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Post subject: Building your own Python  Posted: Jan 16, 2007 - 08:47 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
Posts: 2913
Location: Maryland
 
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So, here it is.
We need, first, the secret ingredient... it is called a Water Bed Drain and Fill Kit.
Typically at Ace Hardwares, maybe also Kmart, Walmart, etc.
Looks like this, is about 6 dollars or so (I replaced the plastic on the end with hose replacement parts from Lowes, for better durability.):
Once you have that, head to Lowe's. Home Depot does not have some of these things, so head to Lowes and save the extra running around.
From Lowe's, we need 1/2" plastic tubing, and some hose repair parts, all found in either plumbing or garden sections.
Get enough 1/2" line to go from the sink to the tank with lots of slack.
Next we need a male connector, which attaches to 1/2" ID vinyl hose. This will hook up to the Drain kit end. Should look like this.
Next we need to install a shutoff. Also in the garden section of Lowes, right next to the female and male connectors.
We end the hose in a female connector, to shutoff, to male connector, to a common vacuum siphon line, looks like this:
All the connections are nothing more than little clamps, if you can operate a screwdriver, you can make this!
Here is a picture, complete:
Note the size of the gravel vac. Smaller sized vacs may have smaller tubing, make sure yours will work! Also, make sure your vac does NOT have one of the little plastic flaps in it (package will say something along the lines of self starting, self siphoning), this will mess up the python, and has to be snapped out if it is in there.
To operate:
From faucet, unscrew the cap.... screw in end of drain kit.
Pull bottom of drain kit down, to open venturi flow.
Go to tank, place siphon in tank, suck out all the water and vacuuming you need to get done.
Remove siphon from water, and let the Python drain the line.
To Refill:
SHUT OFF your shutoff.
Check water temp coming from bottom of drain kit... feel good? Good!
Push the bottom of drain kit up, shutting off the water flow.
Water flow is now going to go down your hose line.
Go back to tank, and place end of siphon in tank.
Open shutoff valve.
Fill tank.
Shut Shutoff.
Go back to sink, open bottom of drain kit.
Open shutoff, drain hose line.
Put it away, yer done until next time! |
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180g 75g, 33g cube, 33g FBH, 26g, 2.5g, all planted tanks.
Lots of different fish, dwarf shrimp, and snails
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kinnwilley
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| Post subject: Posted: Jan 16, 2007 - 10:00 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Nov 19, 2006
Posts: 153
Location: Westland.MI.US
Status: Offline
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| Thank you for taking the time post this. You described it well in the chat, but this is much easier to use. |
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120g Oscar and Jack
40g deceased (chipped glass)
30g leaks
23g empty
10g empty
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phidelt85
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| Post subject: Posted: Mar 21, 2007 - 06:59 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 664
Location: oklahoma
Status: Offline
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tazzy695
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| Post subject: Posted: Mar 21, 2007 - 07:30 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Dec 27, 2006
Posts: 1697
Location: flint, michigan, usa
Status: Offline
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quick question how much did all of this cost you
I built a similar system but I just used an adapter for my sink hooked a common garden hose up to it for filling and I have another hose hooked up to the end of my syphon that I run out the door for fertalizing the grass this works good especialy if I want to do more than a %50 water change then I can turn the water on with it coming in and leave the siphon going to take out the old at the same rate as the new is coming in all cost me with about 75 foot of hose for less than 25 bucks |
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patience77
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| Post subject: Posted: Apr 16, 2007 - 06:31 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Mar 28, 2007
Posts: 529
Location: kentucky
Status: Offline
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| you had mentioned about removing a plasitc tab from the inside of the siphon. how is this done mine has the tab in it that prevents backflow. how would you go about removing it? |
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2 boys, husband, 2 goldfish, 2 corycats,
6 angle fish
1 beautiful catfish we thought was lost forever, 2 pleco's unknown species but pretty none the less i fear they are the common (not to worry i will accomodate them in the enlarged age) and a hand full of guppies from my mother in law.
our house is growing...
http://www.myspace.com/patience_n
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| Post subject: Posted: Apr 16, 2007 - 08:21 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
Posts: 2913
Location: Maryland
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| I pulled the tubing off the back of the python and yanked it out with a pair of needlenose pliers. |
_________________
180g 75g, 33g cube, 33g FBH, 26g, 2.5g, all planted tanks.
Lots of different fish, dwarf shrimp, and snails
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Bud8Fan
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| Post subject: Posted: Apr 16, 2007 - 09:51 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Nebraska
Status: Offline
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| Nice post !! |
_________________
300 Gallon - 1 Tiger Oscar (Grovie), 1 White Tiger Oscar (Zoe), 4 Tiger Barbs, 3 Pictus Cats, 2 Electric Yellow Labs, 1 Turquoise Severum, 2 Gold Severums, 6 Silver Dollars (one Red Hook), 2 Acei Cichlids & 1 Senegal Bichir (Dino)
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duke33
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| Post subject: Posted: Apr 24, 2007 - 08:57 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Apr 17, 2007
Posts: 25
Location: wv
Status: Offline
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| thanks man, i needed those ideas. |
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L6015T
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| Post subject: Posted: Jun 15, 2007 - 05:00 AM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: May 25, 2007
Posts: 51
Location: Las Vegas, NV. USA
Status: Offline
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| Wow! Thank you so much for the awesome post. I have a Python now and was fretting over how much extension hose I needed. I am off to Lowes first thing tomorrow to get the rest of what I need. Plus, your explanation of how to use it is more clear than the Python directions. Any tips for storage to keep it clean between use? Thanks in advance, Linda |
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75 Gallon Freshwater, Wet/Dry Filter
Community Tank Started 5/07 using Bio Spira
Three Pineapple Swordtails
Three Velvet Wag Swordtails
Two Blue Three Spot Gourami
Four Corydoras
Six Rummy Nose Tetras
Two "Red" Farowella Catfish
29 Gallon Freshwater Fry Tank
Started 2/08
Lots of beautiful Pineapple Swordtail Fry!
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tazzy695
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| Post subject: Posted: Jun 15, 2007 - 12:27 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Dec 27, 2006
Posts: 1697
Location: flint, michigan, usa
Status: Offline
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| good tip is make shure you are taking all the water out of it when you put it away and store it in a clean area like under your tank to prevent dirt or spiders climbing into the hose |
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Tropical Fish Items
