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Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner Review 2024: Pros, Cons & Verdict

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By Lindsey Stanton

Fluval Edge gravel cleaner

Aquariums need regular maintenance. That is just a matter of fact. If you are not prepared to do weekly fish tank cleanings, you probably should not have a fish tank to begin with. Now, with that being said, there are some tools at your disposal to help make life easier. The gravel cleaner is one of these tools.

Yes, gravel is used as substrate and yes, it gets dirty. Fish waste and other organic materials will get all up in that gravel, and to keep the tank in prime condition, that gravel needs to be cleaned.

Today we are doing this Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner review to try and help you find a gravel cleaner that works best for you. It’s a pretty decent option to go with, a simple but decent option.

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Our Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner Review

Fluval edge aquarium gravel cleaner

Features

The Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner is a super simple gravel vacuum siphon to go with, one that does not come with many features at all. There is not much included here, but what is included works pretty darn well. It might not be the fanciest gravel cleaner around, but it tends to get the job done quite well.

Easy Startup

One thing that needs to be mentioned about this particular gravel cleaner is that it is very easy to get started. Many gravel siphons out there require a long, difficult, and fairly laborious startup process. In other words, getting the suction started to vacuum the waste away from the gravel can be a bit of a pain.

However, when it comes to this model by Fluval Edge, it seems to be quite easy to start. All you really need to do is put the front in the water, put the other end of the hose in a bucket or sink, and shake it back and forth. Yes, you might have to shake it back and forth for a good minute, but compared to other options, it’s really not that difficult or labor-intensive.

The Gravel Guard

A problem that many gravel vacuums out there experience is that they tend to get clogged way too easily. In other words, the front of them tends to not have a good mechanism to keep gravel out. Yes, these are called gravel vacuums, but their purpose is to suck up the waste around the gravel, not the gravel itself.

This particular gravel cleaner comes with a nice gravel guard in the front. This helps you to suck up waste without the gravel, this leaving the aquarium gravel where it is supposed to be. This also goes a long way in helping the Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner to stop from getting clogged. It is a very simple feature, but it usually works quite well.

2 Cleaning Heads

Another beneficial feature that you get with this gravel cleaner is that it comes with 2 cleaning heads. One of them is better for using in heavily decorated aquariums that have a lot of plants and other objects, plus for smaller gravel pieces.

The other cleaning head is better for larger gravel pieces and aquariums that are not so heavily decorated. Whatever the case may be, this thing comes with enough cleaning heads for pretty much any purpose.

A 5 Foot Hose

Another convenient aspect of this particular aquarium gravel cleaning tool is that it comes with a super long 5-foot hose. This is convenient because it means that the other end can easily reach a bucket or nearby sink.

Having a short hose is never good no matter who or what you are, something which the makers of this gravel cleaner seem to have gotten right.

Pros
  • Hose is more than long enough for most purposes.
  • Comes with a fairly effective gravel guard.
  • Made of durable plastic materials.
  • Features 2 cleaning heads for versatility.
  • Fairly easy to start the suction when compared to other gravel cleaners.
Cons
  • Gravel guard may still let in smaller pieces of gravel.
  • Some items may have a kink from the packaging.

starfish 3 dividerAn Alternative Option

We personally think that the Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner is a really nice option to go with, but it does have a couple of drawbacks as you can see. With that being said, you might not like this option for whatever reason, in which case we have a nice alternative which you can take a closer look at right here. (We have also reviewed our top 5 on a different article here).

LONDAFISH Electric Fish Tank Vacuum Cleaner

Londafish electric fish tank gravel cleaner

This is a pretty neat option to go with, one that requires even less work and effort than the one we reviewed above. This particular model is an electric gravel cleaner. One big benefit that you get here is that the suction starts automatically, and you can easily control it with the flick of a switch.

Unlike the Fluval, this one only comes with one cleaning head, but it does have a telescopic front gravel hose, which means you can adjust the length to suit shallow and deep aquariums alike.

What is also cool is that this thing comes complete with a collection bag, so the water that sucks out of the tank is automatically filtered from the debris. While this thing does have some issues in terms of durability, as well as the longevity of the motor, it is easier to use than the Fluval.

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Verdict

At the end of the day, the Fluval Edge Gravel cleaner is a pretty decent choice to go with. No, it’s nothing overly fancy and its features are a little limited. However, for basic aquarium gravel cleaning needs, it should do just fine.

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