View Full Version : starting the siphon
Lauren
12-26-2003, 5:09 PM
I absolutely suck at starting the siphon for my water changes. Every week it’s a struggle to get the water to flow. What techniques do you use to get the siphon started? I've tried bunching the hose towards the top of the aquarium and pulling the hose up and down under water, but this has been very hit and miss for me. Any full proof ways you use?
Mr. Pez
12-26-2003, 5:40 PM
It's easier than most people think...Assuming you're using a gravel cleaner with 1 hose and 1 "cup" attachment thing:
Method #:
1. Submerge entire hose into the aquarium making sure all the air inside is removed. Plug the hose end with your thumb while it's submerged...Take the plugged end of the hose towards the bucket and remove thumb. Water will siphon into the bucket...Always keep the cup part submerged
2. Suck on the hose till the entire hose is filled...Never had to do this before...You might end up with a mouthful of tank water
3 (Easiest to do with smaller gravel cleaners). Plug one end of the hose with your thumb. Scoop water into the "cup" part of the gravel cleaner and tilt it upwards. Use your thumb control the water as it fills up the hose...When the hose fills up and water reaches your thumb, plug the hose again to stop it....submerge the "cup" part keeping the cup tilted upwards to remove the air pockets as it goes into the water...When there is no more air in the hose or cup remove your thumb and the siphon will start.
4. Buy a little pump attachment for the hose. I personally don't own one so I don't know how to use it.
I use method #3 all the time...Simple and easy....However if your cup attachment is longer than 1 foot long I'd use method #1...Basically if you see air in the hose the siphon will not start
Hope this helps
Lauren
12-26-2003, 5:42 PM
I have the gravel hose, yes, but I also have a smaller siphon I use when the gravel is pretty clean. Should I just stop using the smaller siphon and stay with the gravel sucker? It's MUCH easier for the siphon to get going on my gravel cleaner.
Mr. Pez
12-26-2003, 5:53 PM
I'd personally use whatever makes life easier...A gravel cleaner can be used to just suck out water without disturbing the gravel.
jt325i
12-26-2003, 5:59 PM
http://www.orca888.com/jpg/pump.jpg
Just get one with a pump on it like the above pic. Makes life a lot easier then you don't have to worry about submerging the whole thing, getting all the air out, etc. Especially handy if you have a small tank.
Slappy*McFish
12-26-2003, 9:43 PM
An ordinary gravel vac can be started by simply putting the vacuum piece in the water and moving it up and down...this will create a pressure inside the gravel vac causing water to rise up into the tube thus starting the siphon. Just keep shaking it up and down(near the surface) until the water starts to flow. You'll need to experiment with what speed and how far up and down to shake the device....but if done properly, the siphon will start in just a few seconds. This is the quickest way to do it if you'd rather not suck on the end of the hose.
The technique I found (after trying it out fifty times on my first attemps) is to fill up the wider end with water, raise it so that the water starts to flow down the tube, then quickly, put the wider end back partially into the water, with the open end slightly higher than the other end! This will re-fill the tube and the water will continue to flow. At this point, as long as you don't take the wider end out of water you can do whatever you want with it...
Works for me every time, and super simple to do... :D
The best way I have found is to BUY A PYTHON! :D :D :D
NJ Devils Fan
12-27-2003, 1:24 PM
Originally posted by Gulp
The best way I have found is to BUY A PYTHON! :D :D :D
LOL, I was just going to say the same thing, you beat me!!:mad: :p ;) :)
Originally posted by NJ Devils Fan
LOL, I was just going to say the same thing, you beat me!!:mad: :p ;) :)
You guys are "lucky" since you were not as stupid as I was when I placed my tanks one floor below where the tap is located... :D Python is not an option for me... :mad:
often dignified
12-27-2003, 7:10 PM
I just use my mouth... people call it gross, but the water is no more dangerous for you than it is for your fish. And besides, if you do it right, you shouldn't get water in your mouth anyways.
Put the gravel vac in deep enough so it's filled with water. Hang the hose over the edge and down so its below the tank. Suck on the end of the hose SLOWLY until the water goes over the edge of the tank and starts flowing through the hose. Quickly place the hose in a bucket or whatever you use. Works every time.
