Habitat - Indoor :: Python/siphoning and salmonella

[sarahji]

Hi all!

I'm a little confused as to how those siphon water cleaners (like Pythons and their cheaper cousins) work. Is there a pump that starts them siphoning? Or do you somehow use your sink's faucet to get the dirty water started flowing out of the tank?

I ask because I live in an apartment (no access to outside) and I wanted to just route the tube into the toilet to deposit the dirty water in there. I don't want to dump dirty water into the sink (or touch turtle water to my faucet), because I keep reading about how much salmonella is on my little buddies the turtles.

Hope this made some sense!
I am clearly confused about siphoning systems.

Graaaaacias!
Sarah

[jason32835]

I just bought a Python.. It will only work hooked up to your sink. I'm using the bathroom sink to limit exposure to food stuff. I also keep a bottle of bleach based cleaner handy for after I'm done.

You do want to use the Python, it will make your life much easier.

[papoopeepoo]

From what I believe, the siphon still needs to be started manually by the user (sucking water like a straw), but refilling is made easier because it connects directly to the spigot.

I never personally got a Python because they're made predominately for cleaning substrate. Since I have no substrate, it is pointless to me. I use some scrap vinyl tubing as a siphon and it works just fine.

5% bleach/95% water solution is very useful when cleaning up your work area before AND after cleaning the filter/tank. Additionally, hand sanitizer is good to use after you're done cleaning everything up.

Salmonella infection is easily avoided. In the same way, keeping your turtle away from germs in your home is just as easy.

[jwinters]

I use something that is pretty much the same thing as a python only its made by aqueon. You connect it to your sink and the water from the sink creates the suction to siphon out the water. I don't think any of the turtle water actually touches the faucet as the water goes through a piece of the python itself and goes out the bottom of that piece. I find it easier then a regular siphon as it lets me avoid sucking on a tube and using buckets to refill my tanks. The water does touch the sink itself though, but I wouldn't think it's a problem unless you have someone licking the inside of your sink.

[sarahji]

Thanks for the explanations/suggestions, all.

I don't have substrate myself (a few river rocks and driftwood's all), but I feel like I need something to vacuum out the stray poop and bits of aquatic plants the turtles have nibbled at.

Sounds like the python (or comparable one by aqueon)'s my man.

[roseK]

i just use a regular siphon but instead of starting it manually by sucking it up, i use a gravity technique. very simple but hard to explain.

when i wanted to purchase a python, for fish tanks because i have a few. people advised me not to get it because you need to turn the water on in ur sink to pump out water, so your wasting the same amount of water to take out the old water in your tank.

[Outlander]

I use gravity as well, right into my kitchen sink. I just make sure to bleach all my surfaces afterward and have never had a salmonella problem.

[theartbook35]

I use a gravel-vac cause I'm cheap like that. It serves it's purpose.

I suck on the tube end like a straw to start it. You are supposed to be able to start it by rapidly shaking the suction part vertically up and down, but that has never worked.

I clean both my turtle tanks once a week, and on occasion I have accidentally sucked some water into my mouth. I have never gotten sick, however, my immune system is very strong so, I'm sure that's the reason why I've never gotten salmonella, assuming my turtles even carry it. (I have to say though, Ty and Cane's water tastes better than the water from my tap, not that I swallow it, but, the point is that the water is very healthy).

I heard a rumor, and I do not know how much truth is in this rumor, if there is any truth at all, but, someone once told me that you don't have to worry about salmonella in turtles after their reach six months old. Now, I wonder if maybe it's rather a case of salmonella no longer being present after a general six month period, at any time in the turtle's life... I'd love if someone could confirm or deny this.

[sarahji]

Ok, if anyone's interested, I just found this cheesy circa 1990 video explaining how the python system works.

http://www.pythonproducts.com/aqprod.html

Unfortunately, my aerator's on my bathroom sink so tightly I can't seem to get it off, even with pliers...

[rsour24]

i use a normal siphon, its rly cheap like 5$. u pretty much just fill the tube with water and have a bucket below the ater level of the tank. simple as 1,2,3

[steve]

I was unimpressed with how the python drained when used with a sink. The hose has a quarter turn valve at the gravel vacuum end so you just need to fill that part and you can just submerge it. Then position the hose (where's it filled) below the water line and open the valve.

[elwray]

After playing with those siphons where you have to "shake" the cup under water to get the check valve moving and the siphon started, I said "screw this!" and just picked up a second Auto Siphon from the home brew store, the same as the one I use for home brewing. I then attached that to additional tubing and run that to the sump pump (turtles in the basement, conveniently).

Something like this:

http://store.homebrewheaven.com/auto-siphon-p136.aspx

~$10 at a local home brew supply store!