siphon starting

[brian241]

Hi,

I inherited a 20 gal. freshwater tank a few weeks ago and have been reading and trying to learn to do all the right things to keep the fish healthy. There's one thing that I'm just not getting (and I'm sure I'm just missing something obvious). I'm trying to use a siphon/gravel filter and for the life of me I can't keep the water flowing. I move the plastic tube rapidly up and down as the directions say, and the water starts moving, but as soon as I stop moving the tube, the water stops. I don't *think* I'm supposed to have to keep moving the tube up and down throughout the whole process, am I? (My arm's going to fall off before I get the first gallon out, if so...). Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks!

[Ampatent]

-Make sure the bucket your siphoning water into is below the siphon point
-Make sure the water is below the bottom of the aquarium before you stop pumping

Sorry I can't help further...

[Crispy]

Fill the tube with water... then stick it up high to get all air bubbles out... then put the tube back into the tank and fill the remainder with water. now take your finger off the end going to the bucket and you'll get uninterrupted flow.

[LethalResistanz]

I have no shame and I'm sure someone will say I'm gross. I couldn't get it going without doing it the way I will tell you.

Stick the big end under the water.
Grab the end were the water comes out.
*the "gross" part* suck on that end to fill the tube with water.
Keep sucking until the water is about to reach your mouth.
Quickly put your thumb over the end you were sucking on place it in the bucket.

You now have a proper siphon.

[Lab_Rat]

The method Crispy said is the best method...keeps you from getting a mouthful of tank water. You can also use a turkey baster to get a siphon going.

[Northernguy]

I do it the same way as Crispy and it has worked very well for years! lol
You could also just fill it with water,pinch the end and don't let go until its in the bucket.
It gets easier!:19:

[ThaddeusW]

Hello and welcome!

I am very new to the forum well and like you "inherited" a large 80 gallon aquarium overstocked with all sorts of fish. Getting the basics down can be tough but read posts and ask questions! I have learned allot in just a few days here.

A long time ago when I was a child we had a small 20 gal aquarium that we siphoned out with a bulb type siphon. It was a length of vinyl hose and rubber bulb with two plastic tubs sticking out of it. You slid the hose on one end of the bulb and the other end goes into the tank. Cover the remaining tube on the bulb with a finger, squeeze the bulb and release it while still holding the the tube closed. This pushes the air out so when you release the bulb water will be sucked into the tube. You then take your finger off the tube and the water should flow, into a bucket of course!

since my tank is a monster I have one of those siphon kits that consists of a plastic tube with a 25-30 foot hose connected to it and the other end of the hose has a garden hose thread coupling that screws onto a valve which in turn screws onto a small jet pump that hooks to your sink or garden hose. Since the tank is close to a door on the second floor, I made up my own method of draining the water. I run the hose out the door and down the steps into a dirt area, no valves or pump attached. I start the siphon by dipping the tube sideways into the water and fill it with water. I then close the end of the tube with my hand and quickly remove it from the tank and stick it strait up in the air so the water quickly runs down the hose creating a good amount of gravity powered suction. I then quickly thrust the tube into the water sideways again just after it empties and the water flowing down the hose will start the siphoning action! No pumping or sucking on the hose required.

Let me tell you the tank water must make an excellent fertilizer because there are more plants then usual and they grew really big really fast after the water changes thumbs2:

[Crispy]

Let me tell you the tank water must make an excellent fertilizer because there are more plants then usual and they grew really big really fast after the water changes thumbs2:

Yes, tank water (especially waste-water) is full of nitrogen... awesome organic fertilizer for plants. Promotes quick, healthy, new growth.

[DrNic]

I've used those kind of syphons myself. The trick is to make sure that the end of the hose stays well below the input of the syphon.

You should also check to make sure that the gravel vac part is well attached to the hose and that nothing is cracked. If there is any stray air getting in the unit will not hold the syphon.

[Northernguy]

Yes, tank water (especially waste-water) is full of nitrogen... awesome organic fertilizer for plants. Promotes quick, healthy, new growth.
The only time my grass gets watered is when I am doing water changes.
My grass looks great its so green.No brown spots either!:19:

[Padams]

Yes, tank water (especially waste-water) is full of nitrogen... awesome organic fertilizer for plants. Promotes quick, healthy, new growth.


well this fish keeping thing might have a benefit after all seeing how my river birch and pin oak need a good boost


FYI there is an online store with a starter for about $6

pm me for info

[Neemod]

I have no shame and I'm sure someone will say I'm gross. I couldn't get it going without doing it the way I will tell you.

Stick the big end under the water.
Grab the end were the water comes out.
*the "gross" part* suck on that end to fill the tube with water.
Keep sucking until the water is about to reach your mouth.
Quickly put your thumb over the end you were sucking on place it in the bucket.

You now have a proper siphon.

I do the same thing, no shame. Its so easy haha

But I discovered that for me I just have to suck till the water is past the big cylinder part that works as the actual vacuum(I can actually feel a slight pull of the suction), then it begins to siphon without a problem and because theres still a long hose that it needs to travel through, I NEVER get a mouthful of water.

[terrapin24h]

make sure the hose is uncoiled, and that the end of the hose is well below the bottom of the tank. Assuming your siphon vac is in good working order, about 10 seconds of vigorous pumping(be sure not to bop any fish) should pump the water up over the tank wall and down the tube towards the floor. Once the water level in the hose is close to the bottom of the tank gravity will pull the rest for you(stop pumping). It sounds to me like your gravel vac is bad and you should get a new one. My topfin ones are over a year old and work great still. They have a flapper valve inside them that makes all this possible, and if it stops sealing well on the "up" stroke or the hose connection to the vac head has an air leak, you won't be able to start a siphon.

hth

--chris

ps:even though i own a "python" type device, i still use my siphons alot

[bushwhacker]

i'm lazy... get a python