Easier water changes...finally!

[Fishnut]

Until today, I have been doing most of the water changes with the old fashioned siphon and bucket.  The reason I never got a python was because I believe they are a HUGE waster of water while draining the tank and I like to dump all my dirty fish water on the lawn.  This takes me forever though...and since I don't have a lot of time to spend on water changes, the tanks really look neglected.

I finally got a hose that was long enough to stretch out the front door to the lawn with all the needed attachments to hook it up to the sink for re-filling.  In the same amount off time it would have taken me to water change the 72 gallon in the living room, I did a water change on the 72, the 40 and the 30. 

Wow!!  Maybe my tanks won't look so pathetic any more

[washefuzzy]

Aren't pythons wonderful!

[Darth]

I agree pythons waste water I use a maxi-jet 1200 to pump the water out of the tank and use buckets to refill since I have to mix salt

[Dorrie]

  Hm, maybe I haven't been using mine correctly, but all that's required is a 30 second prime, after which I shut off the tap. The tank then empties through the power of gravity alone until I'm ready to add the new water, so I don't understand the water-wasting argument...

[White Lightning]

Hm, maybe I haven't been using mine correctly, but all that's required is a 30 second prime, after which I shut off the tap. The tank then empties through the power of gravity alone until I'm ready to add the new water, so I don't understand the water-wasting argument...

Yeah me too...Just get the syphon going and then shut off the water. How is that a waste? Pythons are the best thing since sliced bread.

[Darth]

LOL I always thought you had to leave the water running to keep the suction Hmmph! Learn something new everyday

[Nerine]

hehehe no you just need to get the water flowing out! always turn it off!

I just hook mine tubes up to the filter output to get it flowing (though I need a much longer hose now come spring to reach the garden!)

[FishBuddy]

I've been using my Mag 7 pump and garden hose to change the 72g, 2 x 40g, and the 35g turtle tank for years now.  They worked wonder!  In the summer, I pump all my waste water out to the lawn and garden; no waste

The beauty about a heavy pump like the Mag 7 is that after removing the old water, I simply hook up the output end of the hose to a laundry/kitchen tap and turn it on.  Fresh water are entering the tank via the opposite direction.  Because the Mag 7 is heavy enough, it'll stay at the bottom of the tank and you won't get water thrashing everywhere

[ajm1961]

Yeah me too...Just get the syphon going and then shut off the water. How is that a waste? Pythons are the best thing since sliced bread.

It all depends on how far the tank is from a drain. In my case, I keep having to prime because I'm running a 35' python. So, I took FishBuddy's advice and hooked up a Mag 5 - I can now drain half my 135 gallon tank in about 15 minutes. It used to take me almost an hour!

[Nerine]

Maybe we should give away a python or two at the monthly meetings hehe

[Fishnut]

Or a Mag 5 at the GA

Looking into one of those!

[Feivel]

Would watering the lawn with saltwater ruin or discolor or kill anything? and how is the 30% mixture as ice repelentfor a walkway? salt + Ice = Melt
i thought of it just never tried it.

You could always collect the old water in a bucket in the big laundry sink like i used to at my moms to water the lawn and not WASTE the water down the drain. on top of all the extra nutrience it has accumulated. and you just want to pour that free fertilizer down the drain??? i dont quite have that luxury in my apt, but i do fill buckets with my return pump. i just dump them in the toilet seein as i dont know if it will damage the grass.

just my thoughts
cheers

[washefuzzy]

I tried turning off the water after priming the python. It didn't work for me. Had to leave the water running. ??

[Feivel]

maybee an air leak in the hose or in a connection somewhere? check for air bubbles coming into the line at the connectors.

[ajm1961]

I tried turning off the water after priming the python. It didn't work for me. Had to leave the water running. ??

Is the draining end higher than your tank? The prime creates the vacuum, but then gravity plays a part. Even with a 35' hose, my water drains, but it becomes real slow after the initial prime because of the length the water has to travel - that's why I use a pump. I agree with the other post that you could also have a air leak in the hose of fittings which may be disrupting the pressure.

[washefuzzy]

The python goes over a counter to get to the sink. Which is probable why it doesn't work.

[BillD]

Siphons only work if the outlet is lower than the inlet. This applies to the Python as well. If you are draining uphill, it will not siphon, and you have to keep the tap running, wasting water. Fortunately, I don't need one. My tanks are in the basement so I drain directly to the floor drain. While one tank is draining, I can fill another, very quickly if necessary, as I have a goose neck terminating in a tee for hands free, fast filling. As well I use a larger diameter hose for quicker drains on larger tanks. In my case a Python would slow me down.

[Nerine]

I hook my tubes up to the output on the canister filter pumps the water right out haha