The 12 Best Small Tank siphons (2023 reviews)

The python small tank siphon has good features for the price point. If you are looking for a simple mechanical siphon for cleaning gravel and doing water changes, look no further. It cleans up a 10 gallon tank well, not too fast, not too slow. It has a good strength, and is able to remove the debris from the gravel without sucking the gravel too far up the tube. It also takes a while to empty out water so it makes water changes take a little longer but that being said this is a good very basic siphon for smaller aquariums.

The flow rate is perfect for lifting and cleaning gravel or for gradual water changes and it's made from quality materials.

Why We Like This:

Great for simple and fast gravel cleanings
Works very well for a 5-10 gallon tank
Perfect for tall but small tanks

Best For FISHTANK: Laifoo Small Tank Siphon

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If you often find yourself scrambling for appropriate and satisfactory siphon, laifoo small tank siphon should be your first option for buying. It surely is better than filling and hauling buckets back and forth. It connects to any faucet head and does a really good job at siphoning fish gunk from the tank. It can only lead water from a higher position to a lower postion.

This product takes a little longer to empty tank, but it does the job. It is easy to use and the hose is long enough for any job. It is convenient to siphon fish faeces, impurities, and turbid water out of the tank & refill clean water by switching connector. It also is thin rubber hosing. The quality of the items are pretty good, nice hardware attachments and the hose is of good thick quality.

Why We Like This:

More emptying buckets or filling buckets to dump in the aquarium
Good suction and easy to start
New and hot release

Best For someone With More Tanks: Luigis Small Tank Siphon

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate siphon. The luigis small tank siphon is exactly that - it's a simple siphon that hits all the right notes. This little pump makes it so easy to pump water out when it comes time for water change. It is easy to get the siphon going with only three squeezes of the bulb. The simplicity in the design makes it easy to clean and properly store.

This siphon is sleek and has a wide shower head to suck things up which make it easy to vacuum the top of the substrate and to get things out of the water. The siphoning is so easy, the filter works great to keep out the rocks and tank objects, yet sucks up all the yuck produced and settled at the bottom. It fully disassembles for easy cleaning and goes back together easily. This product is great for removing tiny debris from the tank quickly, especially with the filter that it comes with.

Why We Like This:

Suction is good, just squeeze the bulb a few times
Amazing, and affordable device for aquatic tank maintenance
Good investment for long term

Best With priming bulb: boxtech Small Tank Siphon

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The boxtech small tank siphon's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This thing allows you to do anything from a 5% water change to a complete drain and refill. It takes in water fast and cleans the tank well. The suction is very very good, if you don't pinch your hose, you will not have any water left in your tank.

Water changer, washing sand, cleaning, it’s a multifunctional cleaning tool. The siphon bulb works perfectly, and the water flow is strong. This works good for not only changing the water in the tank but also for cleaning the gravel. It is extremely easy to keep your tanks looking good.

Why We Like This:

Great for cleaning the fish tank
Keeps hands dry and suction power is very good
Easy to use, excellent drawing power, good filtration
Definitely better suited for larger tanks given the medium-high flow rate

Best For medium And large Fish Tanks: Enomol Small Tank Siphon

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention enomol small tank siphon for daily purpose. This Gravel vacuum is superior. It feels very secure and flexible. It comes with different adapters to fit in any type of sink. It’s very easy to assemble, and it works great for both removing and adding water. There's a small button on one of the brass pieces. The attachment valve pops off easily, and works great for both removing and adding water. This one is very sturdy plastic.

Why We Like This:

Easy to use easy to assemble and clean up time is fast
Just the right amount of suction
Easy to use quality is excellent and easy to read and do instructions

Best For Easy Water changes: VIVOSUN Small Tank Siphon

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The vivosun small tank siphon is capable of outshining several other siphon featured in this list in overall features in its price range. It is the global leader for at-home growing technology & equipment. It is made with two nozzles. Once you start to use the product the flexibility is awesome and it works great. It is used for draining water from the tank. It makes cleaning a breeze to add to that it is great in low water level.

It's really light, but strong. The tuning is extremely flimsy & makes cleaning difficult since it collapses constantly. This has definitely improved the desire to clean the tank more often.

Why We Like This:

Able to minimize trauma to fishes in cleaning
Great for beginners or small tank
New and hot release

Best For removing little excess Debris: Aqueon Small Tank Siphon

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The aqueon small tank siphon is specially designed for your regular usage and has all useful features. It works in really small tanks like 1.2 and 2.5 gallons. The mechanism to get water pumping through the vacuum is a up-down motion, so you would have to put the siphon into the tank, and quickly move it up and down. It cleans the bottom of the tank really well, and picks up all the plant and food debris. It makes water changes quick, but it also does suck up smaller gravel and make it hard to get a good gravel cleaning in if you want to clean all of it.

