moeldner
Fish Crazy
I use a python like set up (Actually labelled "the ultimate gravel vacuum") to do my water changes, and learnt a valuable lesson with it a couple of days ago (it still hurts).
I changed the supplied gravel vac attachment (the one with the plastic grid over it to stop it sucking up gravel) with one I had from a more traditional syphon because the shape of the head was a little different, and allowed cleaning my tank a lot easier. The process of removing the water, and cleaning the gravel went well with no issues.
Then I closed the valve on the tap end of my "python" to start re-filling the tank and that's when disaster struck.
I didn't realise that the gravel head I had replaced actually had a valve in it where the tubing attached which meant that water couldn't go back into the tank. By the time I got from the kitchen sink to the tank, the hose had popped off the vac head, and had landed on the hardwood floors outside the tank, spilling water everywhere. I was only wearing socks, and these got wet. I closed the valve on the tank end of the hose to stop water flowing, and then ran back to the kitchen to turn the tap off. The kitchen is around the corner no a tiled floor, and you've probably guessed by now, I went down hard.
My shoulder and hip still ache three days later from the impact on the tiled floor. I actually landed shoulder first, and then hip to give you an idea of hard I went down.
I couldn't believe some "genius" decided the gravel vac needed a one way valve in it for a syphon. I will be attempting to pull it apart to remove this valve this weekend, so I can use this successfully in future.
As a result of this, I have decided my water changes are not to be done when home alone anymore. The extra pair of hands from my partner will always be welcomed from now on.
Clean up was annoying as I had to move a half full chest freezer to get all the water up off the timber floors. It was not fun moving this with an aching shoulder and hip. I also had to move a lounge out of the way. There is minimal water damage to the floors thankfully, as they are not sealed very well.
I removed the gravel head, and refilled the tank, and fishies are all happy (probably from laughing at my misfortune).
Let this be a lesson to you all.
I changed the supplied gravel vac attachment (the one with the plastic grid over it to stop it sucking up gravel) with one I had from a more traditional syphon because the shape of the head was a little different, and allowed cleaning my tank a lot easier. The process of removing the water, and cleaning the gravel went well with no issues.
Then I closed the valve on the tap end of my "python" to start re-filling the tank and that's when disaster struck.
I didn't realise that the gravel head I had replaced actually had a valve in it where the tubing attached which meant that water couldn't go back into the tank. By the time I got from the kitchen sink to the tank, the hose had popped off the vac head, and had landed on the hardwood floors outside the tank, spilling water everywhere. I was only wearing socks, and these got wet. I closed the valve on the tank end of the hose to stop water flowing, and then ran back to the kitchen to turn the tap off. The kitchen is around the corner no a tiled floor, and you've probably guessed by now, I went down hard.
My shoulder and hip still ache three days later from the impact on the tiled floor. I actually landed shoulder first, and then hip to give you an idea of hard I went down.
I couldn't believe some "genius" decided the gravel vac needed a one way valve in it for a syphon. I will be attempting to pull it apart to remove this valve this weekend, so I can use this successfully in future.
As a result of this, I have decided my water changes are not to be done when home alone anymore. The extra pair of hands from my partner will always be welcomed from now on.
Clean up was annoying as I had to move a half full chest freezer to get all the water up off the timber floors. It was not fun moving this with an aching shoulder and hip. I also had to move a lounge out of the way. There is minimal water damage to the floors thankfully, as they are not sealed very well.
I removed the gravel head, and refilled the tank, and fishies are all happy (probably from laughing at my misfortune).
Let this be a lesson to you all.
