Python Pros and Cons

3128 Views 38 Replies 22 Participants Last post by dru, May 20, 2014

Little Soprano

Discussion Starter · May 13, 2014

With all the water changes added into weekly maintenance with EI dosing going on in my tanks, it's really becoming quite tiresome (I hate to sound lazy, but I am :hihi: ) hauling 5 gallon kitty litter buckets of water up and down the stairs from the basement to well the lower basement-split level-in order to good sized water changes. The ten gallon is easy, one bucket siphoned out, one bucket dumped in, but on the 40 gallon I tend to do bigger water changes, and it equates to lots of running up and down the stairs with buckets.

Needless to say I've become really quite tempted to buy a Python. I'll probably end up needing the 50' hose in order to get to the sink I think could attach to it without any fuss, though 75' feet might be better to give me more wiggle room. At Petco it's about 90 bucks for the 50 foot hose, and 100 for the 75 footer. (Online its 93 for the 75 footer).

Are Pythons worth the price? For those of you who use them what are the Pros and Cons of them? They seem like they'd be such a breeze compared to hauling buckets up and down the stairs. Are there any similar siphon/fill systems at a more reasonable price?

1 - 20 of 39 Posts

j03yYunG

· #2 · May 13, 2014

Little Soprano said:
With all the water changes added into weekly maintenance with EI dosing going on in my tanks, it's really becoming quite tiresome (I hate to sound lazy, but I am :hihi: ) hauling 5 gallon kitty litter buckets of water up and down the stairs from the basement to well the lower basement-split level-in order to good sized water changes. The ten gallon is easy, one bucket siphoned out, one bucket dumped in, but on the 40 gallon I tend to do bigger water changes, and it equates to lots of running up and down the stairs with buckets.

Needless to say I've become really quite tempted to buy a Python. I'll probably end up needing the 50' hose in order to get to the sink I think could attach to it without any fuss, though 75' feet might be better to give me more wiggle room. At Petco it's about 90 bucks for the 50 foot hose, and 100 for the 75 footer. (Online its 93 for the 75 footer).

Are Pythons worth the price? For those of you who use them what are the Pros and Cons of them? They seem like they'd be such a breeze compared to hauling buckets up and down the stairs. Are there any similar siphon/fill systems at a more reasonable price?

You can get a 75' one on amazon for $80 shipped.

I have a python (used only for fill) and its very handy. Just make sure your faucet fits the adapter.

lauraleellbp

· #3 · May 13, 2014

I love my Python. I have a 75' that I run outside to drain and fill my tanks.

I typically have sinks that they won't hook up to, so I have to fill my tank from an outside spigot.

Fortunately not an issue for me most of the year since I live in Florida, but could be an issue further North.

Little Soprano

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 13, 2014

I use my basement sink which basically has a hose style spigot hook up, so hopefully it will fit. My BF wants to get a 175 gal tank they have for sale at the LFS (full wet/dry+cherry stand and canopy for $850), and I told him there was no way in hell I was doing water changes with buckets for a 175 gallon tank... lol.

Koi Pond gets filled straight from the hose, but I think most of my fish in my tank would have a heart attack if I used the water straight from the hose :hihi:

Is there anyway, in the future, to possibly hook it up to an R.O. system or at that point would I be better off with buckets again.

ChemGuyEthan

· #5 · May 13, 2014

I love the Python water changer! I'm in an apartment so the 25' was all I needed. To connect to the faucet I just had to unscrew the aerator/strainer on the end and the brass adapter that comes with the Python kit screwed right on there.

Get it and you won't regret it. Gives you no excuse to miss a water change when it's so easy to do with that thing, haha.

Also, I would think for R.O. systems, it would all depend on the type you get. I don't have one, so I can't say for sure, but I think it would be doable to hook the python up to refill your tank. Just keep in mind you'll still have to connect it to a faucet first to get the siphon going to remove water from the tank.

Agent69

· #6 · May 13, 2014

I can't imagine myself in this hobby without my python. Literally cut weekly water changes by half it takes me 10 mins to do a 50% water change on my 40. Whereas before it would take me at least 30-40 mins with the old 5 gallon bucket.

Aurie

· #7 · May 13, 2014 (Edited)

2

I made my own for half the price you guys are quoting. I bought 10 feet of hose for $4 at home depot (I used 30 feet so $12) and a waterbed change kit from Ace ($5) and a sink hook up metal ($5) like the one that comes with the water bed kit but they give you plastic. I had a section of hose that kept kinking so I just cut it out and put in new. I bought barbed hose connectors (Like $1 each maybe?) and some clamps you screw tight and I can keep adding more hose as needed. On the end I put a hose end like a garden hose that hooks up to water bed kit. The other end I put one that fit an old water changer (ya know, generic gravel vac) as a garden hose so it just screws on and off so I can use it with my smaller tanks or if I want to just syphon into a bucket

Ok I googled.. I essentially made this

For half the cost. The blue thing that hooks up to the faucet can be replaced for $5 .. It is EXACTLY the same as Blue Magic water bed fill kit.

edit:
I took a picture of my kit I made. I also used quick connects from the lawn/garden section. They're not that expensive.

