I just suck on the end of the syphon hose until the water in the hose is well below the hose intake. Sure ya might get a mouthful of tank water from time to time, but owell, lol
ok this python vaccuum siphon is a pain
- Thread starter katuuuz
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I just suck on the end of the syphon hose until the water in the hose is well below the hose intake. Sure ya might get a mouthful of tank water from time to time, but owell, lol
Wow, there's a lot of interesting syphoning methods listed here and shown in the videos. Nice work!
I have a python now that I hook up to the drain, but before that, I used a plain old syphon head with 50 feet of vinyl tubing. Thought Id share for anyone who does not have a python and struggles with a long hose. How I got my gravel vacuum to start syphoning was similar to what oldman47 did.
Instead of submerging a few feet of the tubing, I submerged the entire length of tubing, including the gravel vacuum head, under water so that all 50 feet of my hose contained water. I used my thumb and plugged up the draining end of the vinyl tube after it was filled up. Then, leaving the gravel vacuum head in the tank, I brought the draining end to my yard where I would then let my thumb off and the syphon automatically starts.
Using really long tubing along with needing to have the hose go over some semi-tall obstacles like a planter wall etc. made things hard for me but this method always worked on the first try. Hope that helps someone.
I have a python now that I hook up to the drain, but before that, I used a plain old syphon head with 50 feet of vinyl tubing. Thought Id share for anyone who does not have a python and struggles with a long hose. How I got my gravel vacuum to start syphoning was similar to what oldman47 did.
Instead of submerging a few feet of the tubing, I submerged the entire length of tubing, including the gravel vacuum head, under water so that all 50 feet of my hose contained water. I used my thumb and plugged up the draining end of the vinyl tube after it was filled up. Then, leaving the gravel vacuum head in the tank, I brought the draining end to my yard where I would then let my thumb off and the syphon automatically starts.
Using really long tubing along with needing to have the hose go over some semi-tall obstacles like a planter wall etc. made things hard for me but this method always worked on the first try. Hope that helps someone.
as for me i have a floor drain here at the restaurant and i put about 3 feet of the hose into the tank then i take one or two breaths from the hose and it starts fine then as i go from tank to tank i make sure to keep the hose full of water as i go to the next tank keep the hose turned off till i get the drain end in the floor then open it and it starts fine for the tank
I drew a picture.
Step One:
Submerge the vac end of the python as shown, along with an equal amount of hose. Make sure valve is open.
Step Two:
Raise end above waterline so that water flows down hose, going past the highest point in the hose (as shown by blue dot in Step One). Do not let vac end empty completely.
Step 3:
Once water is past that point, resubmerge vac end and let it refill with water.
Step 4:
Clean the tank.
Step One:
Submerge the vac end of the python as shown, along with an equal amount of hose. Make sure valve is open.
Step Two:
Raise end above waterline so that water flows down hose, going past the highest point in the hose (as shown by blue dot in Step One). Do not let vac end empty completely.
Step 3:
Once water is past that point, resubmerge vac end and let it refill with water.
Step 4:
Clean the tank.
Not true. You can use it hooked up to the faucet or without it.
The only thing you have to do to get it started when it's hooked up to the drain and fill thing on the sink is turn the thing on the bottom to open the valve so it starts the suction.
I don't use that any more as I found it's more of a hassle than it's worth. I just run the hose out into the yard then dunk the vac part underwater to fill it. Lift it and let the water start down the hose. Repeat a few times until the siphon gets going. Vac away.
When done, turn the cut off valve off, hook the end of the hose to the faucet, add prime to the tank, refill. Done.
Hey guys, aren't you talking about two different syphons? The "Python" attaches to your faucett in your sink to both syphon out/drain your tank, and then in one quick change of direction, fill back in with water from the faucet.
In the videos and in the drawing, it looks like just the syphon that you have to get going through pumping action or mouth suction as some of you guys have described.
I have the kind shown in the drawing and video, and it's a pain. I plan to get the "Phthon" that works through the action of flowing water from the faucet to start the suction going, and then once vacuumed/syphoned out, you reverse the lever and it starts to fill. Have to be careful that the water temp is adjusted right since the water is flowing in straight from the faucet kind of scares me though. You also have to add the conditioner to the tank so that as the water flows back in it is instantly dechlorinated or you kill your fishies. This scares me too, though it seems that there are tons of people on this site, the AC, that successfully use it.
The "Python" doesn't rely on any pumping action or manual suction, becaus it works on the flow action of water from your faucet.
I want one, they are pretty expensive - around $30 at Petsmart, but they have been out of stock here for the longest. You can buy lengths of tubing to extend the distance from your sink to your tank, as well. The water drained from the tank goes right down the sink drain with the "Python".
I think you can order them from Petsmart online. WalMart sells a knock-off one that works the same way, but I want the orignal actual Python..
In the videos and in the drawing, it looks like just the syphon that you have to get going through pumping action or mouth suction as some of you guys have described.
I have the kind shown in the drawing and video, and it's a pain. I plan to get the "Phthon" that works through the action of flowing water from the faucet to start the suction going, and then once vacuumed/syphoned out, you reverse the lever and it starts to fill. Have to be careful that the water temp is adjusted right since the water is flowing in straight from the faucet kind of scares me though. You also have to add the conditioner to the tank so that as the water flows back in it is instantly dechlorinated or you kill your fishies. This scares me too, though it seems that there are tons of people on this site, the AC, that successfully use it.
The "Python" doesn't rely on any pumping action or manual suction, becaus it works on the flow action of water from your faucet.
I want one, they are pretty expensive - around $30 at Petsmart, but they have been out of stock here for the longest. You can buy lengths of tubing to extend the distance from your sink to your tank, as well. The water drained from the tank goes right down the sink drain with the "Python".
I think you can order them from Petsmart online. WalMart sells a knock-off one that works the same way, but I want the orignal actual Python..
My fish are in my shed, and I just sucked up a big roach! Sounds silly, but just a thought. If you are going to use the suck method, blow the line clear first. It could have been a spider:eek3:.........they taste different!