Originally posted by often dignified
I just use my mouth... people call it gross, but the water is no more dangerous for you than it is for your fish. And besides, if you do it right, you shouldn't get water in your mouth anyways.
Put the gravel vac in deep enough so it's filled with water. Hang the hose over the edge and down so its below the tank. Suck on the end of the hose SLOWLY until the water goes over the edge of the tank and starts flowing through the hose. Quickly place the hose in a bucket or whatever you use. Works every time.
Dunno, but I still don't like the mouth-method (I don't have the guts to try it out)... :D
Try without your mouth - once it works for you, it will be very easy to repeat...
i use the good old mouth as well. give a good hard suck and aim it at the bucket. never get tank water in my mouth at all.
Wazzucycler
12-27-2003, 10:55 PM
I also use my mouth. Tried doing it other ways and it seemed stupid to spend a few minutes getting the thing going. Just suck on the end of the tube until the water is over the top of the tank and put the end in a bucket. If you do it right you should have about 5 seconds to get it there before the water comes out in the bucket or your mouth!
SnakeIce
12-28-2003, 11:03 AM
I stick the end of the hose in my mouth with my thumb included so when I get it started I can stop the flow untill I get the end down to the bucket.
one thing I will say is the larger diameter your syphon hose is the harder it will be to start the water flowing by mouth and not get some in your mouth
Lauren
12-28-2003, 12:04 PM
Originally posted by Slappy*McFish
An ordinary gravel vac can be started by simply putting the vacuum piece in the water and moving it up and down...this will create a pressure inside the gravel vac causing water to rise up into the tube thus starting the siphon. Just keep shaking it up and down(near the surface) until the water starts to flow. You'll need to experiment with what speed and how far up and down to shake the device....but if done properly, the siphon will start in just a few seconds. This is the quickest way to do it if you'd rather not suck on the end of the hose.
this works fine in the 20 gallon, but there isn't enough room with the gravel siphon I have to start it in the 10 gallon. That pump looks promising, I'll pick one up sometime this week.
Thanks.
Haha, I've been using my mouth to get the 10g started as well. I was fearful to say this just in case there was something taboo or generally wrong about doing so... it is your fish's waste after all.
Originally posted by Lauren
it is your fish's waste after all.
Oh what's a little fish poo in the mouth.... It's no worse than swimming in a pond or lake. :D :p
Originally posted by Lauren
this works fine in the 20 gallon, but there isn't enough room with the gravel siphon I have to start it in the 10 gallon. That pump looks promising, I'll pick one up sometime this week.
Thanks.
Haha, I've been using my mouth to get the 10g started as well. I was fearful to say this just in case there was something taboo or generally wrong about doing so... it is your fish's waste after all.
I'm able to do mouthless syphoning (:D ) even in 5.5g tank without much issues - it can be started in less than 5 seconds... I am thinking of getting a shorter and thiner tubed one only because it allows me to access better in the areas that would be impossible with the fat one...
Lauren
12-29-2003, 12:22 PM
Originally posted by Gulp
Oh what's a little fish poo in the mouth.... It's no worse than swimming in a pond or lake. :D :p
never thought about it that way... doesn't seem so bad now, does it?
Slappy*McFish
12-29-2003, 12:27 PM
Actually, I'd much rather have my tank water in my mouth than the water from some pond or lake....at least I know what's in my tank's water.
Originally posted by Slappy*McFish
Actually, I'd much rather have my tank water in my mouth than the water from some pond or lake....at least I know what's in my tank's water.
Very true....... Lake Lanier (big lake in Georgia) is a cess pool you can smell for miles...... :shake:
OrionGirl
12-29-2003, 1:13 PM
I submerge the hose. Since I usually change around 60 gallons at a time from the various tanks, I can always submerge the hose in the 'waste' water tub instead of the tank--especially handy for small tanks.
I never used to do this, but after sucking up a mouthful of saltwater even once, you will find a way around it. Eeewww! Ever since, I use this method on all my tanks, not just the SW.