How do you water change?

[Hailey]

I hate doing it with my buckets. I want to get a python, but I dont have the extra $100 right now.

[angelcakes]

ive done it with my buckets for years:19:

[Hailey]

I just hate doing it with my buckets, i need another way...

[mrs fishpatrick]

I use a cheapy syphon I got for a few euro's on ebay, has a squeezy bit on it so I don't end up with a mouth full of tank water (yuk)
It doesnt look like much but it does the job.
Hubbie said it is the same kinda thing they use to empty petrol out of a car.
Hope this helps

[mrs fishpatrick]

is there a way of not doing it with buckets?

[Hailey]

I dont know, isn't there? lol.

[fins_n_fur]

If you don't want to spend the money on a python, there are kits you make yourself using a thingie (that's the technical term :hmm3grin2orange: ) for filling/draining water beds and a length of garden hose. Do a google search for a diy python.

[Hailey]

If you don't want to spend the money on a python, there are kits you make yourself using a thingie (that's the technical term :hmm3grin2orange: ) for filling/draining water beds and a length of garden hose. Do a google search for a diy python.


lol, alright, thanks!

[mrs fishpatrick]

sorry for jumping in on this thread but, and here comes a stupid question,
what is a python?

[Hailey]

wow, thanks fins n fur, there are lots of ideas on google, i never would have thought of it, lol.

and mrs fish, google it and see...they look pretty helpful

[BigMac]

A python is a long siphon hose that attaches to the faucet to refill the tank.

[labnjab]

Python is the way to go...it attaches to your facuet and uses water pressure to syphon the water out of the tank, no matter how high or low your tank is in regards to the sink. Then, when your done draining it, you can also use it to fill it. I do once a week 50% water changes on both our 55 gallon and our 10 gallon tank and I can do a change on all in less than an hour with no heavy lifting.

I still use a bucket on our 29 gallon marine tank so I can more accuratly measure how much I take out, but its only 10% so its not too bad

[fins_n_fur]

No question is a stupid question except one that is not asked--How's that? LOL

A python is a siphon device that you hook up to your tap to do water changes very quickly without lugging buckets back and forth. Take a look here ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]).

JBL make a similar one that's more likely to be found in European LFS's, but it's not that great, IMO, as stuff can get stuck in the part that connects to the tap and there is no way of flushing it out. I bought a water bed filler/emptier version that makes a bit of mess in the sink, but easier to clean if you suck up too much grunge.

[Dave66]

I use a Python to take the water out, and I use stored water in Rubbermaid trash cans and a strong mag-drive pump to refill.

Dave

[mrs fishpatrick]

I feel a bit stupid but i really never heard of one, am googling on another page right now

No question is a stupid question except one that is not asked--How's that? LOL



were did I hear that be4 lol

[cocoa_pleco]

i use a python

fishpatrick, a python is a syphon that attaches to your sink faucet so you dont have to carry buckets, it fills/drains the tank

[sailor]

With mutiple tanks, it would take way too much effort without my python. I lucked out and got mine for a screaming deal a couple of years ago at an big box lfs.
Even with my python it takes me about 3-4 hrs a week with it. It would be a lot quicker if I kept the water on once it starts draining but that wastes too much water.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

If you don't have the money for an actual python then just make your own cheap one?

Use a standard gardening hose and siphon out the water either to your sink or maybe just outside.

Then get a $5 sink adapter and screw the gardening hose in to fill the tank.

Only thing you'd be missing is the auto siphon doohickey the python does so you'll have to use your mouth until the water gets out of the tank and creates the siphon. SUPER EASY TO DO.

It would also be just a water exchange and not much for a gravel cleaning but at least it would cost less then $10

[Gayle]

Buckets for me

[Northernguy]

I like to let my water sit out for 24hrs before I add it to my tanks,even though I add aqua-plus and cycle every time.I use a gravel cleaner into a bucket to remove it.I use that water for all my plants and dump the rest on my lawn.It does an incredible job!:19:
I like the idea of the python but I can't get the temp as close as I can with buckets.

[AABatteries]

I siphon the water into buckets, dump the buckets, then fill them up, and last dump them back into the tank. Looked at the python and now it rings a bell, pretty sure we've used one before.

[W_Oz]

The "mysterious do-hicky thingy" that attaches to your sink is an Aspirator. And for the record I use a Python on my 55 but still use the old bucket on the girl's 10.

[Sharon]

Python for me...actually it's a "knock off" but it's basically the same...

[chronic]

I gravel vac and usualy when I get most of the surface thats about 10-15 gallons later. So then I just fill it back up.

[Red]

wooo Buckets

[robnepper]

I had to sacrifice my last 5gallon pail to the tiling gods so i'm stuck with ice cream buckets for now. (Banished by the wife until I can get nice stands for them.)

sucks.

I have my tanks in the basement of my new house with no running water down there yet.

