Questions about water changing equipment

[Sandy C]

I presently have a python but, it does not seem to have enough suction to clean the gravel completely. I use a hand held one with a squeeze tube to drain in a bucket, but, this is hard on my back lugging these buckets. Is there anywhere to buy a hand held suction tube that would be about 25' long , that would drain in to the sink? I know they sell some battery operated ones, but they are pretty expensive. Any ideas? Did I make myself clear? Thanks

[rickztahone]

I presently have a python but, it does not seem to have enough suction to clean the gravel completely. I use a hand held one with a squeeze tube to drain in a bucket, but, this is hard on my back lugging these buckets. Is there anywhere to buy a hand held suction tube that would be about 25' long , that would drain in to the sink? I know they sell some battery operated ones, but they are pretty expensive. Any ideas? Did I make myself clear? Thanks
Use gravity to your advantage and get a long hose at a hardware store. Get one that has a reinforced wall so it doesnt kink on you.

[Sandy C]

So, what you are saying, is just use the one I have, but, put a longer hose on it? I wasn't sure if the gravity feed would work for that long of a hose.

[gwrace]

Attach your Python to an outside faucet or garden hose. You should have much more pressure there. I water my trees, lawn and rose bushes with the tank water while they are draining. I believe the Python hose is 50 or 75 feet long. I almost have to much pressure and have to watch that the Python does not suck up the gravel or fish. I then refill the tanks from in the house where I can use pre-heated and treated water. Since we are on a septic system I don't want all that excess water running into the tank.

[jeff@zina.com]

Attach your Python to an outside faucet or garden hose. You should have much more pressure there. I water my trees, lawn and rose bushes with the tank water while they are draining.

That's what always bothered me about running a python, the cost of the water that does nothing but provide the pressure. At least you're making use of it. My other issue is treating the water for chloramines, I hate just guessing how much is going in the tank and adding chemicals like Amquel or Prime based on a random guess.

Jeff

[DonMD]

Sandy, I don't know if your house has a basement or lower level. In my case, I have a washing machine and a dryer in the basement, and a laundry sink. I clamp the end of the hose on the inside of the sink, and upstairs I start siphoning out water, and gravity really pulls it out.

If you only have a single level house, I don't really know what you can do. Sorry.

[mjs020294]

I have a single level house and siphoning works just fine. The bottom of my tank is about three feet above the yard, and that is more than enough head to get a decent flow through a 75 foot hose.

[Jhhnn]

Sometimes just laying the python hose down in the bathtub gives better flow than hooking it to a sink- there's more fall for the siphon action. No waste, either, other than what comes out of the tank.

I use these to siphon my bare bottom tanks w/ more hose added on- they should be adaptable to gravel vacs-

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100372238/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

also a battery powered model I haven't tried-

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100125308/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Or splice your squeeze bulb siphon onto your python hose w/ an inexpensive plastic or brass hose barb from a hardware store... Larger hose can help, too, particularly w/ longer runs.

[Sandy C]

Thanks for the info...
If I just got a longer hose, would gravity alone work running to a sink about 25 feet away? I do have a sink in the basement but I would need about 100 feet of hose...?

[Jhhnn]

Thanks for the info...
If I just got a longer hose, would gravity alone work running to a sink about 25 feet away? I do have a sink in the basement but I would need about 100 feet of hose...?

Siphon action increases when the difference in height between the inlet and outlet is greater. That's why putting the outlet at the bottom of the bathtub increases flow. It also increases with larger hoses and shorter length of hose.

You can also use a powerhead to finish draining after vacuuming, or a safety siphon gizmo from Jehmco...

[diamond_discus]

Perhaps you can try this :

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?cleaning&1268565645

[fish nut]

Perhaps you can try this :

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?cleaning&1268565645

I had them when I started keeping fish and only use it for 1-2 times and now it's been push to the side.

Use gravity to your advantage: you can put the other end of the hose out the window to your garden, lawn, while cleaning your tank.

[gills]

I'm on a well and septic myself. So I don't just want to fill the septic up with tank water. Just open the door and through the end of the hose out into the yard not hooked to the faucet. Lower the cleaner tube end into the tank to fill up. Raise cleaner end up to start the siphon. When water is almost out of cleaner tube put back into tank. This will have alot of suction for you with out wasting water to run it. Finish by just lifting the cleaner end out of tank. Pull hose in house and fill tank. No more pumping. Just raise and lower the Python or similar brands cleaner tube.

[Greenheinie]

The python is a horrible waste of water. I went back to 5 gallon buckets and a syphon to take water out, but use the python to refill the tank....that's where most spills happen anyway.

[diamond_discus]

The python is a horrible waste of water. I went back to 5 gallon buckets and a syphon to take water out, but use the python to refill the tank....that's where most spills happen anyway.

Agree ... I can drain water much faster with a regular syphon tube. I alternate two HomeDepot 5 gallon buckets during WC. That way, I use the old tank water to squeeze out my sponge in one bucket, while the other bucket is being filled.

I only use the python for refilling.

[jeff@zina.com]

I alternate two HomeDepot 5 gallon buckets during WC. That way, I use the old tank water to squeeze out my sponge in one bucket, while the other bucket is being filled.

I've been doing that but I'm getting tired of hauling buckets. I'm working on a way to siphon to a rain barrel and water the tomatoes with that water. Not sure if I'll like that any better though. :o

Jeff

[wesleydnunder]

I have 7 tanks that I do at least weekly partials on. I bought a standard python, then went to home depot and bought another 75' of tubing and a nylon double-barb fitting to extend the python fron 25' to 100'. I put the end of the hose outside and let syphon action pull the water into the garden. It's plenty of flow to clean the bottom. When I refill, I treat the whole tank volume with prime (12.5 ml for the 125), temper the water at the kitchen sink, bring the hose inside, connect to kitchen sink and refill. I could dump the effluent into the tub but I don't want to waste all those yummy nitrates that the tomato plants like.

[underwaterforest]

Here a pic of a custom water change system I setup for my 92 gallon bare bottom tank. It works great with my magdrive 18 pump, it drains the water in less than 10 minutes. I just put on a temperature indicator inline and I feel very comfortable in my system. I used 3/4 food grade tubing that I found around town for .59 per foot so the whole project cost a lot less than a python and works a heck of a lot better.
http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/th_waterchanger002.jpg (http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/?action=view&current=waterchanger002.jpg)
Whole setup with pump
http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/th_newdiscus2010.jpg (http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/?action=view&current=newdiscus2010.jpg)
In Use

[Jhhnn]

Here a pic of a custom water change system I setup for my 92 gallon bare bottom tank. It works great with my magdrive 18 pump, it drains the water in less than 10 minutes. I just put on a temperature indicator inline and I feel very comfortable in my system. I used 3/4 food grade tubing that I found around town for .59 per foot so the whole project cost a lot less than a python and works a heck of a lot better.
http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/th_waterchanger002.jpg (http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/?action=view&current=waterchanger002.jpg)
Whole setup with pump
http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/th_newdiscus2010.jpg (http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae177/paganfx4/Fish%20Tank/?action=view&current=newdiscus2010.jpg)
In Use

Very nice.