Pythons

[portia]

I've heard a good bit of testimony about how great they are and I looked at them online to see what all the fuss is about.

They sound great, but they rely on water pressure and my tank is a LONG way from any available water faucet.

I'd like another alternative to the bailing and siphoning, but I can't see dragging a hose through my entire house to the aquarium.

Are there other alternatives?

 

[BigJim]

They do make some long pythons. I have one that's 50 ft. Haven't used it yet because I can't take the aerator off my apartment's faucet because it's corroded in place, but I've heard nothing bad other than they're a little bulky to store. I think I've seen electric siphons, but that won't solve your distance problem. You could always just put a laundry tub in near the aquarium.

 

[sumpnfishy]

I've always wondered about the fact that you're putting tap water directly into your tank with a python. Seems to go against letting the water age a day to stabilize the pH. I don't have one and I do put tap water straight in with small water changes but with larger changes I make sure and use aged water. Anyone with a python care to comment on that?

 

[meegosh]

I don't have a python but I use my regular gravel vac to fill up a 5g bucket from my kitchen sink. I simply put the vacuum side in the sink, turn the water on to the right temp, throw some dechlor in the bucket, and put the vac side under the faucet. I place the bucket on the floor by the sink and let it fill up. Then I'll either pour it right from the 5g bucket into my 30g or into a smaller pitcher and into the 10g (sand would go flying if I used the 5g bucket for my 10g).

I honestly never use 'aged' water. I've heard people using pythons will just add some dechlor to their tank before, during, or after they fill the tank up. The dechlorinators act pretty fast so I've never been too concerned. Only reason you may want to age the water is to degas it.

 

[sumpnfishy]

Only reason you may want to age the water is to degas it.

Yes that's what I'm wondering. My water goes from a pH of around 7 from the tap to 8.2 once it's degassed. I would think a large water change straight from the tap would cause a large pH swing down and then back up over a couple of hours. Could a large (over 50%) water change using a python cause that to happen?

 

[HN1]

I do 50%+ changes without issue. pH is very grossly worried about. pH changes don't harm fish, rapid TDS changes do. The TDS will be similar enough and the pH swing small and short lived enough that osmotic shock won't happen. I just drain while doing a vac, then temp match and fill. While I'm filling I dose Prime for tank volume. Zero issues...

They have pythons that are 50' and also sell 25' extensions. Dragging the hose around sucks (pun intended), but I can't begin to imagine doing weekly PWCs on our 120 & 75 without one!

 

[hacket]

I do 50%+ changes without issue. pH is very grossly worried about. pH changes don't harm fish, rapid TDS changes do. The TDS will be similar enough and the pH swing small and short lived enough that osmotic shock won't happen. I just drain while doing a vac, then temp match and fill. While I'm filling I dose Prime for tank volume. Zero issues...

They have pythons that are 50' and also sell 25' extensions. Dragging the hose around sucks (pun intended), but I can't begin to imagine doing weekly PWCs on our 120 & 75 without one!

Is there any major loss in water pressure? How long does it usually take you to do a 50% change on your 120?

 

[HN1]

It feels like days, but it's actually probably only a 20-30 minute process. The pressure loss is minimal and we've got 70' worth of tubing.

 

[portia]

I only have a 20 gallon tank though

I do 50%+ changes without issue. pH is very grossly worried about. pH changes don't harm fish, rapid TDS changes do. The TDS will be similar enough and the pH swing small and short lived enough that osmotic shock won't happen. I just drain while doing a vac, then temp match and fill. While I'm filling I dose Prime for tank volume. Zero issues...

They have pythons that are 50' and also sell 25' extensions. Dragging the hose around sucks (pun intended), but I can't begin to imagine doing weekly PWCs on our 120 & 75 without one!

So my time would not be as consumed. Honestly, it seems like more trouble to be dragging a huge long hose around than just to bail a few gallons of water out and put in new.

