Habitat - Indoor :: Python No Spill Alternative? & Water Testing Frequency?

[ChangTang]

So as living in the basement, the nearest sink is about 100 feet away, upstairs and across the house (which would be a COMPLETE pain and a drop of 150 bucks from my wallet). BUT, right beside my tank is the cellar door, and about 20 feet away is the spigot (outdoor faucet) and the hose. Is there any possible way I can make my own python no spill out of this hose and faucet? I have a gravel vacuum but it is very basic and hauling buckets of water back and forth each week would get OLD. If anyone has any ideas how I can turn this into a backsaving DIY, it would be appreciated!

Also, how often to test water for ammonia, nitrates, nitrites? I purchased a freshwater drip test kit and I'm curious as to knowing once I get my tank cycled, how often should one test turtle water?

[steve]

The easiest way to drain a tank is to use a simple tube as a siphon. A Venturi type never worked well for me, but you can find a cheap attachment through those selling water bed fill/drain kits. Do you have any other drains near by? Bathroom, drain on the floor, etc.

If you do regular water changes and maintenance, you really don't need to test your water.

[PridgNYC]

I got this one...http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpets&field-keywords=aqueon+water+changer&x=0&y=0 It contains all the needed attachments to attach it to either a sink or a hose spigot.

[ChangTang]

There's no drains in the basement. The closest thing besides the ground outside the cellar doors is the sump pump drain in the other side of the basement but it's sealed, only to be opened for an emergency. I was thinking to possibly do something like this?

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_python.php

Buy the waterbed kit, a few valves / connector and attach my existing vacuum to this? Would this work with an exterior spigot? Is the outside water the same as the inside water (stupid question). We use well water BTW, and it is filtered with a salt filter / water softener thing...

Where would I get the waterbed attachment? On Walmart.com it's 30 dollars...

[edit] this is the cheapest I could find, is it what I need?
http://www.syahrul.com/shop.php?i=B000FT2PUO

[Linus]

You can plug a python into a hose.

[ChangTang]

Alright, after a little research I saw that the suction pressure is a lot lower than the python itself. With about 50-100 feet of hosing we have connected to the spigot, I feel like the pressure may not be enough to suck up turtle poop.

[steve]

I really don't know the layout but I would consider making a simple drain with PVC pipe or even use a cheap pump.

[ChangTang]

Oh, a powerhead is a good idea. where in the system would it be located? It makes sense, but I don't know where it would be placed.

[Love of Animals]

I lug buckets. If you can get it to drain out the window, put some plants they'll grow great on the turtle fertilizer.

[VeipaCray]

I use the $20 shop vac / bucket top thingy. It gets used for nothing else besides water changes. HD and Lowes both sell them.
Shop vac bucket attachment $20
new 5 gallon bucket $3

http://www.lowes.com/pd_49940-20097-600 ... 151&rpp=48

Suck 5 gallons of dirty water into the bucket in about 15 seconds. Take the bucket outside and dump.
Fill time? Fill the same bucket and dump it back into your tank. The bucket stays clean if you use this shop vac setup for nothing else besides water changes.

[ChangTang]

Wow thats really neat! So since I already have a 5 gallon lowes bucket all I need is the shop-vac kit? And it's pretty much like the motor / powerhead of the shop-vac that attaches to the lid of the bucket and uses the hose to fill the bucket up? Thats actually pretty nice. The only question i have with it is, how much poop do you have time to suck up in 15 seconds? I feel like I could only get like half the tanks worth of waste in the bucket in 15 seconds.

[VeipaCray]

Yes it's just the powerhead part of the vacuum.

I don't really suck up any poop with it. The filter does that. Any poop on the sand, I just scoop out with a wire mesh reptile sand scoop or agitate into the water where the filter can deal with it. I just use the vacuum for water changes. Water high in nitrates out. Replacement water in.

[ChangTang]

Okay well I'm planning on putting the intake and outtake on opposite ends of my 55, and with a barebottom substrate, hopefully it sweeps everything toward the intake. If not, i'm probably going to buy a submersible circulation pump and put it on the outtake side to have more water / waste go towards the intake.