Bioscape Easy Start Gravel Cleaner
Water type
Freshwater + Marine
Bioscape Easy Start Gravel Cleaner
A self-starting gravel siphon with no mouth-priming, sized to fit tanks from nano to large. The Bioscape Easy Start Gravel Cleaner clears waste from the substrate during water changes without any suction-starting: dunk the rigid tube, work it up and down a few times, and the flexible hose does the rest. It comes in five tube sizes — Mini, Small, Medium, Large and XLarge — so there's a length and diameter to suit most freshwater and marine setups.
Key features
- Easy-start siphon — no mouth-priming or pump bulb; a few strokes of the rigid tube gets water flowing.
- Rigid intake, flexible hose — the hard tube gives you control right down at the substrate, while the soft hose carries waste water to a bucket without kinking.
- Bucket clip included — clips to the rim so the hose stays put and you can work hands-free.
- Five sizes — tube length and diameter both scale up through the range, so nano owners and large-tank keepers can each pick a cleaner sized to their tank and gravel.
- Freshwater and marine safe — suits both, no special adaptation needed.
Specifications
| Type | Gravel cleaner / siphon, easy-start |
|---|---|
| Components | Rigid intake tube, flexible siphon hose, bucket clip |
| Water type | Freshwater and marine |
| Sizes available | Mini, Small, Medium, Large, XLarge |
Which size do I need?
Length determines reach — pick a tube long enough to comfortably span from the waterline down to your substrate without your hand going underwater. Diameter determines how fast it lifts debris and how coarse a substrate it can handle — wider tubes clear faster and cope with heavier waste, but need a firmer hand to avoid pulling gravel through with the muck.
| Size | Tube length | Tube diameter | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 12.7cm | 2.5cm | Nano and small tanks, fine substrate |
| Small | 22cm | 2.5cm | Small to medium tanks, fine to medium substrate |
| Medium | 22cm | 4cm | Medium tanks, medium to coarse substrate |
| Large | 25cm | 5cm | Medium to large tanks, coarse substrate or heavy bioload |
| XLarge | 38cm | 5cm | Large and deep tanks, coarse substrate or heavy bioload |
Bioscape doesn't publish an exact litre rating per size — the table above is the manufacturer's own tube dimensions, so match it against your tank's depth and your substrate grain rather than a litre number.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
- Suitable for: routine substrate cleaning and water changes in freshwater and marine aquariums.
- Not suitable for: tanks with very fine sand and shrimp or fry present — use a lower flow rate or a sand-safe attachment, since the rigid tube can lift light substrate and small livestock along with debris.
Care and maintenance
Bioscape recommends replacing 25–30% of aquarium water every two to four weeks; the gravel cleaner is the tool for that change. Rinse the tube and hose after use and let them dry fully before storing to stop mould forming inside the hose.
Warranty and delivery
Covered by your consumer guarantee rights under Australian Consumer Law against manufacturing faults. Longer sizes ship as a bulky item, which may add delivery costs at checkout.
Common questions
Do I need to suck-start the siphon?
No — that's the point of the Easy Start design. A few up-and-down strokes of the rigid tube with the end submerged gets the siphon flowing.
Which size fits my tank?
Match the tube length to your tank's depth so you can reach the substrate without submerging your hand, and pick the diameter based on your substrate: finer sand suits the narrower Mini and Small tubes, coarser gravel and heavier bioloads suit Medium through XLarge.
Is it safe to use around shrimp or fry?
Take care — the intake can lift small livestock along with debris. Reduce flow, keep the tube well clear of animals, or use a mesh guard if you're cleaning a shrimp or fry tank.
