Hey guys
I bought the 50ft. Lee's gravel vac and I was a liittle disappointed with the suction performance on it. The suction, I've noticed, seemed a weak and slow moving. I checked and made sure that I wasn't kinking the hose in any way or that the connection valve to the sink was properly installed and it stil wasn't sucking very well. Also, The plastic grate at the end of the vacuum is a poor design, the gravel would always get all jammed up in it. As far as filling the tank back up, it did o.k. I heard a lot of praise on this website about th Python brand. I would love to stop lugging these busckets around, but I'm afraid to make the same mistake with another brand. For those of you who own the Lee version I would appreciate your feedback. I want to give this system another chance, but I want to make the right choice.
Full Version: Lee's Gravel Vac Vs. Python Gravel Vac
i've never tried lee's, and my shorter gravel vac is a python... it doesn't do the whole sink thing though..
personally i don't mind lugging the buckets of water... i usually pour it out in my garden, and the water gives excellent results on my rosebushes.
i like pythons... but that may be just becaue i haven't used anything else.
personally i don't mind lugging the buckets of water... i usually pour it out in my garden, and the water gives excellent results on my rosebushes.
i like pythons... but that may be just becaue i haven't used anything else.
I've been thinking about getting a 25ft Python, but how do you get the water temp right when you're putting the water back in? Or is it still a thermometre in a bucket job?
I have a Lee's too. At first, I was happy with it. But, I dont like the slits because it doesnt get the big pieces. Also, the suction isnt that strong. It does its job, but I kind of wish I had got a Python.
sunriseclerics ~ I turn the water on with the hose still in the sink, turn the hot and cold until it feels close to the tank temp. Then I put my thermometer in the water flow.
sunriseclerics ~ I turn the water on with the hose still in the sink, turn the hot and cold until it feels close to the tank temp. Then I put my thermometer in the water flow.
To adjust the temperature of the fill water when using a Python... Just remove the suction end of the Python from the tank and and go over to your faucet. Leave the Python in the drain position (it will suck most of the tank water out of the hose) then adjust the temperature of the water coming out of the bottom of the Python faucet adapter to match the temperature of the tank using both the cold and hot handles on your faucet. I don't guess at the temperature, I use a digital cooking thermometer.
A little tip that might save you from making a mess while using a Python.
Don't close the valve at the suction end of the Python before you change the Python from drain to fill. Closing that valve can cause a pressure rise in the hose that might spray water all over.
A little tip that might save you from making a mess while using a Python.
Don't close the valve at the suction end of the Python before you change the Python from drain to fill. Closing that valve can cause a pressure rise in the hose that might spray water all over.
I had a 50 ft Python that I just replaced with a 25 ft Python. (The 50 ft I had used on my parasite infected tank that took me over 3 months to get rid of. I didn't want to risk using it again and re-infecting my tank. I disinfected it but just wasn't 100% convinced that all 50 feet of tubing got cleaned thoroughly.)
Anyway to me it seems like the 25 ft has more suction than the 50.
How much water are you changing out a time? How long does it take to suction it out?
When I used my 50 ft Python to do a 50% waterchange on my 37 gallon it would take probably 10 minutes to drain that much water. How does that compare to the amount of time it takes your Lee's gravel vac to suction out your tank?
Anyway to me it seems like the 25 ft has more suction than the 50.
How much water are you changing out a time? How long does it take to suction it out?
When I used my 50 ft Python to do a 50% waterchange on my 37 gallon it would take probably 10 minutes to drain that much water. How does that compare to the amount of time it takes your Lee's gravel vac to suction out your tank?
Hi! I have one of each - a Python and a Lee's Ultimate - I find that the suction on the Python pump is a bit better although I cannot figure out why as the parts are basically identical.
I find all the other parts of both systems to be entirely adequate and even completley interchangeable! (actually, the lees male and female valvs are a bit easier to add to the tubing). After buying a 50 foot Python (too long for my needs), I realized there was an easier way to get one - buy the parts and get the tubing at the harware store! Or, Buy the Lee's parts and get the tubing at the harware store! I cut the tubing in half, bought the Lees parts, and made an Ulti-vac with Python tubing! Shhh, don't tell Python! (I later bought tubing at the hardware store, bought Python pump and other parts Lees and made a third siphon system - the color coding also helps to prevent cross-contamination as the Python is green, the Lees blue, and the thrid is green and blue)!
