python no-spill kit
- Thread starter niki090909
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i personally do not drain the hose at all, i just vacumn my 20% and then i put the switch to off, i run in the kitchen and get the water temp right, then i put it to fill and run back to the tank.
you may get a couple "particles" of crud you just sucked up, but i don't waste the time of draining b4 i fill.
not sure what you mean by little bubbles though.
you may get a couple "particles" of crud you just sucked up, but i don't waste the time of draining b4 i fill.
not sure what you mean by little bubbles though.
After vacuuming and draining, I drain the hose. And when I'm satisfied with the water temp I let it run through (like a rinse) for a bit before I put it back in the tank.
For filling - This is way that works best for me: I put a tall vase in the middle of the tank and put the Python tube in that. The vase hold the tube in place and the water gently flows over the top of the vase into the tank so the substrate (and the fish) are not disturbed.
While the tank is filling I add water conditioner (chlorine).
It seems anal, I know, and that I'm making more out of it than it needs to be - but this is what works for me. When you get a routine that works, why change?
For filling - This is way that works best for me: I put a tall vase in the middle of the tank and put the Python tube in that. The vase hold the tube in place and the water gently flows over the top of the vase into the tank so the substrate (and the fish) are not disturbed.
While the tank is filling I add water conditioner (chlorine).
It seems anal, I know, and that I'm making more out of it than it needs to be - but this is what works for me. When you get a routine that works, why change?
Equinom it works for you so it's not anal. I like the python. I guess since there are DIY rigs too the politically correct term is "Hose to Faucet Attachment Drain and Fill Device" is more appropriate. I only have the 25 foot "python" hose so in order to reach the tanks in the back I have to couple on a chunk of garden hose and that is a pain in the butt because it's not as flexible as python hose. I guess what I'll eventually end up doing is buying the 50 foot extension.
Anyway python (etc) are great! You can get replacement pumps at walmart they are blue and sold as water bed drain kits. The only thin you have to watch out for is when you have a low ph co2 injected plant tank and high PH tap water, that you don't do too big changes. I tend to keep it near 5 gallons on a 33. But on my african tanks it's fair game baby! You will see me doing 50% waterchanges, moving around 400 gallons of water once or twice a week... Thank god for this system.
Anyway python (etc) are great! You can get replacement pumps at walmart they are blue and sold as water bed drain kits. The only thin you have to watch out for is when you have a low ph co2 injected plant tank and high PH tap water, that you don't do too big changes. I tend to keep it near 5 gallons on a 33. But on my african tanks it's fair game baby! You will see me doing 50% waterchanges, moving around 400 gallons of water once or twice a week... Thank god for this system.
.......... am still wondering why you have to use your mouth to start a syphon????
with mine i would put my finger over the end of the hose, dip the syphon part in the water and hold it up in the air, (with my finger still over the hose), wait for air bubbles to rise out, then i put the syphon part back in the water and off i went.
now i have my python so no need to use that, but why are you suck starting it? i'm confused
with mine i would put my finger over the end of the hose, dip the syphon part in the water and hold it up in the air, (with my finger still over the hose), wait for air bubbles to rise out, then i put the syphon part back in the water and off i went.
now i have my python so no need to use that, but why are you suck starting it? i'm confused
It is exactly the same as how you suck a straw to get at pepsi or something. you are starting suction... now if you were to suck on the straw, and as soon as you get pop in your mouth, put the end of the straw lower than the can of pop you'll drain your can onto the floor
it's the same with aquariums.
it's the same with aquariums.
Around here a python costs about $35. I waffled about getting one for the longest time, thinking that that was too much to pay for a hose, but when I finally got it I was extremely pleased. I find that I have ended up doing more water changes now that I have it and that is great for my fish. The hose is much more flexible than a regular garden hose, so it can be handled within the confines of a home much easier.
I did end up having to get a metal adapter for my sink so that I wouldn't have to keep switching between the one that connects to my spray faucet and the python, but I like the metal one a lot better anyway and it only cost a buck and a half. I don't actually syphon my tank water into the sink with the green "tee" attachment, I prefer to drain the water from my tanks onto my lawn or plants.
My tap water is awesome, 7.2 pH, 4dH hardness, and almost negligible chlorine and chlorimanes. I have some wood in my tanks to lower the pH and it stays around 6.8 with regular water changes. Hooking the python up to my sink allows me to adjust the temperature to very close to that of the tank water. I add a small measured amout of salt to the my tank water after the water change is done. I do 33% water changes in my 135 gallon tank and 50% changes in my Discus tank.