[domjd05]

I have a syphon vaccuum, the end of it conviently fits snug into the end of my garden hose, which goes out the window onto the lawn. to refill the garden hose gets connected to the sink. Just be sure to add the chlorine remover at various times when its filling. The hardest part is getting the PH right.

[TRDNiteLife]

If you can't afford a Python, use a cooler with wheels instead of a bucket. [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Commodore 64]

I like the idea of the python but I can't get the temp as close as I can with buckets.

If you are just doing partial water changes then you don't have to get that close with the temp. That whole "peeing in the ocean" argument applies.

[Cichlid*Newbie]

I hate doing it with my buckets. I want to get a python, but I dont have the extra $100 right now.


I dont think they cost that much? I got mine at walmart, works awesome, except i had to go buy an adapter to make it fit on my tap.

[Holyvision]

I hate doing it with my buckets. I want to get a python, but I dont have the extra $100 right now.

Unless you need 100 feet of tubing..I don't think you need $100...

...more like $45.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[cocoa_pleco]

My python was only $30 from walmart

[Halelorf]

Old bucket method for me :c2:.

[Hailey]

Hmm well i'll check around then. I've seen the 50 foot one for $100

[fraggle]

Well this has been interesting!
I use the gravel vac and just shove the end down a length of garden hose and out the door (but I think I sucked up a little pepper cory the other week, seem to be missing one!!!!)
Hubby keeps trying to work out a way to fill them from the tap but I wasn't sure of the logistics (besides them being in a different room to the taps!), like how much conditioner etc to add and when to add it. I adjust my pH too as out of the tap it's 8.8 and thought that might have been a bit high for them to just get used to!
So I refill with buckets, after that longwinded explanation! LOL

[glarior]

I use two methods to fill up my tanks. First method is with a 5g bucket from home depot or a garden hose ran from outside through the house and into the tank about 50-100ft. However, doing water changes can also water plants outside... I run my siphon hose to the window and allow the window to shut just enough to hold the hose in place and then start siphoning. Not recommended if you live in apartments unless you don't like the people below you lol.

[LuTianHu]

i viewed this thread to kinda get an idea of other ways to change the water, i have been using buckets for years (and count it as my "workout" haha) but now that i'm reading about pythons, i am very interested...but i do have some questions...

what if NONE of my tanks are near sinks?

how does it condition the water to go into the tank?

[flutterbye75]

Bucket method works for me!

[terrapin24h]

i viewed this thread to kinda get an idea of other ways to change the water, i have been using buckets for years (and count it as my "workout" haha) but now that i'm reading about pythons, i am very interested...but i do have some questions...

what if NONE of my tanks are near sinks?

how does it condition the water to go into the tank?

As i understand it, the pyhton comes with a copious amount of line(50 or 100 foot IIRC). The venturi pump that runs it clamps to the sink, and the line used to suck is also used to fill. WRT to the dechlor, i think what people do is dose the tank directly with it then add water. I'll do this myself when i change alot of water(over 5 gal) I bucket mine as well as i have a half bath within about 7 steps of my tank. I could be a little off on the details but that's what it looked like when i looked at one in the store. I'll prob end up going to harbor freight and buying a small electric fountain pump to do mine soon.

--chris

[korith]

Here's a link to a diy python

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

I made pretty much the same one. The facet adapter thing, is about the only real piece you need to buy, take a look at most hardware stores for waterbed filling kit, or even walmart. I think petsmart even sells the adapter by itself, shouldn't cost you more than 10 bucks at most. Then the hose itself, you can buy tubing by the foot at most hardware stores, or if you want to go on the cheap, just use a garden hose. I think its far cheaper to buy the parts yourself and put it together. Plus you can get a nice metal facet adapter instead of the weak plastic one in the python kit. I think it cost me maybe $15 altogether since I had the adapter already.

[invadertoast]

I recently discovered the 1 gallon bucket, makes cleaning a million times faster! Before, I'd fill up the 5 gallon and scoop cup after cup into the tank (I can't lift 5 gallons up that high!) Now I can just use the 5 gallon for old water, and do two gallons of new water at a time, involves more walking but beats dumping cupfuls of water over and over. Plus, cleaning my 2.5 gallon tanks upstairs takes two seconds with smaller buckets!

[Hailey]

Well this has been interesting!
I use the gravel vac and just shove the end down a length of garden hose and out the door (but I think I sucked up a little pepper cory the other week, seem to be missing one!!!!)
Hubby keeps trying to work out a way to fill them from the tap but I wasn't sure of the logistics (besides them being in a different room to the taps!), like how much conditioner etc to add and when to add it. I adjust my pH too as out of the tap it's 8.8 and thought that might have been a bit high for them to just get used to!
So I refill with buckets, after that longwinded explanation! LOL


I like that idea of just running the garden hose outside to empty the tank, I am deffinetly going to try that! Thanks for the idea!