Ugh! My Python broke!

[gatotsu77]

I have a rather strange method to doing my water changes... and its not as preffered by some people, but hey, opinions are like elbows, everyone's got 'em. I use my Python kit to fill water from one end of the tank while I siphon from the other end of the tank, so as to keep the water level near full. (I don't particularly like shutting down my filters every time I do a water change... its a pain in the butt to get one of 'em to fire back up) I know that I likely get a little fresh water in with the bad water while I'm siphoning, but I do a decent sized change to make up for it. As for the siphon that is taking water out of the tank, I have a 20 gallon rubbermaid storage bin (the dark blue series, roughneck I think they call them... its incredibly strong) that I drain about 15 gallons of water into at a time, at which point I shut off the sink, siphon out the rubbermaid with the Python (so I don't have to carry the d*** thing... its effing heavy with that much water in it!) and repeat the process until I've taken out a total of 20-25 gallons of water. I'll do this at least once a week, occasionally more often. (this is on a 55g tank)

 

[Natosha24]

Natosha, I do something similar, but easier (I think). I put the outflow end out the window or door, depending on what I'm watering, turn the white valve near the big tube to off, dip the tube in the tank, turn it up so water drains into the hose and is full, dip the tube back in carefully to fill it, put the open end toward the bottom, flip the white switch back "on" and it's good to go. I've never liked sucking on it, as there are potentially many kinds of microscopic critters and bacteria along with dissolved poop and urine!!! Just my 2 cents.

I think this is going to be my approach when maintenance day arrives again. I'm going to give it a shot--but I refuse to put my mouth near the hose! LoL. I wouldn't mind not having the fish water go into my sink. That's what I hate the most about the python. I end up spending an hour after I get done with tank maintenance disinfecting the entire area because it's hard telling where all the little splatters landed. Anything to save time!!!

 

[wataugachicken]

here's an idea. . . put the whole python in the bathtub, put the big gravel vac end underneath the tub faucet, and turn on the hot water. let it run through the python for 3-5 minutes. no more poop, no more bacteria, no more bugs. it's safe enough to put your mouth on it, and should be part of the maintenance anyway.

 

[Natosha24]

here's an idea. . . put the whole python in the bathtub, put the big gravel vac end underneath the tub faucet, and turn on the hot water. let it run through the python for 3-5 minutes. no more poop, no more bacteria, no more bugs. it's safe enough to put your mouth on it, and should be part of the maintenance anyway.

Not gonna work. I still would not put my mouth on or near that thing. Probably not even if it were soaked for days in bleach. I'm weird about things like that. I won't even put my mouth on my boyfriend after he's been in the shower for only 3-5 minutes not to mention something that's had fish poop on it! :rofl:

 

[southpaw]

So I take it you have never took a swim in a creek or river (full of fish poop)

Also the water you drink comes from these same creeks and rivers before being treated

 

[wataugachicken]

I have a rather strange method to doing my water changes... and its not as preffered by some people, but hey, opinions are like elbows, everyone's got 'em. I use my Python kit to fill water from one end of the tank while I siphon from the other end of the tank, so as to keep the water level near full. (I don't particularly like shutting down my filters every time I do a water change... its a pain in the butt to get one of 'em to fire back up) I know that I likely get a little fresh water in with the bad water while I'm siphoning, but I do a decent sized change to make up for it. As for the siphon that is taking water out of the tank, I have a 20 gallon rubbermaid storage bin (the dark blue series, roughneck I think they call them... its incredibly strong) that I drain about 15 gallons of water into at a time, at which point I shut off the sink, siphon out the rubbermaid with the Python (so I don't have to carry the d*** thing... its effing heavy with that much water in it!) and repeat the process until I've taken out a total of 20-25 gallons of water. I'll do this at least once a week, occasionally more often. (this is on a 55g tank)

yup, that's pretty strange. are you on a well or on city (chlorinated) water? by running the filters while adding new water you risk killing off a percentage of your bacterial colonies if the chlorine gets to the filters before your dechlorinator gets to the chlorine.

 

[Natosha24]

So I take it you have never took a swim in a creek or river (full of fish poop)

Also the water you drink comes from these same creeks and rivers before being treated

Actually, I have not swam in a creek or a river since I was a youngster. I don't even know how to swim that well so anything other than a pool is pretty much out of the question. I don't even like stepping into the ocean. If I could get away with wearing waders when we go to the ocean, I definitely would do it! Would be quite a site though. LoL