"No Spill" Python - How does this work?

[jarrodaden]

So I went to the Python page, and I understand how the clean / draindown part of a water change would work. What I don't understand is how this device can be used to refill the tank?

If I understand this correctly, the vacuum end goes in the tank. The other end attaches to a faucet. At the faucet end the running water would create a vacuum. The result would be a mixture of tap water and dirty tank water being released at the sink / faucet.

If running water (with chlorine, etc.) is being used to create the siphon during the fill process you would be introducing tap water (with chlorine) into the tank. I am clearly missing something here or the "no bucket" claims are invalid.

Can someone clear this up?

[snoopy65]

You put the vacuum end into the tank, adjust the valve at the bottom part of the piece that connects to the sink to open/ down, turn on the water which sucks the water from the tank. When you have siphoned all of the water you want siphoned out you remove the vacuum end from the water to stop the vacuum. With the vacuum end not submerged but over the tank, turn on your tap and adjust for temperature to closely match your tank. Treat your tank with declor like Prime for the TOTAL volume of your tank. Close/ up and twist the valve that is a part of the piece that connects to the fawcet and it will put temperature matched water into your tank. If you are on chlorinated water it is very very important to declor your tank for it's total volume of water not just the water replaced.

Hope this helps.

[angyles]

basically, as long as the valve is open, to drain the tank, the tap water runs straight through to to the sink. When you're ready to refill the tank, the way I do it is pour dechlorinator directly into the tank right where the python is so it's swirling around it, then close the valve. The tap water runs into the tank and gets dechlorinated as it makes contact with the conditioner. It is safest to dose for the entire body of water rather than jsut the new amount, because the water conditioner can become less effective by other organics in the water when it's introduced to the tank first.

[irmuddled]

It's incredibly easy. Attach it to the faucet, to set it to drain and use the gravel vacuum to suck up any debris the same way you would with any siphon hose. Once it's draining you can remove it from the faucet to not waste water, but it goes slower since the water pressure from the sink is what's sucking out the water.

After you take out all the water, put water conditioner (prime is #1!!!) and let it sit for a while for it to do its magic. I usually let it sit for like 10 minutes while I take out any dead leaves the tank might have or anything else. Then put set the python to release water, make sure the water temperature that's coming out of your hose is the same as the one in the tank, and fill it back up.

After the tank is nice and full, set it to drain again to remove any water that's left over inside the hose, remove from your faucet, and store. No buckets or any spills! If the python doesn't fit your sink, you can buy a universal adapter that will work anywhere. That's what happened to me so just fyi :)

[jarrodaden]

I noticed on the Python website it says 10% water replacement instead of the typical 25%. Is that because you are putting tap water directly into the tank?

[thesixis]

If you want you can put one of those stick on color changing therometer on the faucet so you can see the exact temp of the water going back into the tank. I'm old fashion I still use Stress Coat. I just dump it in and let it swirl around.

[bushwhacker]

i use my python all the time to do 50% weekly changes on my 4 tanks...so dont go by whats reccomended its whatever you need to keep yur tanks in proper condition. in my case i dont even need declore i just put straight tap water in. i saw on the news the other day my little town has some of the cleanest water in the country

[jarrodaden]

Here in Houston, they sometimes "shock" the lines (or so I believe) with a heavier dose of chlorine than usual. You can really smell it on some days.

That's the main reason this gizmo really scares me.

[Reframer]

I purchased a python ripoff and I couldn't use it because it need to screw on to the faucet and my faucet doesn't have threads. Does python need to be screwed on too?

[irmuddled]

I purchased a python ripoff and I couldn't use it because it need to screw on to the faucet and my faucet doesn't have threads. Does python need to be screwed on too?
Yup! Take your pick on adapters so it works ;)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3922

[angyles]

as for the high chlorine days, you may need to adjust your practices accordingly. Test take a whiff before you get going. double your conditioner on those days if you do a water change.

As for adapting the python to a faucet, i was unable to make mine fit. I have a price phister faucet and apparently neither HD or Lowes carries an adabter that goes from to metric SOo I jsut put a piece of hose on the end of the python with a hose clamp and I slide that on over my faucet and throw a towel over it for any spray. kinda ghetto but it does the job!!

[jarrodaden]

It comes with a exterior hose bid fitting though, right? Also, I think there is a special adapter on the Python site, but I don't know what faucets it would fit.

[bushwhacker]

check you bathroom faucets man i cant use mine on the kitchen sink but it works great on my grandsons bath room sink... any faucet with a screw on aerater

[angyles]

there's always a way to make it work. Like I said, my faucet has a screw on aerator but none of the adaptors I was able to find in stores fit it. Looking online, you'll of course have more options. for me, the hose slips on and off easily so I stopped my search :-)