Python and no suction power?

Marv_Levy

Marv_Levy

AC Members
Mar 22, 2007
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I just bought a 50foot python hooked it up to my faucet in the kitchen. Topped my 1 tank off no problem. But then i turned it to the suction mode to clean the gravel in my 75 gal tank. And i got nothing no suction at all? I needed the 50 feet of tubing to reach from my kitchen on the 1st florr of my hosue to my room in the basement. But it seems i dont get any suction at all? What could be the problem? I followed every step on the intructions to the letter. When i carry the hose up stairs and turn it on i get suction. But as soon as i try it in my room i get nothing???
 
Umm, you're trying to suck from downstairs in the basement to upstairs in the kitchen? It's not going to work because you essentially have 50' of head water that you're trying to suck. Python works with gravity and very little elevation (distance from floor to sink). You're trying to do something that it's not designed to do.

You can make it work though. You need an external water pump, a few pvc fittings, plastic screen that will catch your gravel if it gets through, and an empty water purifier container. Plumb the container on the tank side of the hose about 10-15' in. Plumb the pump about 2' past that. Prime the hose with water. Don't let the pump run dry. With the correct gph pump, you should be able to pump the water up to the kitchen and vac your gravel with no problem.
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Nolapete said:
Umm, you're trying to suck from downstairs in the basement to upstairs in the kitchen? It's not going to work because you essentially have 50' of head water that you're trying to suck. Python works with gravity and very little elevation (distance from floor to sink). You're trying to do something that it's not designed to do.
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i was under the impression taht it wouldent matter since its using the suction from your plumbing system. I figured it would slowly build up the suction.
but if what yo say is true they should clearly mark on there product that it doesnt work if you changing elivation
 
All they did was adapt a waterbed drain-n-fill kit for the aquarium trade. I don't know what the flow rate is, but I'm inclined to think it's less than 200 gph without any elevation.
 
well atleast the flow down to the tank works. It got really old doing a water change for a 75 gal. Carrying like 5 5 gallons buckets of dirty water up and then 5 more trips back down with clean lol

ill find some way to jimmy rig this up to suck
 
If you look in to the piece that connects to the sink, the green piece you will see a hex looking part. This screws in to the main drain part. stick your finger in there and see if its tight. if it is loose it will loose a lot of suction. I check mine every week. It will get loose from screwing and un screwing it to the faucet. Another thing to be sure of is that it is sealed to the faucet with a washer if not you will loose suction as well.

If its not that and you have a window in your basement why not just drain it outside the python will hook up to a water spicket?!
 
First of all, I would think the elevation would be a problem, but maybe if you try turning both taps on full blast it might work to drain water SLOWLY up that long run...... you should see how far up the hose the water gets sucked before it stops.

Tightening, if you dont have a hex key large enough for that socket, you can screw the brass adapter into that fitting really tight, and then turn the brass adapter until it comes loose.... works great for tightening mine.
 
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