Dining with Discus

[hedut]

Nice setup Dan, thanks for sharing.


hendri

[rickztahone]

hey Don, quick question. when you use the hoses to siphon the tank bottom how do you start the siphon? do the hoses stay primed somehow? i only ask because i find myself sucking on my hoses to get them started, and let me tell you...that gets old really quick!, lol. love the setup btw, truly well done

[DonMD]

hey Don, quick question. when you use the hoses to siphon the tank bottom how do you start the siphon? do the hoses stay primed somehow? i only ask because i find myself sucking on my hoses to get them started, and let me tell you...that gets old really quick!, lol. love the setup btw, truly well done

Ohhh, I used to do that, suck on the hoses. Don't do that!

It's extremely easy to start the syphon. Put a small ball valve on the end of the hose (like the ones they sell for hoses at the hardware store). Now, keeping the valve open, insert the syphon and most of the hose into the tank (try not to spook your fish too much), close the valve (the valve is usually just a couple inches from the surface of the water).

With the valve closed, lower the syphon hose to the drain, connect it (I use a quick connect) and IMMEDIATELY open the little valve. Since the water in the hose is below the top level of the water in the aquarium, water rushes down the hose.

hth. -Don