I shelled out the cash for a 75” python and have been kicking my self ever since. It’s not that the produce doesn’t work; in reality it works great and is a time saving must. The problem was when I final got it in the mail and had a good look at it I realized I could have built the thing myself for 1/3 the cost.
At the heart of the python system is this little unit.
Water flows down thru a funnel in it causing a strong vacuum on the tee. This lets you change water and clean gravel directly to your sink without the need to siphon water to a position lower then your tanks water level, i.e. a bucket or out the front door. On the bottom of the pump is a twist type valve. When closed the vacuum on the tee stops and water is forced back thru the hose to your tank. I leave the valve open and set the water temperature at the sink. Once the temp is right I close the valve and begin adding chlorine treatments in small increments to the water flow at the tank.
Now I bet some of you with waterbeds recognize this little pump, as there original use is to fill and empty waterbeds. I bought this blue one as a replacement for a broken green one that came with my python. They sold them at the first local furniture, bedding store I went to and had about five in stock. It came with it’s own adapter and can connect to just about any faucet. The tee has standard garden hose type thread.
So now I’m thinking I should have gone to the furniture store in the first place and bought a waterbed pump ($6 CND). Then off to the hardware store to buy 75” of garden hose ($20-25) and to the pet store to buy a cheap gravel vacuum ($10). Then take the stuff home and connect the pump to one end of the garden hose and cut the metal fitting off the other. Remove the hose from the store bought gravel vacuum and then attach the plexiglass tube part to the cut end of the garden hose. If needed I could have added one of those metal, screw type hose clamps ($1) to secure it. If I wanted I could have got fancy and bought some extra fittings, clear food and beverage hose and a valve for the hose. While the clear tubing and valve on the python is nice, I really don’t feel it’s necessary.
That’s $42 CND compared to the $120 I spent on the python.
I have another idea for people who already have a python or similar set up and are sick of wrapping up the hose. I bought a cheap garden hose reel and hooked it up. It sits up on the counter and I only reel out what hose I need. I leave the water on when I reel it back up and it takes 90% of the water out of the hose.
At the heart of the python system is this little unit.
Water flows down thru a funnel in it causing a strong vacuum on the tee. This lets you change water and clean gravel directly to your sink without the need to siphon water to a position lower then your tanks water level, i.e. a bucket or out the front door. On the bottom of the pump is a twist type valve. When closed the vacuum on the tee stops and water is forced back thru the hose to your tank. I leave the valve open and set the water temperature at the sink. Once the temp is right I close the valve and begin adding chlorine treatments in small increments to the water flow at the tank.
Now I bet some of you with waterbeds recognize this little pump, as there original use is to fill and empty waterbeds. I bought this blue one as a replacement for a broken green one that came with my python. They sold them at the first local furniture, bedding store I went to and had about five in stock. It came with it’s own adapter and can connect to just about any faucet. The tee has standard garden hose type thread.
So now I’m thinking I should have gone to the furniture store in the first place and bought a waterbed pump ($6 CND). Then off to the hardware store to buy 75” of garden hose ($20-25) and to the pet store to buy a cheap gravel vacuum ($10). Then take the stuff home and connect the pump to one end of the garden hose and cut the metal fitting off the other. Remove the hose from the store bought gravel vacuum and then attach the plexiglass tube part to the cut end of the garden hose. If needed I could have added one of those metal, screw type hose clamps ($1) to secure it. If I wanted I could have got fancy and bought some extra fittings, clear food and beverage hose and a valve for the hose. While the clear tubing and valve on the python is nice, I really don’t feel it’s necessary.
That’s $42 CND compared to the $120 I spent on the python.
I have another idea for people who already have a python or similar set up and are sick of wrapping up the hose. I bought a cheap garden hose reel and hooked it up. It sits up on the counter and I only reel out what hose I need. I leave the water on when I reel it back up and it takes 90% of the water out of the hose.
