Battery Operated Syphons

[phoenixgsd]

my tank is very tall and im finding syphoning the sand at the bottom more trobule than just jugging out the water and leaving the bits on the sand, its 28 inches to the bottom and when water level drops i loose suction, the tank itself is tall but because its on worktop its 6ft to the top of it, is there a battery syphon or some other device (that works) that can help me, i currently jug water to and from the sink, water changes take me about 2hrs and thats quicker than fighting with the syphon and buckets

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Oh dear! I don't know about battery opperated... but I've found something that matters a lot doing my own changes... putting the bucket a lot lower and getting a much longer tube for it. If the level of the bucket matches the level of the water the syphoning stops.

 

[phoenixgsd]

thats what i used to do with the old tank but it dosnt work with this one unfortunatly, its just too high, as the water drops the lower you put the tube (in the tank), it only empties about 50Lt then the suction stops so cleaning the sand is a no go, i have to jug the rest

 

[Chad]

They are okay. I've used them and the kind that have a little pump bulb to get it started. What I now use is an electric pump with a hose on it. Water changes take me about 10 minutes to do 40 gallons worth.

 

[phoenixgsd]

where would i get a elecetric one? ive never seen them, are they pricey

 

[Chad]

I use a Maxi-Jet 1200 pump with a bit of hose attached.

 

[raptorrex]

my tank is very tall and im finding syphoning the sand at the bottom more trobule than just jugging out the water and leaving the bits on the sand, its 28 inches to the bottom and when water level drops i loose suction, the tank itself is tall but because its on worktop its 6ft to the top of it, is there a battery syphon or some other device (that works) that can help me, i currently jug water to and from the sink, water changes take me about 2hrs and thats quicker than fighting with the syphon and buckets

they are not cheap. but the eheim automatic gravel cleaner seems to get good comments from users.
and is touted as the best choice.

not hard really as most of the rest, have a really bad reputation.

 

[SteveS]

my tank is very tall and im finding syphoning the sand at the bottom more trobule than just jugging out the water and leaving the bits on the sand, its 28 inches to the bottom and when water level drops i loose suction, the tank itself is tall but because its on worktop its 6ft to the top of it, is there a battery syphon or some other device (that works) that can help me, i currently jug water to and from the sink, water changes take me about 2hrs and thats quicker than fighting with the syphon and buckets

Why do people seem to have problems with siphons? 28" is NOT too high for a siphon to function properly; The limit depends upon the density of the fluid and the atmospheric pressure and works out to be approximately 30 feet for water at sea-level. The rate that water will siphon from the tank depends upon the difference in height between the height of the input and the height of the output and the diameter of the tube you use. The following, crude, picture should help;

                       |    +========================+
top of tank            |    I                   |    I      |
                       |    I                   |    I      |
                       |    I  (hose)           |    I      |  (tank)
                       |    I                   +===========+
worktop level          |====I=================================
                       |    I
                       |    I
                       |  | I  |
                       |  |    | (Bucket)
                       |  +====+
floor level            +-------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the end of the hose pointing at the bucket is lower than the end of the hose in the tank, and the end of the hose in the tank remains under water, the siphon WILL continue.

 

[Chad]

Why do people seem to have problems with siphons?

It's just one of those things I think. I know when I first started I often ended up with either trouble making the siphon or a mouth full of water. It was awful. I eventually got the hang of it but went through a phase where I didn't want to bother with it.

 

[phoenixgsd]

my tank is very tall and im finding syphoning the sand at the bottom more trobule than just jugging out the water and leaving the bits on the sand, its 28 inches to the bottom and when water level drops i loose suction, the tank itself is tall but because its on worktop its 6ft to the top of it, is there a battery syphon or some other device (that works) that can help me, i currently jug water to and from the sink, water changes take me about 2hrs and thats quicker than fighting with the syphon and buckets

