So, a bigggggggg thank you to whoever the person was that came up with this wonderful invention that saved a lot of back breaking work, and time in keeping our aquariums sparkly clean.. been there done that with the bucket thing..lol.. my python is about 50 feet long or so, the only problem i have noticed is that recently it seems to be sucking water slow..and when i do changes on the 125 it seems like it takes forever to drain 60-75% but a lot faster to fill.. is it just my perception of how slow it takes to even get about 3" of water out of these six footers? or am i having a problem with the hose? how long does it take to normally do a 75% water drain for those who have monster tanks? i am concerned i am running too much water from the tap to create the suction.. suggestions? experiences? thanks much!!!
Python water changer-slow?
- Thread starter Ading522
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neut
Members
IME water pressure/volume from your tap makes a difference. In my current house I find it faster to drain my tanks out a window with a tube and/or regular siphon and fill with the python. Other places I used the python for both.
btw-- I've seen some people say parts on theirs broke, etc. Don't know if they're making them as well these days but mine is well over 20 years old, all original and no such problems.
btw-- I've seen some people say parts on theirs broke, etc. Don't know if they're making them as well these days but mine is well over 20 years old, all original and no such problems.
how long would your siphoning tube be?
neut
Members
Most tanks are near enough a window to just use a regular aquarium siphon, so whatever that is, 30 inches maybe? On one tank I add another tube as an extension, total length has to be something like 7 or 8 ft. but I never measured the tube, just cut to length I needed.
And if you want to speed things up (siphoning, that is) some people I know who siphon out a window or to a drain in a basement/garage, etc. get a larger diameter tube at a hardware store.
And if you want to speed things up (siphoning, that is) some people I know who siphon out a window or to a drain in a basement/garage, etc. get a larger diameter tube at a hardware store.
allaboutfish
Members
Mine is kind of slow on my 120 I only turn the water on to get the siphoned started then I turn it off.
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thanks! i will definitely think about that..maybe end up redoing the way i siphon water out..
so, that really takes you long to do a water change on just one tank right?
allaboutfish
Members
Not that long. I think it takes maybe 30 mins to do a 50% water change.
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allaboutfish
Members
TMSB805
Members
Water pressure is the biggest factor. I stopped draining my 300 by hooking the python to the faucet a long time ago. Found that it took too long and it wasted water. Now I just siphon the water out into my tub or outside.
jonclark96
Past CCA President
I pump water out of my tanks with a utility pump hooked to a garden hose, then use the python to fill back up. Using the python to drain tanks wastes a lot of water and is pretty slow, especially if the tank level is below the faucet level.
Andrewtfw
Global Moderators
I use the python to gravity siphon from tank to toilet. Then I fill with the python by directly connecting it to the faucet. I remove the drain/fill attachment.
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kevin911
Members
I use a 3/4 flexible hose with a mag 12 pump.
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fishology
Members
gravity flow siphoning out the basement door and down to the back of the yard via garden hose connection hooked to adapterless python..fill with adapterless python..
wow.. i never knew there were many ways you guys do your changes.. thinking of maybe hooking it up with a pump and hose.. and water the plants outside.. lol.. thanks for your input guys!! anybody have more? i guess all of us saw Reed's water change system, and that was an awesome and easy one.. wish i could make a system like that in the future.. 
ddavila06
Members
+1, ur plants will love the fish poop!! lol..
is way faster and wastes no water from the faucet..
DBLN8
Members
I pump the water out to my wife's tomato garden, the python is/was a great tool for water changes but it's a little slow and wastes way to much water
Pat Kelly
CCA Member
I use my python for filling of smaller tanks only.
As to larger tanks, I have a submersible pump that I picked up at Home Depot/Lowes. Hook to a garden hose and drop in tank. I use a clamp to keep it out of the gravel. ( I use the same clamp to keep the hose in the tank when filling. ) I pump the water into the sump pump well and it sends it out and down my side yard.
You can move a lot of water this way. Yes the pump is not cheap but for me it was worth the $100.00 - $125.00 I paid to speed things up.
As to larger tanks, I have a submersible pump that I picked up at Home Depot/Lowes. Hook to a garden hose and drop in tank. I use a clamp to keep it out of the gravel. ( I use the same clamp to keep the hose in the tank when filling. ) I pump the water into the sump pump well and it sends it out and down my side yard.
You can move a lot of water this way. Yes the pump is not cheap but for me it was worth the $100.00 - $125.00 I paid to speed things up.
thanks! that is some thought for me to do.. what size pump did you get? what is the GPH rate?
Avatar
Plenipotentiary-at-large
Gravity is your friend
Have to add fluid hydraulics to the list of finatic/aquanut specializations....
The greater the vertical drop between siphon inflow and outflow, the faster the transfer/drain rate, presumably because gravity acts on the water in the tubing accelerating its movement and hence the flow rate, as one does not achieve the same rate with a shorter length of tubing that releases the water sooner. Probably an upper limit for this that corresponds to the maximum velocity of objects acted upon by gravity, but the bottom line is that if one dangles 20 feet of tubing out a window as opposed to just enough to clear the sill, the flow rate increases dramatically.
Wasting fresh water on maintaining a siphon is inane - multi-tasking is a much better option.
Have to add fluid hydraulics to the list of finatic/aquanut specializations....
The greater the vertical drop between siphon inflow and outflow, the faster the transfer/drain rate, presumably because gravity acts on the water in the tubing accelerating its movement and hence the flow rate, as one does not achieve the same rate with a shorter length of tubing that releases the water sooner. Probably an upper limit for this that corresponds to the maximum velocity of objects acted upon by gravity, but the bottom line is that if one dangles 20 feet of tubing out a window as opposed to just enough to clear the sill, the flow rate increases dramatically.
Wasting fresh water on maintaining a siphon is inane - multi-tasking is a much better option.
thanks sam.. will try the pump though as gravity may not be applicable in the place my tanks are.. (basement) but i do like that thought..i think JC runs his water that way as he posted..