Supplies

Hose (I got this from the plumbing section at lowes. I used 20 foot because my tanks aren’t more than 20 feet away from the sinks in my house but of course you will choose how much hose you will need.) The hose will need to fit the end of your gravel vac. You can take the hose with you to lowes and make them find it for you LOL (this is especially important if you are a girl and not that handy like me. My husband chooses never to ask them for help but I sure would.)

Something to cut the hose

Screw driver to tighten hose clamps

Vacuum end from gravel vac (again size is up to the user and I went with a smaller vac so that I can do my smaller tanks and have more leverage even with the bigger tanks.)

Swivel hose barb adapter (since I went with a normal size vac mine is 3/8”)

3 hose clamps

2 hose barb adapters (again mine are 3/8”)

Shut off valve Note: Make sure the barbs will fit in the end of the valve. We had to do a bit of searching through all the valves

Thread tape (0.90 Us cent) Very cheap

And the most important piece….. The end to a python (5.00us$) Or a water bed drain and fill kit. I went with the python piece. It is plastic and the one advantage to the water bed piece is that it is metal. Either works though.

You will also need the small metal piece which connects to the sink (see picture below) to make the python piece fit to it. It is uni sex And works on male or female sinks (2.00 us $ )

I found all these pieces in the plumbing section lack the head of the python and the thread tape was at lowes but not in the plumbing. And the screw driver was here at my house


Note: If the end to your gravel vac is self siphoning you will have to take out the little plastic flap in it. Takes two seconds.

Step 1 Connect hose to swivel piece (swivel hose barb adapter). Slide hose over barb and place hose clamp to seal it. (Don’t want any water on the floor so make sure it’s tight) This now connects to the python head. Picture of this step below.




Step 2 Figure where you want to place your shut off valve. I placed mine close enough so that I could have it in reach fast but far enough that it wouldn’t bang the side of the tank. You will need to measure how much hose you want on the vacuum side of the shut off and cut it. You could also use the original tubing to your gravel vac for this and cut it to save some hose length if you choose.

Wrap thread tape around threads on hose barb adaptor. Screw hose barb adaptor on the shut off valve. Then place hose on the end of the barb. Note: make sure you put the hose clamp on before you put the hose on the Barb :)
Tighten hose clamp over barb adaptor. Repeat on other side of shut off valve. Picture of my shut off valve below.




Step 3. Put vacuum end on hose (this is the hardest step. NOT! LOL )


You now have your python! This is very simple even if it doesn’t sound like it. It took five minutes to put together and if I made anything sound confusing let me know and I will try to clarify. Wish I would have taken photos before it was out together.

Picture of finished python below



Now for those who don’t know how the python works.


Take the little metal piece off the sink (mine is a Brita water filter LOL) Screw little copper piece onto sink then connect the python end or water bed drain and fill piece on the end of the sink. Note: Little foam piece inside the copper piece will have to be removed for female sinks.

Make sure the shut off valve is on. This is always a good habit to get into. Trust me! LOL Switch the python end on drain and turn the water on. The pressure of the water will effect the suction. I use only cold water and the suction is just fine. You can use both hot and cold to get more suction if you need. I cover the sink with a towel because my sinks are shallow and the water splashes a bit.

Go to tank and turn shut off valve off and you will hear the suction. Vacuum tank as normal. ( well lack those darn buckets WOOT WOOT!) Once done pull the vacuum end out of water to let the water in the hose drain a bit. Turn shut off valve on. Go back to the sink and adjust the water temperature that is spraying from the opening. Once you have the correct temp turn the python head to the fill setting.

Go back to the tank and turn off shut off valve and fill the tank. Note : Make sure you pay attention to the water pressure at the sink. With smaller tanks you may want the to fill a bit slower so you don’t stress the fish. Now fill the tank back up after you add your treatments. Turn on shut off when done and go back to the sink and switch back to the drain setting and drain the hose as best you can. You’re done!!! Carry buckets of water out..... Wait a minute.... Nope your done!!! No more buckets!!!!