Equipment Review and Discussion :: Siphon

[Ashley]

We currently have a small siphon hose that just works good enough from the tank to a bucket on the floor, but we want to get one that can connect to the bathroom sink (probably 50ft would be needed).
I can't lift heavy things, and now my boyfriend has some health issues that means no lifting, so we can no longer transport 5 gallon buckets back and forth.

Any suggestions on a siphon setup that can hook up to the faucet to fill the tank back up, and also a way to get it water from the tank to empty into the toilet?

[VeipaCray]

Check out the Python. It can do water changes right from the sink (remove and add water). I've had mine for probably 15+ years now and works great. You can get all sorts of adapters for various sinks and even extensions should you need a longer hose.

There's a valve that connects to your faucet. Let water flow through the valve and it creates a suction that will remove water from your tank. Change the valve in the other direction and clean water from your sink will travel through the hose and into your tank. This is a must have for freshwater aquarium maintenance. I believe other brands have copied the python, but AFAIK the python is the original. It's available online or at any local pet store like Petsmart or Petco.

The python is made in the US.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3910

[Ashley]

Nice!
Does it come with adapters for different sinks already or would I have to buy them separate?
I'm wondering how it would work with my bathroom sink...

[VeipaCray]

It comes with some, but definitely do yourself a favor and get the brass adapter that you need for $3. You'll find that the plastic ones will strip and the threads will go bad really quickly. The brass ones will last a really really long time. I would see what plastic ones it comes with... see if any of them fit... and once you find the one that works, take it over to the store or order in the brass equivalent.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3922&rel=1

You unscrew the screen from the bottom of the faucet and screw the adapter into the threads. You then attach the rest of the python to the adapter and poof..you're good to go.

[TurtleKeeper48]

Python is the way to go. I bought mine about a year ago and it came with a brass adapter.

[Ashley]

I decided to go with the 50ft.
I measured (and so did my dad to make sure I did it right. LOL) and a 25ft would've worked, but I figured what the heck and went with a bigger one.

[VeipaCray]

Good call. You can also add on extensions later if you decide you want to hook it up to your neighbor's sink or something

[Linus]

I have the 50 ft. model. It's great but sometimes the water pressure from the bathroom sink doesnt work. I haven't tried it since we redid the bathroom but it does require a good amount of pressure.

I've been running it outside of my window to the hose, but it sure is quick.

[Ashley]

I know that with 50ft I can hook it up to the kitchen sink if needed.

[VeipaCray]

Same here... I have to turn on both the hot and cold feeds on all the way with the 50 foot python.

[Ashley]

Yikes! Well I hope our pressure is good enough.

[VeipaCray]

Your pressure will be fine. You need the higher pressure to create enough suction to clean gravel. For sand you won't be siphoning it. You'll create more than enough suction to do water changes.

[Ashley]

I see.
Well I don't have any gravel or sand, just water and a few props.
We had to remove Bowser's princess castle because she got her head stuck in the hole.
She freed herself, but I don't want to risk it again.

[VeipaCray]

did you at least get a picture of Miss Bowser with her head stuck in the castle before she freed herself?

[Ashley]

No, I wasn't home at the time but my mom saw it and started freaking out. She called my dad in the room (since he's willing to stick his arm in the tank) and had him pull the castle out. Bowser had freed herself just before he came into the room.
And because she does things like this we have to be very careful about props.
She also will bite/eat anything. That means no sand, no fake plants, no cool stuff at all.
My boyfriend's nephew's turtle tank is so cool!
He has a baby RES in our old 20 gallon tank, and he has Bowser's old rock cave, a turtle log that he got for Christmas, some fake glowing plants, a tiny toy firetruck that props up the filter, a zen garden with a little Buddha, and a bubble treasure chest with an air pump.

Funny story...
We had to feed the little turtle while my bf's nephew and family were out of town, and he left a bunch of sticky note instructions for us.
Imagine a 12 yr old instructing us on taking care of his turtle, when we were the ones that told him to remove the gravel, get a UV light, keep the room warm, don't feed only shrimp, etc.
There were the following notes:

"Feed between 4:00pm and 6:00pm" (with an arrow pointing to the food container)
"NO SHRIMP!"
"Do not let see sunlight" (something we told him that our vet said about winter sunlight messing with captive turtles)
"Bed time 10:00pm to 10:00am"
"Awake time 10:00am to 10:00pm"

And then another one on top of a book that we gave him on how to take care of turtles that said "Read book if needed"


Hilarious!