjustable pump flow
• Comes with a limited lifetime warranty

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3. Best Battery-Powered: Eheim Quick Vac Automatic Gravel Cleaner and Sludge Extractor

The Eheim Quick Vac Automatic Gravel Cleaner and Sludge Extractor is battery-operated and easy to use. It is built to stand up to thick sludge and the entire unit can be submerged up to 3 feet deep.

This gravel cleaner is designed for comprehensive tank cleaning. It powerfully suctions dirty water and filters it through an advanced filtration system, then returns it to the aquarium. The vacuum is easy to clean and uses a fine mesh cartridge to trap dirt and debris, releasing filtered water back into the aquarium. From leftover food to plant material and tough fish waste, this device can easily rid your tank of any debris, reaching up to 3 feet underwater.

The Eheim Quick Vac fits the bill if you’re looking for a handy tool for quick substrate cleaning in between water changes. You don’t need any buckets or hoses. It’s battery-operated and comes with four AA batteries, so you don’t need to worry about cords getting in the way. Equipped with a super-fine mesh cartridge, it effectively captures debris while remaining simple to clean. This mesh is also removable and easy to clean.

This gravel cleaner is 24 inches when it is fully assembled. It provides powerful suction for aquariums of all shapes and sizes that are at least 12 inches deep. However, the Eheim Quick Vac is not suited to use with sand or fine gravel. In addition, if your tank is especially dirty, the fine mesh can get clogged easily, so you may have to clean it more until your tank is cleaner.

Pros and Cons of the Eheim Quick Vac Automatic Gravel Cleaner and Sludge Extractor

Best Battery-Powered

EHEIM Quick Vac Pro Automatic Gravel Cleaner and Sludge Extractor

• Battery-operated
• Easy to use
• Entire unit is waterproof
• Easy to clean
• Can handle thick sludge

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4. Best Multipurpose: AQQA Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Siphon Kit

The AQQA Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Siphon Kit offers six functions in a single to help make cleaning your fish tank quicker and easier. First, it has a 360-degree rapid water intake strainer that quickly drains the water in your aquarium for a complete water change. The motor is designed to start at the lowest water level of two inches, but it can even suck up water as low as just half an inch!

Next, the 360-degree brush head brushes and sucks at the same time to clean dirt from the walls, rocks, and other types of décor in your aquarium. The gravel washer has a filter sponge so you can remove impurities even in fine sand. The 45-degree corner suction inlet is a great option for cleaning rocks and pebbles in your tank since it can get to the impurities hidden between the stones.

The duckbill suction inlet sucks up food, fish waste, and other impurities that the vacuum missed. It also has a spatula that helps to loosen any persistent debris that might be stuck. Lastly, the water shower and filter bag can help to increase water circulation, clean and filter your tank without absorbing water, or it can be used as a shower for turtles.

The handle of the AQQA Aquarium Gravel Cleaner extends from 16 to 33 inches. However, some customers reported that this gravel cleaner is cumbersome if you are using it with a smaller tank. In addition, many users said that the hose is too short for easy cleaning and can make the angle of the handle difficult to use.

Pros and Cons of the AQQA Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Siphon Kit

Best Multipurpose

AQQA 6 in 1 Electric Cleaning Kit

• Automatic water filtration washes sand while it clean
• Removes debris
• Extendable handle reaches up to 33 inches
• Works great in low-water-level tanks
• Easy cleaning and storage

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5. Best Gravel Cleaner with Brush Heads: Hygger 5-in-1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner

The Hygger 5-in-1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner is both extendable and powerful, and you can use it in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Its handle extends from 11 to 40 inches to reach the deepest corners of your tank. Plus, with its brush heads, you can scrub off the gunk that tends to build up in the corners of the tank.

The Hygger Aquarium Gravel Cleaner comes with a non-slip handle, sand vacuum head, debris vacuum head, brush head, and sand washer, making it easy to tackle any aquarium. You also get 6.5 feet of water tubing that extends up to 32.7 inches for those hard-to-reach spaces. Its 360 GPH flow rate and 20-watt pump help you to clean your fish tank efficiently and effectively. It’s easy to assemble and also comes with a replaceable filter sponge.

Some customers reported that this gravel cleaner may require some careful maneuvering and didn’t have quite as much suction power as they would have liked. You may need to tilt or lift the attachment slightly rather than having it flush with the bottom of your tank for better suction.

Pros and Cons of the Hygger 5-in-1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner

Best Cleaner with Brush Heads

Hygger 5-in-1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner

• Cleaner is extendable for hard-to-reach spots
• Powerful suction and filtering leaves tanks spotless
• Scrub off nasty build-up
• Gravel washer and sand vacuum
• Comes with a washable and replaceable filter sponge

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When choosing the best electric aquarium gravel cleaner, there are several important factors to consider. These include suction power, ease of cleaning, power source, substrate, size of the tank, animals in the tank, and additional features.

Suction Power

Suction power is more critical with bigger tanks. The faster you can suck up debris and filter the water, the quicker your job is done. However, a vacuum with too much power will suck up the gravel as well as the waste, causing clogs and wasting time.

Ease of Cleaning

If it takes an hour to clean and disassemble the tool you use to clean your tank, you’re not saving a lot of effort and time. The best electric aquarium gravel cleaners are easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean.

Power Source

With electric gravel cleaners, you can choose either one that is either electrically operated (plugs into the wall) or battery-operated. Battery-operated cleaners are easier to use since you don’t have to worry about the cord. However, you do have to change the batteries out, and you must make sure that no water gets into the battery compartment. Electrically operated gravel cleaners are often more powerful, but you’ll need to make sure you don’t touch the plug with wet hands.

Substrate

Not all aquarium gravel cleaners can be used with different types of substrate. Many are made for gravel of a certain size and will clog and burn out if you use them with sand. Make sure to check what type of substrate you will be using before purchasing a gravel cleaner so that you get one that is suited to your aquarium.

Animals in the Tank

If you have snails, fish, or other invertebrates that live in the substrate or gravel of your aquarium, you’ll need to be careful when cleaning your tank. A powerful electric gravel cleaner can be more effective than a siphon-action one, but it might also suck up and even kill animals or plants. So, make sure to use the traditional method if your tank has these types of creatures.

Additional Features

Some gravel vacuums just suck and filter, while others come with brushes, scoops, and other accessories that can help with stubborn and hard-to-reach debris.

The Two Types of Aquarium Gravel Cleaners

There are two main types of aquarium gravel cleaners for fish tanks: siphon vacuum cleaners and electric aquarium gravel cleaners. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s up to you to decide which one is the most suitable for your situation.

Siphon Vacuum Cleaners

Siphon gravel vacuums are a popular and affordable solution for cleaning fish tanks. They are easy to use, rely on gravity, and are cheaper than electric aquarium gravel cleaners. However, as they can suck up both dirt and water, it is necessary to drain the tank each time they are used. While this may not always be convenient, siphon gravel vacuums may be a useful tool when changing the water in your fish tank.

Electric Aquarium Gravel Cleaners

Electric gravel cleaners are more powerful than siphon vacuums, but they are also more expensive. Rather than draining the aquarium, the electric models circulate water through a filter to collect food particles, waste, and other debris. This makes them great for cleaning the bottom of aquariums. Electric gravel cleaners can offer a much smoother user experience than a siphon vacuum, but they also require more setup.

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