Why do people seem to have problems with siphons? 28" is NOT too high for a siphon to function properly; The limit depends upon the density of the fluid and the atmospheric pressure and works out to be approximately 30 feet for water at sea-level. The rate that water will siphon from the tank depends upon the difference in height between the height of the input and the height of the output and the diameter of the tube you use. The following, crude, picture should help;

                       |    +========================+
top of tank            |    I                   |    I      |
                       |    I                   |    I      |
                       |    I  (hose)           |    I      |  (tank)
                       |    I                   +===========+
worktop level          |====I=================================
                       |    I
                       |    I
                       |  | I  |
                       |  |    | (Bucket)
                       |  +====+
floor level            +-------------------------------------------------------------

As long as the end of the hose pointing at the bucket is lower than the end of the hose in the tank, and the end of the hose in the tank remains under water, the siphon WILL continue.

can i point out i am not stupid and do not need diagrams thank you steven, i have been sucessfully syphoning my tanks using this method for quite some time, however, in this instance since changing my tank it stalls mid flow for no reason whatsoever, hence my origional post, i have now got a pump as suggested (thank you tcamos), yes pricey, but worth it

 

[SteveS]

can i point out i am not stupid and do not need diagrams thank you steven, i have been sucessfully syphoning my tanks using this method for quite some time, however, in this instance since changing my tank it stalls mid flow for no reason whatsoever, hence my origional post, i have now got a pump as suggested (thank you tcamos), yes pricey, but worth it

Firstly, it's Stephen, although I prefer Steve.

Secondly, I have no idea whether you are stupid or not, I have never met you; Anyway, an understanding, or not, of siphons has no bearing on your degree of stupidity. I had no intention of implying that you were stupid and if I did so, I apologise.

Thirdly, it will not stop working "for no reason" when you change your tank; Changing your tank does not alter the laws of physics!

Finally, this is a public forum and whilst you may not need diagrams, something I can't possibly deduce from your posts, others may find them useful.

 

[phantomlink]

I found the diagram useful since I'm trying to get a working way to get all my water across the apartment without being able to obtain all the parts for a Python suction. My tank will be 55" at the very top after its on its stand ( 22" tank, 36" stand ) and was planning on just getting a really long clear tube like I have for my gravel filter and going from the tank to my tub but I just wanted to make sure the hose going on the ground and then back up about 20" or so to get into the tub if this would ruin the suction or if it will go uphill slightly as long as the source is still far above the tub

 

[SteveS]

I found the diagram useful since I'm trying to get a working way to get all my water across the apartment without being able to obtain all the parts for a Python suction. My tank will be 55" at the very top after its on its stand ( 22" tank, 36" stand ) and was planning on just getting a really long clear tube like I have for my gravel filter and going from the tank to my tub but I just wanted to make sure the hose going on the ground and then back up about 20" or so to get into the tub if this would ruin the suction or if it will go uphill slightly as long as the source is still far above the tub

This is exactly how I empty my tank and should work fine. As a bonus, you don't need to suck too much, once the water in the pipe reaches below the input, the pipe should prime itself. A garden hose would maybe be cheaper than getting clear tube.

 

[phantomlink]

I found the diagram useful since I'm trying to get a working way to get all my water across the apartment without being able to obtain all the parts for a Python suction. My tank will be 55" at the very top after its on its stand ( 22" tank, 36" stand ) and was planning on just getting a really long clear tube like I have for my gravel filter and going from the tank to my tub but I just wanted to make sure the hose going on the ground and then back up about 20" or so to get into the tub if this would ruin the suction or if it will go uphill slightly as long as the source is still far above the tub

This is exactly how I empty my tank and should work fine. As a bonus, you don't need to suck too much, once the water in the pipe reaches below the input, the pipe should prime itself. A garden hose would maybe be cheaper than getting clear tube.

It would probably be but I've read about using drinking water hoses for this since theres no chemicals that can leak into the water, also with a clear tube I can know when to stop the suction and let it flow. If I did use a hose though then I could just attach/remove a plastic adapater and hook it into the sink to refill the tank. Maybe I can get away with just one hose

 

[Chad]

I like a clear hose myself. I don't put any screen on the end so I like to see if I'm sucking up substrate or not as I clean the bottom.