With the tank on a dresser and the bucket on the floor the suction is very strong making the rather small diameter 'gravel cleaning' part not really all that functional as the gravel gets sucked all the way into the tube etc. The siphon is easy to start and it easily sucks up gravel for cleaning.

Why We Like This:

Small enough to fit in 10 gallon fish tank
Easy to get it primed and flowing, has great suction
Works really well and the one way valve is a nice touch
Has great suction once you get it to start sucking

Best For Betta Fish: Sungrow Small Tank Siphon

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Not everyone likes to purchase siphon for their regular usage, but the sungrow small tank siphon would be an anomoly. The Sungrow aquarium pump nozzle kit with siphon is a system with a hand controller that helps you clear out your tank efficiently and quickly by having the features you definitely need. It is 60+ inches long and can get into tight places. It does suction very well, and the grate on the end of the funnel does help prevent too much gravel from picking up. It is easy to pump the water out and the suction works well.

This pump will pump you up. It comes with a 2.8” wide nozzle, nozzle net, flexible standard tubing, operation/pump bulb and discharge hose. It does suck up some sand even with the attachment if you touch it to the substrate but that's no huge deal. It should work as long as the end with the bulb is lower than the water level.

Why We Like This:

Perfect for cleaning a large tank
Cleaning kit is very easy to use
Great product to clean aquarium gravel

Best For Cleaning A Small rank: Aquaneat Small Tank Siphon

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Compared with other siphon in this category, the aquaneat small tank siphon has a convenient design. The Aquarium gets clean easily with this siphon. It is easy to start the suction by squeezing the bulb quickly a few times. It is also useful outdoors, after a heavy rain, to remove excess water from a cachepot holding heavy/large potted plants. It takes approximately three to four minutes to fill the Pail.

The suction bulb is below the siphon and it works perfectly and sucked up all the waste and debris. It is great for cleaning out debris on top of the sand and in the gravel.

Why We Like This:

Makes water changes very easy, you just squeeze and that's it
Good no frills siphon and does what its supposed to do, siphon water
Good for draining not for cleaning

Best For Aquarium Water changes: Hygger Small Tank Siphon

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Next on the list, we've got yet another siphon that manages to win our hearts. It's the hygger small tank siphon and it's widely considered as siphon that has the most suitable features. This little gravel vac is incredibly easy to use and the trigger system works brilliantly to get the flow started. It makes partial water changes a lot simpler and quicker. It is suitable for various types of fish tanks, with spliced extension tubes, two-stage splicing combination, both large and small tanks are suitable, and extension tube can be installed according to demand. It does disassemble quickly and easily so not a real draw back but a drawback nonetheless.

There is an extension for the tube that goes into the tank, so you wont need to get your hands in the water. They also put a screen where the tube enters the handle, so that just gets clogged and it becomes useless. The hose stop clip definitely comes in handy. This worked so well, instructions were very easy to follow, very easy to use and very easy to take apart to clean up.

Why We Like This:

Great for crushed coral/aragonite sand tanks
Suction amazing and huge time saver
Delivers what they promise

Best For gentle spot Cleaning: Arepk Small Tank Siphon

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Best part: arepk small tank siphon costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. This set is absolutely perfect for either doing a quickie cleaning or a full water change for shrimp tank. It is suitable for aquarium water changer and fish tank cleaning under 10 gallons of water, and meticulous aquarium cleaning above 10 gallons of water. It has various options for attachments and it has one that works great in the sand and substrate and can get behind rocks and in the nooks and crannies that bigger ones can’t reach.

This is perfect for gentle spot cleaning for shrimp tank. The filter attachment is great for getting in-between tank decor and the sides of the tank. It’s lightweight and easy to store. It is perfect for a 10 gallon fish tank.

Why We Like This:

Great for small tanks and no drinking aquarium water
Great for 5gal tank with small gravel
Perfect for tanks 20 gallons or smaller
Perfect for small tanks or syphoning small particles

Best For larger Tanks: JOR Small Tank Siphon

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Jor line of siphon come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. This one is so simple and easy to use. It works well for siphoning a gas tank like the one you fill your snowblower with. It makes, adding and removing water for the tank a breeze. It is suitable for maintaining both freshwater and saltwater tanks. It is easy to use and maneuver around the tanks.

The best part is, this system doesn’t stress or bear an adverse effect to your aquarium fish while it is being used. It is made of high-quality to not let aquarium fish get disturbed while it is being used. Each part is meticulously designed to give you the best experience you can possibly have.

Why We Like This:

More scooping up dirty water with a pail
Helps to clean tank great size
Reaches the bottom and no sucking to get siphon to work