Pythoin vacuuming system
- Thread starter NickM
- Start date
ok. here is how it works. the green part that screws on to the faucet,made so that water can run into and out of it. The green thing has a opening and valve in the bottom and one on the side. The one on the bottom controlls fill/drain and the one on the side is where you screw in the tubing. With the tubuing screwed into the side of it, and water running straight down thought it, it creates the vacum in the tube. When the deal at the bottom is switched to fill, it simply closes of the bottom opening so water back flows through the tube. These things are simply awsome. I have one, my buddy has one and we use them at work. I highly recomend. *thumbsup2*
The dirty water goes out of the python when you switch it to empty it, and it should go down your drain, unless it is clogged. ;D
You can simply reverse it as well, with fresh tap water to a bucket near the tank, or into it.
Some people drop dechlorinators in as the water is going in.
If you look at that practice in a scientific way, there is no guarentee that all the chlorine/chlorimines are getting eliminated. The 1 to 3 drops per gallon will work in a bucket, but that is not a valid dosage when it is mixing with a 55 gallon tank or whatever. There is no way to get it all, I don't care how much people think it is. You might as well raise the python up a few feet and gas it out from impact. 
A great product however, cause carrying the crap buckets around is a pain...especially when you trip over something and some fishy stuff gets on your carpet.
You can simply reverse it as well, with fresh tap water to a bucket near the tank, or into it.
Some people drop dechlorinators in as the water is going in.
If you look at that practice in a scientific way, there is no guarentee that all the chlorine/chlorimines are getting eliminated. The 1 to 3 drops per gallon will work in a bucket, but that is not a valid dosage when it is mixing with a 55 gallon tank or whatever. There is no way to get it all, I don't care how much people think it is. You might as well raise the python up a few feet and gas it out from impact.
A great product however, cause carrying the crap buckets around is a pain...especially when you trip over something and some fishy stuff gets on your carpet.
I have wondered about how people handled the chlorine / chlorimines issue if the water was going straight into the tank.
And how much water would you say is being used to drive the system, water that is not actually being used in the change?
Yes - I know that will depend on how large the water change is, so say you drain 10 gallons, does the system use 5 gal just to drive it? How much?
(sounds like a question on a math test...)
And how much water would you say is being used to drive the system, water that is not actually being used in the change?
Yes - I know that will depend on how large the water change is, so say you drain 10 gallons, does the system use 5 gal just to drive it? How much?
(sounds like a question on a math test...)
Clorine in tap water isn't all that toxic at low levels, provided you aren't trying to raise fry or have immuno-compromised fish. In fact, a little chlorine now and again could be a helpful thing in keeping the peskies and parasite load down. It is only when you turn on your faucet and smell a swimming pool comming from your tap water that you should be really wary of it. Also if you have high heavy-metal content (such as iron from well water, or lead piping) that you would really want to use a dechlorinator for. I've always just used strait tap water without a problem, but this method may not be valid for everyone.
~~Colesea
~~Colesea
I can see the conveniance of a python but I like buckets. I do 20% changes pretty frequently, and it doesn't take that long (20 mins for 2 5 gal buckets) so I guess practise makes perfect. I like buckets because I can get the temperature right using cold water from the tap and hot water from a kettle. I don't like hot water from the tap as it always contains so much rubbish, and looks cloudy/grim.
I guess you add dechlorinators using a bucket as well, depending on the quality of your tap water.
I guess you add dechlorinators using a bucket as well, depending on the quality of your tap water.
R
Where do you live Wayne?
"always contains so much rubbish, and looks cloudy/grim"
Something wrong with your hotwater tank perhaps? My hot water is just fine.
What size of tank do you have? Im guessing around 20-30G! I had the bucket/pail thing before also when I had my 30G. That wasnt that big of a deal, 1 5G pail. If you have a small tank, python may not be something you want. However, now I have a 90G, 30G, 20G and a 10G. I would be using lots of pails or would just take a long time. Just for my 90G alone I would be using 5-6 5G pails. No thanks. Been there, done that. I love my python. No more lifting pails up above the tank, no more spills. Just drain and fill. 8) For all my tanks, it takes me around 1/2 hour to drain and fill. Not bad. Thats probably around 50-60G. Sweet!
