[mgood]

Or, you could use a fish tape (HA! I said "fish tape" on an aquarium forum) with a brush attached to the end. I've done this before but I don't have any hoses long enough to need that anymore. Fish tape, for anyone confused, is used for running wires. Invaluable for many uses.

I use now a thicker diameter weedeater line, attached to proper size brush on end. Works great for cleaning intake and return hoses.

 

[mgood]

Im gonna check out that magfox thing...since i wont be worries about scratching tank glass, magnets might be okay! Id be worries about it getting stuck in there, and i cant get it out!
What is a fish tape?
WeedWhacker line sounds doable, though what brush would be small enough? If i attach a velcro or even a peice of fabric, how should i go about doing that? Again, im worried about it coming off, and getting stuck!

Hi-
Fish tape is basically a coil of semi-bendable plastic with a loop on one end for fastening--whatever. It's used to "fish" wires under carpet, behind a car's dash, basically anywhere you can't reach. It has enough stiffness that it will run through on both pull and push, to clean hoses. I used on on long hose before. My hoses are short now, just on the tank so I don't use that now.

I use the weedeater line now. Basically you have to fashion some sort of thing on one end, to hold the brush. I heat the end, bend it into a U - shape, then attach the right size brush. I got my brushes on clearance at fish.com a couple of years back. I bought all they had at the time, for a stupid low price of like $0.13 / 3 pack or something ridiculous like that. I got a 2' square box chock full of supplies for less than $15. I'm still using the same supplies.

New brushes can be gotten nearly anywhere-- all you do is cut the handle part off (twisted wire), and attach to the end of the weedeater line.

Then, thread the open end through the hose-- then pull the line through, with the brush attached. You have to pull it all the way out, then run it through in reverse. This is the benefit of the fish tape-- it's stiff enough you can push / pull at any point if there's a stubborn part.