I would recommend aclimating your fish to your tap water rather than continualy using water conditioners. Most fish are able to do well in a range of pH measurments. For most people that are not advanced fish keepers, I's say get fish that will do well with local water. Chemicals take a lot of work. If you add chemicals, you should do it in a seperate container and test it before adding it to your tank. Even if you put the same amount of a product in every time, there are chances that the product has aged or is just not standard right out of the package.
The python is a back saver for my larger tanks, but I still use a bucket and a short hose for my 10 and 20 gallon tanks. I suck start a syphon on a short hose and drain the tank into a bucket. I suck start rather than place a large length of the hose into the tank to prevent water from getting on the floor. At this point, I've never sucked up a mouthful of water.
I did end up having to get a metal adapter for my sink so that I wouldn't have to keep switching between the one that connects to my spray faucet and the python, but I like the metal one a lot better anyway and it only cost a buck and a half. I don't actually syphon my tank water into the sink with the green "tee" attachment, I prefer to drain the water from my tanks onto my lawn or plants.
My tap water is awesome, 7.2 pH, 4dH hardness, and almost negligible chlorine and chlorimanes. I have some wood in my tanks to lower the pH and it stays around 6.8 with regular water changes. Hooking the python up to my sink allows me to adjust the temperature to very close to that of the tank water. I add a small measured amout of salt to the my tank water after the water change is done. I do 33% water changes in my 135 gallon tank and 50% changes in my Discus tank.
I would recommend aclimating your fish to your tap water rather than continualy using water conditioners. Most fish are able to do well in a range of pH measurments. For most people that are not advanced fish keepers, I's say get fish that will do well with local water. Chemicals take a lot of work. If you add chemicals, you should do it in a seperate container and test it before adding it to your tank. Even if you put the same amount of a product in every time, there are chances that the product has aged or is just not standard right out of the package.
The python is a back saver for my larger tanks, but I still use a bucket and a short hose for my 10 and 20 gallon tanks. I suck start a syphon on a short hose and drain the tank into a bucket. I suck start rather than place a large length of the hose into the tank to prevent water from getting on the floor. At this point, I've never sucked up a mouthful of water.
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i got the other kind made by lees forget whats it called but i think it's a lil cheaper than the python anyways i love mine barely reashes all my tanks around the house but never let anyone else borrow it i let my cuz borrow it to do his 70gal tank and he lost a peice that attches to the faucet(not the adapter) the part that connnects from the drainer/filler to the faucet, so i'm stuck with a 25' hose and been looking for a replacement part around the stores might have to go online and get that peice
I thought that ordinary garden hoses have some sort of chemical in them? Maybe that is why MikeV's fish died and I seem to remember when I was growing up all the grownups telling me not to drink out of the hose or I'll get sick. I am going to look into the python but how exactly does it work does it take out the water as well as put new water in? Hopefully nobody already asked this question because there is so many posts hehe.
Matt
Matt
I drank out of the hose when i was little and still do to this day, boy does that explain a lot!
My python works like this: you hook it up to your faucet with attatchents, then turn your water on cold, and put it to drain. this produces some suction. You go to your tank and start to drain.
To fill you turn your tank, put the faucet to the right temp, then put it in fill position (on the attatchment) then you go fill your tank back up.
My tap ph is fine, but before i start to fill i measure out the right amount of decholrinator and pretty much poor it in slowly as i am re filling. I have heard that waster changes 20% or smaller you really don't need to add chemicals. I don't know how true this is, but seems to work fine for me.
The python comes with instructins that will i'm sure explain this better than me, but i hope i've helped a little, Niki
My python works like this: you hook it up to your faucet with attatchents, then turn your water on cold, and put it to drain. this produces some suction. You go to your tank and start to drain.
To fill you turn your tank, put the faucet to the right temp, then put it in fill position (on the attatchment) then you go fill your tank back up.
My tap ph is fine, but before i start to fill i measure out the right amount of decholrinator and pretty much poor it in slowly as i am re filling. I have heard that waster changes 20% or smaller you really don't need to add chemicals. I don't know how true this is, but seems to work fine for me.
The python comes with instructins that will i'm sure explain this better than me, but i hope i've helped a little, Niki
