Can't use gravel cleaner

[shish]

We're new to owning fish. We have a 25l tank which we did all the water testing/ cycling with before we added guppies with the permission of the pet shop.

I need to clean the gravel with the water change but I just can't get the gravel cleaner to work. I've watched lots of YouTube videos and no matter which way I do it I just can't get it to pump any of the water out. Any help or tips would be massively appreciated..

[TreeSparrow]

What part are you struggling with exactly? The hose outlet needs to be lower than the intake for gravity to keep the suction going. Are you struggling to get it started?

[shish]

Hi. Yeah I'm struggling to get it started. I have the bucket down lower..

[TreeSparrow]

Normally you suck on the end of the outlet pipe until the water comes up and over the side of the tank.

Or you can submerge all the pipework to fill it with water, put your thumb over the end of the outlet pipe and lift it up over the side down to the bucket, then release your thumb. The water should start flowing then.

[Stylingwax]

I always found sucking the quickest. But you have to be quick to get the end on the bucket for obvious reasons!

[shish]

I'd be a bit nervous about sucking on it! I'll try the thumb over the end again first I think..