"always contains so much rubbish, and looks cloudy/grim"
Something wrong with your hotwater tank perhaps? My hot water is just fine.
What size of tank do you have? Im guessing around 20-30G! I had the bucket/pail thing before also when I had my 30G. That wasnt that big of a deal, 1 5G pail. If you have a small tank, python may not be something you want. However, now I have a 90G, 30G, 20G and a 10G. I would be using lots of pails or would just take a long time. Just for my 90G alone I would be using 5-6 5G pails. No thanks. Been there, done that. I love my python. No more lifting pails up above the tank, no more spills. Just drain and fill. 8) For all my tanks, it takes me around 1/2 hour to drain and fill. Not bad. Thats probably around 50-60G. Sweet!
Re: Python vacuuming system
OK, OK I'm pretty much sold.
But no one has replied about the volume used to drive the system. As I said before - I know it would depend on the specifics of plumbing and volume removed - but a guesstimate would be nice. I just hate wasting water. I use whatever is removed during changes to water the plants...
And right now we are in a serious draught - Being the
(clears throat) outstanding citizens that we are, we are doing our part. We have stopped showering, brushing teeth, washing clothes and dishes. Needless to say - our lawn isn't green but WE are!
humor...humor we still brush our teeth. The Rena Filstar helps out great for that, too!
OK, OK I'm pretty much sold.
But no one has replied about the volume used to drive the system. As I said before - I know it would depend on the specifics of plumbing and volume removed - but a guesstimate would be nice. I just hate wasting water. I use whatever is removed during changes to water the plants...
And right now we are in a serious draught - Being the
(clears throat) outstanding citizens that we are, we are doing our part. We have stopped showering, brushing teeth, washing clothes and dishes. Needless to say - our lawn isn't green but WE are!
humor...humor we still brush our teeth. The Rena Filstar helps out great for that, too!
well maybe it would depend on how much is coming out of ur faucet and is the faucet lower than the tank like if it's lower than the tank let gravity help do the work i hate wasteing water too and the county i live in is plannin on going on a water restriction, frederick county MD just northwest of us is already on a water restriction for two month (neighbors there will rat u out to the cops lol maybe some of ya heard how they collect rainwater in barrels to water their yards) but anyways i use the hose faucet and it's lower than the tank i just turn it on to start it and just let gravity do it's job not practical but works and i get to water the small part of the yard with some tank water *celebratesmiley*
The Python works by a vaccuum siphon caused by the force of gravity. The water will keep flowing as long as it has no air in it and it ends up lower than it starts out. It can even flow up higher a bit if it ends up lower at the end of the hose. There are limits however. I've heard the maximum length of a siphon is 33 feet. (not maximum length of hose, thats something different) I actually run the hose out my door instead of leaving it hooked to the sink. It drains much faster that way and its easy enough to run the hose from the front door back to the sink to fill again.
I finally got a 25' Python. Where has it been all my life?
Talk about great! I also got an extension tube (I try to keep my hands out of the water as much as possible)
Someone mentioned earlier that a Python would be overkill if the tank was less than 40 gal. I have used it successfully on tanks as small as 5 gal. Just can't have the faucet set on "kill". It was much better than buckets - and I was able to regulate temp and pressure easily.
Oh, Python Man - my tanks are not worthy!
Talk about great! I also got an extension tube (I try to keep my hands out of the water as much as possible)
Someone mentioned earlier that a Python would be overkill if the tank was less than 40 gal. I have used it successfully on tanks as small as 5 gal. Just can't have the faucet set on "kill". It was much better than buckets - and I was able to regulate temp and pressure easily.
Oh, Python Man - my tanks are not worthy!
