Python...

[dakotagirl]

I got a python for Christmas! I was so excited that I didn't have to lug water in a 3 gallon container back and forth to my 3 tanks. So today I decided to give it a try...guess what?...now instead of lugging water in a container, I have to mop it up off of my kitchen counter, floor, and everywhere else it ran!!

But it isn't the pythons fault. I just did some stupid things (not once, but twice.) I don't usually have the i.q. of a rock, but I guess today I did lol. I was trying to adjust the temp of the water and then shut off the valve so I could get it to my tank. Then I thought I should check the temp once more, so I opened the valve and the water shot everywhere!!lol So I shut the water off and cleaned up my mess. Then I did the same thing again

But I do have to say that after I cleaned up the mess the second time and actually got to use my python, I LOVE IT. It is awesome. Now I will clean my tanks more often than once every two weeks, although I can say my tanks are crystal clear and all my parameters are in check...always 0 ammonia and nitrites and usually about 20-30 nitrates when I do the water change.

So now I have clean tanks and a very clean kitchen counter and floor! Pythons are good for more than just fish tank cleaning I guess.


Have a great day,

Barb

 

[Aprilia997]

Barb what I have always done with mine was to use the python to siphon the water out the back door or into the toilet. Then I hook it up to the sink to refill, I weigh down the hose at the tank so that while I am adjusting the temp the hose cannot fall out of the tank.

 

[020292]

I have a question, if you are adding new water from the sink, how do you get it safe for fish before it goes in the tank or do you take the fish out and put into another tank? Do they make extender hoses? Please let me know!

Thanks! I am interested in buying one of these!

 

[vancouver]

I don't do anything to the water.. some people will put in water conditioner in the tank after filling it up.. I don't normally do huge water changes so the tap water shouldn't really affect the fish too much.

They make extenders, but what I did was just buy more hosing from a hardware store, and put it in between the piece that goes into the tank, and the piece in which you can turn the flow on and off from.. normally it's about 1 or 2 feet.... I replaced it with a 10 foot piece of tubing. Much cheaper then buying the extension

 

[KathyM]

Can anyone answer me a question on the Python? You kow how you turn the tap on to drain as well as fill? Do you have to leave the tap on when it's draining or is it just for the initial oomph to get water flowing out of the tank (like my technical terminology?? LOL)?

 

[Glod]

It's the flow from the tap that creates the venturi action and gets the water flowing. You can probably turn it down once the water is started flowing, not sure if turning it off will drop the flow too much to be usable. Experiment with it and see

 

[KathyM]

Hmmm, good idea, but I'd rather someone who already had one experimented for me before I fork out £70 - I don't want to buy one if it's going to be a huge waste of water. I'm one of these gils that teaches the kids not to keep the tap running while they brush their teeth.

 

[smithrc]

Hmmm, good idea, but I'd rather someone who already had one experimented for me before I fork out £70 - I don't want to buy one if it's going to be a huge waste of water. I'm one of these gils that teaches the kids not to keep the tap running while they brush their teeth.

As said above - the tap water only needs to be running to start the syphon. Unless (and this is one of the advantages of the python) the tank is at the same level or lower than the sink... If it is - you keep the tap running and it'll suck the tank water out.

I bought the short one (25yard if I remember rightly) and add a bit og garden hose if I need to.

Since we moved house, I dont use the drain function as all my tanks are now above the places I use to drain the water.

I then add de-clorinator to the tank and fill her up from the tap.

In the UK you will probubly need to buy a tap 'clamp' to fit it on as they are designed to screw to the tap - something that UK taps arnt designed for

Oh and I got mine for £30... If your draining to a point below the tank, you can just use a hose pipe and fill it back up using the same hose and a tap adapter - loads cheaper.

 

[KathyM]

Thankssmithrc I use a hose now, I normally nick Lisa's but it's time I bought my own and I thought maybe a Python would be worth it just for the sake of not having to fill my gob with tank water to get it going *pmsl*. I also need a new gravel vac as the one I have is for a shallower tank, so I thought maybe I'd tie the two things in together and get the Python or similar. Sounds like it's not really worth the bother, so thanks for saving me the cash! Can save up for my UV instead now.

Edited to add: The other plus side I was thinking of for the Python though was the one person water changes. At the mo I have to have someone hold the hose in the tank while I get it going at the other end, then I need someone to hold it while I get the other end out of the loo, put the tap connector on, etc. I suppose with the Python it's only one job of connecting the tap end so I'd be there with the other end.

 

[dakotagirl]

I was worried about adding water without my dechlor first too. But I was told to add a little at the beginning and then in the end. I suppose it takes some getting used to though. I was scared I would hurt my fish by adding water first and then the dechlor and if I added the dechlor first would it still work when I put my fresh water in. But from what everyone tells me it is safe either way.

I don't get alot of suction when I am cleaning the bottom of my tank and I have the cold water full force. Is there something I am doing wrong? Is the hose to long? I bought a 25ft. hose and I need about 15ft. to reach my tank. I hate to cut it down to size in case I get a tank that ends up being farther away from my sink. Any ideas?

I really do like my python. I always ended up spilling some water on my floor and carpet no matter how careful I was when I used the reg. gravel vac. And since I had a small bucket I had to make quite a few trips to finish my chore. I used to do a tank every other day since it was such a long process. Now I do all 3 tanks in the same day and I am done for the week. Seems like alot less work that way somehow.

Thanks for the tip Aprilia, I will try that next time, sounds easier than what I was doing!

Dean, I believe they have up to 100 ft. extensions and I didn't take my fish out, they were fine.

 

[smithrc]

even with the phthon - there is a dash between tank and tap when its full as the inline tap on it means that if you shut it off when filling back up, all the mains water presure is on the tap 'clamp' and It squirts water all over the place

 

[LisaLQ]

I've found normal garden hose doesn't have enough suction for good gravel cleans. I'm doing my best with it at the moment, but it's really hard work with such a big tank. I was hoping a python would be more powerful somehow but I think I'll have to invest in something else. Any suggestions? Tank is 2ft deep and a couple of different battery powered gravel vacs have so far proved not to even work as well as a plain hose - so they were disappointing.

 

[KathyM]

even with the phthon - there is a dash between tank and tap when its full as the inline tap on it means that if you shut it off when filling back up, all the mains water presure is on the tap 'clamp' and It squirts water all over the place

Thanks, you're a diamond. That's another factor to consider then. Like Lisa, I'd love to hear of any alternatives

 

[smithrc]

actually that is a very good point... the phthons tubing is thicker that normal garden hosepipe.

If yo go into your local fish shop they will sell pond and filter hose... get something a bit thicker and you'll be laughing.

Dont forget tnat the amount of suck depends on the height differance between the water line and the end of the hose... the lower the end of the hose - the more suck you get

 

[KathyM]

Yep, I agree on that one, I drain my tank into the loo so the height is lower at that end. I will have a look at pond hosing then Thanks smithrc