So It goes
Gravel Vac (held on with clamp) -> Hose end male -> hose end female -> 25" of hose held together with clamps/barbed fittings -> Hose end female (with clamp) -> water bed kit thingie -> Quick Connect -> Stainless Steel faucet adapter for garden hose

The blue thing DOES break. Don't let anyone fool you! The part that breaks is the part that the quick connect goes into. It is soft plastic and will eventually crack. No worries, the replacement part is $5 at ace hardware and they can order you one if they don't have it in stock.

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PlantedRich

· #8 · May 14, 2014

There is really no need of the complicated setup in many cases. Depends on your outlook and where drains and faucets are located. Can you do a siphon without any big hassle getting it started? If so a simple plastic tube to a drain that is lower than the tank is all you need for draining. Bet you've got a floor drain somewhere in that basement? The lower the output end , the faster the drain.
For putting the water back all you need is a way to attach the tube to whichever faucet you find works best. I like putting a hunk on the tank end so that it hangs over the edge and doesn't flip out. A rock will do the same but many would say that lacks class!
When you price out a few parts, a Python is very high priced if you consider a bit of DIY worthwhile.

mike-guy

· #9 · May 14, 2014

I know some people don't approve but a cheap garden hose into the toilet for draining and a diy adapter to the faucet to fill. Works as good as a python and less to break. Heck even if it did cost is near nothing.

Little Soprano

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 14, 2014

Yeah I think if anything the advantage for me comes in the form of the filling since I tend to do it on my own, and I'm small. I like the ability to shut off the water from the tank end instead of having to run down the stairs and shut it off before it over flows. Hmm I will have to look into it more.

Lab_Man

· #11 · May 14, 2014

I use RO water, so I fill a 42 gallon Brute food safe trash container. Then I use a pond pump to pump the water up 1 flight of stairs with a 75 foot garden hose. I use a long extension cord to plug into a outlet near the aquarium so I can turn the pump on and off while I'm near the aquarium.

herns

· #12 · May 14, 2014

Python hose water changer one of the "must have" thing in this hobby.

Little Soprano

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 14, 2014

Lab_Man said:
I use RO water, so I fill a 42 gallon Brute food safe trash container. Then I use a pond pump to pump the water up 1 flight of stairs with a 75 foot garden hose. I use a long extension cord to plug into a outlet near the aquarium so I can turn the pump on and off while I'm near the aquarium.

Ya know you people are brilliant. I had always considered even just getting the sink filled and letting the pump run while the sink runs, but I never figured out how I was gonna turn off the pump when it got full, other then sprint down the stairs to turn it off. Extension cord. Genuis. :hihi:

PhilipS

· #14 · May 14, 2014

Filtered water +1

Avoid using tap water +1

Steve002

· #15 · May 14, 2014

Planted Rich has it pegged. You are getting your water from the basement so just use a hose to siphon water down to the basement and then attach it to your tap down there and fill the tank back up. The Python is needed by folks who can't siphon because their drain is as high or higher than their tank. It works by using a flow of water through the tap piece to pull water from the pipe. Really wasteful on water but if that's what you have to do so be it. I bought an RV drinking water hose and use it with an outside tap.

lauraleellbp

· #16 · May 14, 2014

Lots of times you can turn on the faucet just long enough to get the siphon going, and then it will keep going even with the faucet off.

Obviously that wouldn't work if the water is running upstairs, but it would work for me even with my sink at a little higher elevation as the water in my tank (which surprised me).

Little Soprano

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 14, 2014

I always start my siphons the old fashion way lol. Suck long enough to get the water over the side of the tank and immediately remove mouth to avoid yucky tank water :hihi:

My tank is noticeably higher then the sink I'd be using. I have a tiny bathroom sink near it, but it's so shallow it'd be pointless. Would be impossible actually. Maybe I will just look into a hose to hook up to the sink and run up stairs. Only thing I would want, which the Python has, is the ability to shut the water off from upstairs. That would be dandy. Though the idea of a pump with the plug by the tank is pretty genius too.

Aurie

· #18 · May 14, 2014

I start my siphon by dunking it in the tank, lifting above the rim to get water going then dunk back into the tank (when not using my home made system)

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Little Soprano

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 15, 2014

Aurie said:
I start my siphon by dunking it in the tank, lifting above the rim to get water going then dunk back into the tank (when not using my home made system)

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

My 10g has so much driftwood there's no room to dunk it lol.

PhilipS

· #20 · May 15, 2014

I use the Python mini gravel cleaner in the 12G. Small gravel tube doesn't remove the ADA sand if I am controlling the flow. Silicone Tube end is good to remove BBA and BGA.

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