When the neck on the Python pump broke (and I had to wait two weeks for a replacement), I substituted a Lees' backup Lee's pump I had - I am now convinced that the Lee's pump does not suction as strongly as the Python as the rest of the system I was using was the Python - this may have something to do with the seal, which looks similar, but may be slightly different in size or quality...
- basically, except for the pump, the rest of the parts seem entirely equal to me so I buy whichever is more economical.
I posted a "recipe" for building a Python or Lee's - or a hybrid - in Product Review under Lee's Ultimate... listing the different brand names for the same parts and which are required to build the "system".
NOTE - I always keep a spare pump becuase they do have a tendency to break with frequent use... if you have a pet store selling them nearby, great! I don't so I keep a spare handy - once, three pet stores, not near by, were all out of the Python pump at once!
BTW - the shorter the length of the tube, the greater your suction will be - if you don't need 50' of tubing, cut it! Keep the spare tubing becasue if you move, you can alwyas rejoin the tube by buying "replacement" connectors and adding them to the tubing, increasing the length of the system. This is exactly the same thing they sell as extensions!
I use a digital thermometer and point the refill near the probe at filling so I can quickly see what temp is coming out of the tap and adjust the hot and cold accordingly. With a standeard thermometer, I used to hold it under the faucet outflow for about 30 seconds until I saw that the temp. ont he thermometer under the faucet matched the temp. of the thermom. in the tank - and then filled.
FANTAIL - Times - when I used the 50 foot Python my 20 g tank, it took about 15minutes (and we have low water pressure). When I cut in half, which I was able to do - maybe your distance requires 50 feet - that time changed to about 9 minutes.
When I use the Lees on the 12g tropi tank it takes about 15 minutes! At 25 feet!
When I used the Lees' pump on the Python system (the pump was new and otherwise would have been steralised) on the 20g, it took about 16 minutes at 25 feet! I was not even sure it was draining... although filling always goes faster.
I find all the other parts of both systems to be entirely adequate and even completley interchangeable! (actually, the lees male and female valvs are a bit easier to add to the tubing). After buying a 50 foot Python (too long for my needs), I realized there was an easier way to get one - buy the parts and get the tubing at the harware store! Or, Buy the Lee's parts and get the tubing at the harware store! I cut the tubing in half, bought the Lees parts, and made an Ulti-vac with Python tubing! Shhh, don't tell Python! (I later bought tubing at the hardware store, bought Python pump and other parts Lees and made a third siphon system - the color coding also helps to prevent cross-contamination as the Python is green, the Lees blue, and the thrid is green and blue)!
When the neck on the Python pump broke (and I had to wait two weeks for a replacement), I substituted a Lees' backup Lee's pump I had - I am now convinced that the Lee's pump does not suction as strongly as the Python as the rest of the system I was using was the Python - this may have something to do with the seal, which looks similar, but may be slightly different in size or quality...
- basically, except for the pump, the rest of the parts seem entirely equal to me so I buy whichever is more economical. I posted a "recipe" for building a Python or Lee's - or a hybrid - in Product Review under Lee's Ultimate... listing the different brand names for the same parts and which are required to build the "system".
NOTE - I always keep a spare pump becuase they do have a tendency to break with frequent use... if you have a pet store selling them nearby, great! I don't so I keep a spare handy - once, three pet stores, not near by, were all out of the Python pump at once!
BTW - the shorter the length of the tube, the greater your suction will be - if you don't need 50' of tubing, cut it! Keep the spare tubing becasue if you move, you can alwyas rejoin the tube by buying "replacement" connectors and adding them to the tubing, increasing the length of the system. This is exactly the same thing they sell as extensions!
I use a digital thermometer and point the refill near the probe at filling so I can quickly see what temp is coming out of the tap and adjust the hot and cold accordingly. With a standeard thermometer, I used to hold it under the faucet outflow for about 30 seconds until I saw that the temp. ont he thermometer under the faucet matched the temp. of the thermom. in the tank - and then filled.
FANTAIL - Times - when I used the 50 foot Python my 20 g tank, it took about 15minutes (and we have low water pressure). When I cut in half, which I was able to do - maybe your distance requires 50 feet - that time changed to about 9 minutes.
When I use the Lees on the 12g tropi tank it takes about 15 minutes! At 25 feet!
When I used the Lees' pump on the Python system (the pump was new and otherwise would have been steralised) on the 20g, it took about 16 minutes at 25 feet! I was not even sure it was draining... although filling always goes faster.
Thanks Graham, this was really helpful
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