Equipment Review and Discussion :: i don't understand why people like pythons....

[zoologist]

we are using one to drain a 150 gallon tank in the nature center and the suction won't keep up unless the water keeps flowing! what a waste!

there is no way for us to jerry-rig it to work without the tap being on, and there is no other option for cleaning the tank.

i am very upset with the way the water is being wasted and i will not be getting one to clean my 55 gallon.

[megcornell]

The water pressure from the faucet is needed to keep the suction going.
In my old house I used to hook the python up to the outside spigot and let the water go into the flower garden. Now that I'm in NYC I don't have that choice. It truthfully saves me so much time and energy though that I use it. I only drag it out for really big water changes. Usually I'm just adding a fwe gallons of water every few days due to evaporation, so I don't hook it up for something like that.

[octpusgirl8]

I use mine as a regular siphon to get water out of the tank, it's easy to get going because of the little shut off valve, and the hose is long enough to go out the back door. Once i have the tank drained as much as i need, i hook the python up to the faucet to fill the tank back up. It's really nice not to have to lug buckets of water around!

[jenaero]

I remember reading something (in the packaging maybe) about the python only wasting the amount of water it would take to flush a toilet or something..

[meltedspork]

I remember reading something (in the packaging maybe) about the python only wasting the amount of water it would take to flush a toilet or something..

Yes, this is true... from their website:

"Environmentally Responsible! Due to our powerful 7 to 1 suction ratio, cleaning your tank uses about the same amount of water as flushing your toilet"

[mat012]

Thats funny - I dont have to keep the water running while I empty the tank. I only start the water to get the suction going but then once it starts to syphon I can turn the water off. It keeps syphoning. Then I close up the valve and start the refill by turning the faucet on. Am I missing the point of the thread? Its been one of those days so if I am being a bit dense I would not be the least bit surprised!

[octpusgirl8]

Is your tank at a higher level than the sink? That's the only way i could imagine that would work. If the tank is lower than where the water comes out (mine is) the faucet needs to run the entire time.

[Spookster]

I have never used the python without running the water to create suction. If I turn the water off it will continue to drain very slowly though. Did you think it was going to magically suck the water out like a sump pump?

[mat012]

Is your tank at a higher level than the sink? That's the only way i could imagine that would work. If the tank is lower than where the water comes out (mine is) the faucet needs to run the entire time.

Maybe thats it. The tank is higher than the faucet, but the hose falls to ground and then has to go back up again to connect to the faucet. Overall though I bet the tank is about a foot to a foot and a half higher.

[octpusgirl8]

Ah-ha! You're lucky, that makes it convenient and efficient!

[steve]

For draining, I just have it empty outside. The end of the hose just needs to be lower than the other end for gravity to do it's work.

[Chrisbarnett]

I haven't ever used a python. I never needed to. I use an XL tank vacuum with a very long siphon hose. It's a self start so you move it up and down and it starts up. The hose is 1/2" ID and drains the tank rather quickly.

My tank is pretty high so I just throw the hose out the window and drain it outside.

I don't really care that 48ish gallons of water from my 55 gal is going out onto the lawn every month or two when I do a 100% cleaning and 10 gallons for a change every week.

Anyway, when did you get a 55 gallon? Did you get an aquarium or a large rubbermaid?

[mzkitty23]

that's what I use too Chris and it was like $15. i've heard the python is pricey. the x-large vacuum works just fine and my tank is 140 gallon.

[SpotsMama]

I use my Python like Octpusgirl. I use it like a regular gravity powered syphon to drain the tank out the back door into the yard, then hook it up to the kitchen faucet to refill the tank.

[Daniel3507]

i just did a water change and found out that i dont have to keep the water on the whole time. i turn the faucet on to start it and then just shut it off. it doesnt drain it as fast but oh well. its good to be a little green