 

[HN1]

On a 20G, I might just use buckets as well. It's just a matter of preference.

 

[mgamer20o0]

thats why you do 50-75% water change in a 20 lol anything not to have to deal with buckets is worth it.

 

[spoonman]

I would not have any size aquarium without a python. I have to use the 50' version and it works like a charm. Best thing ever invented. Makes it very easy to match temps of the water also. You can monitor the temp of the tap water while you are syphoning the tank water out then just switcheroo and refill.

 

[neurotik]

I'm also a fan of the python. Been using one on all of my tanks from the very beginning practically. I use mine every week on smaller tanks (around 12 gallons) and also on my larger tank (55 gallons) and I would never even think about doing it any other way, regardless of the size of tank. I've also never worried about aging my water or anything, I just refill my tanks with tap water straight through my python and add dechlorinator immediately after I finish refilling and I have yet to have a single problem in any of my tanks using this method. I have a 25' python that I use at home which works fine, but I've also used a 50' one at work that has never caused any problems either.

 

[bmg07]

actually i dont even have a python . im planning on buying 1. rite now its heck doing water changes on my 75 gal

 

[neurotik]

I did one or two water changes on a little 12 gallon that I had a long time ago and I was like "okay, there -has- to be an easier way to do this crap," and thus the python was purchased! I have no idea how people do water changes on huge tanks, I would not even make an attempt at doing that with buckets and all that stuff.

 

[FishEggs]

They do make some long pythons. I have one that's 50 ft. Haven't used it yet because I can't take the aerator off my apartment's faucet because it's corroded in place, but I've heard nothing bad other than they're a little bulky to store. I think I've seen electric siphons, but that won't solve your distance problem. You could always just put a laundry tub in near the aquarium.

you can try this type of adapter if you cant get the aerator off. you can find it at most of your local hardware stores.

 

[DizzCat]

you can try this type of adapter if you cant get the aerator off. you can find it at most of your local hardware stores

I just got me something like that. The plastic one that came with my python was getting stripped and I could not find a female connector replacement anywhere! I didn't want to pay $8 for it and then $10 for shipping at some online site. I stopped at Lowes and the guy found me a metal one that is the exact thing for $3.

I use mine on all but my 10 gallon tank. I don't use it in there because that tank has the tiniest fry and I use the smallest hose I have. I cannot even imagine doing a water change on my big tanks without it! I do like you all, empty 30-40% then make sure the temp matches and switch it to fill. I have a cup of tank water with my declor (tank volume) ready and as I fill the tank I dump that into the flow. Never had any trouble with pH swings or anything.

I use bottles of water to do top offs between water changes, those big juice bottles. I have never aged water, have always just added it straight from the sink. I can just imagine all my cats playing in buckets of water sitting around! I have one that loves to play in the tanks so I have to keep every tiny opening covered.

A word of warning to python users tho.......... make sure the switch is closed before you change over to fill or you will soak everything hahahaha. I forgot one day and had it pointed right at my son sitting there!! Pushed the bottom up to switch it to fill and the switch was open! To this day he still thinks I did it on purpose

I soaked him good! It was great!

 

[Dekz]

I've always been a bit confused about python operation.

I understand that it uses the faucet to suck the tank water out but..

#1 does it have a valve on the tank end? I wouldn't want it to suck up a fish while I'm turning on the tap.

#2 when you are refilling, since the water is going directly into the tank, how do you monitor the temp, and do you then just dose dechlorinator for the entire tank volume? That sounds like it could get expensive fast.

 

[meegosh]

They usually monitor the temp at the tap. Get the temp set before running the hose to the tank. They just add the dechlor for the amount of water they are adding.

 

[sumpnfishy]

Well in my case I cannot use water from the sink connection because I have a water softener. I draw water from before the softener (and water heater). It's from a well so the temp is usually cold. So I have to let it sit to at least warm up to room temp. Doesn't sound like a python would do me much good.