I have been thinking about different ways I could possibly make water changing easier, because the way it is right now I have to use a big huge bucket and transport it from the sink to the tank many times. If I fill it too much, I can't even pick it up it's so heavy, if I fill it too little it takes even longer. So I was thinking about getting the Python cleaner or something similar to it, but I think they are around $50. So as an alternative, this is my idea: I could buy a garden hose and slip the tube from my gravel vacuum into it...so that way the water will go into the hose and into the sink. Then when I refilled the tank, I could hook up a faucet adapter thing to the hose and faucet and just use that to refill the tank. What do you guys think of this idea?

Your syphon hose works by gravity. To create the syphon, you have to fill the hose completely - no air.

1. You will need to have a way to completely fill the garden hose and syphon hose to get the syphon started. This is not easy - with a 3 foot long hose you can fill it at the tap, suck on it or even fill it in the tank with care. With anything longer - it will extremely difficult to fill it - airless - as needed.

2.If you just slide the end of the syphon hose into the garden hose end, you will not have an air-tight seal. This will incorporate air into the system. Once air is drawn in, the syphon will break.

3. To work, a syphon has to empty LOWER than where it is filled. This means that the sink must be lower than the tank - and the water must flow downhill. If this is not true - and the hose runs along the floor and up into the sink, your syphon will not work.

4. If you are using straight tap water, you need to make sure you treat your entire tank with water conditioner before refilling it.

I do not see this working. A Python works under a different principal. There are cheaper knock-off versions of the Python. You can even find the little piece that is sold as a pool and pond emptying tool for a few bucks and use it with a garden hose.

I just use buckets. I have 22 tanks going right now - and move about 125 gallons out and 125 gallons in each day - about 2-3 gallons at a time. It goes quickly and easily. I get my exercise - and do not have to pay to attend a gym. (keeping fish = STRONG muscles!)

I have a cheaper alternative, a Lee's Ultimate Gravel Vac. Exactly the same as a Python; works the same way-- just cheaper.

Gravel Vac

Or if you're a handy sort of chap, you could buy this Super Pump (it's the hose to faucet connector) and just go to your local hardware store and buy as many feet as you like of 1" (3/4" inner diameter) vinyl tubing. Voila, Python for $10. I am under the impression that the hardware store would also have the super pump attachment. My boyfriend found one at a thrift store.

Edit for bad url tagging

daryl, I hadn't thought about not being able to hold the siphon. So if I was to start the siphon and then attach the tube to the hose , the syphon would still break? Just want to make sure on that. I use buckets now, but it is getting to become a hassle. I'm a rather petite person and it's difficult for me to lift the buckets....I've also figured out that it might be a good idea to take out a little more water than I've been doing. So now I've just been thinking about other alternatives.

Thoughtsofjoy, I was also thinking about using a tube but I wasn't sure if they would just have them at the store...I also don't really know how the tube will fit into the adapter. And after what daryl said about the siphoning I don't know if that is going to work very well. I've also heard of Lee's Gravel Vac.

Very good!!! Thank you for those links! That SuperPump thingy is the thing I used to make a "Python" type thing for my son-in-law. It works well for him. I found one for a buck.

You can find tubing at any hardware store - sold by the foot - in many diameters. Simply pick what you want and all is good. I have purchased tubing and replaced nearly all my hoses on my gravel cleaner tubes - I want them LONGER to reach my buckets easily. I also use them for all kinds of other fish chores - from filling RO barrels and such.

Hey acidstars

The way that a Python or a vac connected to a faucet works is by the Venturi effect. It's the same as how powerheads suck in air.

Basically, you connect everything up to the faucet, put the end of the tube in your tank, and turn your facet with the super pump in the down position (when you get one, you'll understand what that means). The water flowing down past the siphon tube into sink causes a suction effect on your siphon tube. If that's confusing, learn more about the Venturi effect.

The pump in the down position draws the water from your tank into the sink, even against gravity, due to the Venturi effect.

Then, you add water condition to your tank. You put the pump into the up position, which doesn't let the water down the drain, but instead pushes it into the tube, into your tank.

With this setup, you don't have to worry about starting or stopping the siphon or the effects of gravity.

Hope that helps.


Oh, and if you make your own, you can find the correct adapters to connect the tube to the super pump, and to connect the super pump to the faucet. Thomas says he's seen a kit at our LFS that has the super pump and all the fitting you need, just no tubing. I can get the correct tubing at my local hardware store for 69¢ per foot.

I found a link that explains making your own gravel vac with the super pump, except this person hooked it up to a hose. Is this basically what you guys are talking about, but with just tubing? diy gravel vacuum

The link doesn't work for me, but I'm guessing yes.