bought a Python No Spill Clean And Fill- 50'

[RJF]

I used my friends today for the first time and got hooked. I found it on AquariumGarden.com for 52 bucks shipped. Cant wait one of the best purchases ive made in awhile for my fish and my back. sorry had to rant on the new purchase.

[Horiyoshi III]

They are great.
I hope you have it so long that algae and other things collect on the inside of the hose.

That was worth every penny man.

[Cholly]

I just broke down and got one too. I'm already in love.

[AfroCichlidKeeper]

Yeah man pythons are the sh*t!

[RJF]

yeah I was going to get one threw petco but theres was 30 bucks more. So I went with the cheap site hope it all works out

[BPags52]

I'm tempted to get one now that I'm doing water changes 1-2 times a week on my 125g, but I've always been skeptical of adding water directly to the tank from the tap.

I've always done my water changes by adding the dechlorinator (using Prime now) to the 5g buckets and mixed it before adding to the tank.

Since you are adding water directly from the tap, how much Prime (or whatever you use) do you add to the tank? Just enough to cover the water being added, or do you need to add enough to treat the whole tank? Do you add Prime before/during/after the water is refilled?

[Cholly]

Personally, I add 10% more than required for the added water. Works for a discus keeper I know, so it sounded like a good rule of thumb to me.

[polish]

I will never go back to buckets, Python is the only way aside from an auto water changer / drip system.

I add the prime to the tank directly, dosing for a little more than needed and fill directly from the tap. Never had an issue since I got it last year.

[dwilder]

you should always add prime before your water change or small amounts during

[coeus]

lol im slow..... i just realized i had one of these..... thought it just siphoned, the guy i bought my tank from gave it to me and i never thought to try to get it to refill my tank:ROFL: should make water changes more frequent:nilly:

[Ak-Kronic]

i've used them for years!!! great product, i also like the fact that they are expandable. like i bought a 50 footer and if i ever wanna move my tank into my bed room all i gotta do is run down to HD and slap on however much more hose i need. w/ the prime Q i add directly to the tank and i add the full amount like 125gs worth everytime. we have high amounts of chlorine in town. and i add directly to the tank during the WC.......no ill effects..........i just move the output of the hose right under the thermometer so i can dial the temp in......no more than 2degrees of variance. ok so what do you guys do to clean your pythons when they get all narly lookin?? one idea i've kicked around is attaching a string to both ends of a scrubbie pipe cleaner and then flush one end of the string out of the tube so i can grab onto it and kinda pull it back and forth through the hose..........kinda sounds like a bltch but i don't know of anything that will clean 50+ foot of hose........cuz i go to the LFS and his are BLACK!!!!!!! kinda gross if you ask me.......could that harbor nasty shlt??? cha!!!! whatever buying a python was the smartest addition to my fish keeping tools.

[uncwnells]

definetly one of the best pickups i have ever made!

[fishnoob]

They are great indeed :)

[MBilyeu]

I might be the odd one out, but I don't like them. When I re-fill my 75 with the python, it just clouds the water column with a million white specs(maybe bubbles). I was told that the fish could die if they swallowed one of these, plus they stay in my tank for at least 24 hours if not more. The only way for me to fill the tank without these appearing is to hold my thumb over the end of the python like you would a garden hose to get it to spray further. This freaks the fish out, and makes it take 3-4 times as long as it would by just using buckets.

[fishnoob]

I might be the odd one out, but I don't like them. When I re-fill my 75 with the python, it just clouds the water column with a million white specs(maybe bubbles). I was told that the fish could die if they swallowed one of these, plus they stay in my tank for at least 24 hours if not more. The only way for me to fill the tank without these appearing is to hold my thumb over the end of the python like you would a garden hose to get it to spray further. This freaks the fish out, and makes it take 3-4 times as long as it would by just using buckets.
I have never had that problem :confused:

[jcardona1]

do yourself a favor and replace the faucet pump with the Aqueon brand. its soooooooooo much better than the cheap plastic crap that Python uses. in fact, ive replaced every part on my python because its so cheap lol. the Aqueon water changer is built much better :)

[FSM]

They are way overpriced, so I went the DIY route.

I got a 50 foot 5/8" hose for like $20, plus a cheap attachment so it fits on the faucet. I siphon water out into the bathtub (upstairs tanks) or into the garden (first floor tanks). Then attach it to the sink and refill.

What diameter are python hoses?

[RJF]

i use well water so I do not have to add anything just remove and add simple

[carcrazy]

The python parts are cheaply made but if you are careful they should last a long time. I have been using mine for about 2 years now every second day and it is still going strong. But I think that I will check out the aqueon parts, it doesn't hurt to upgrade.

I used to carry over 100 5 gallon buckets of water each week. I love my python!:headbang2

[fishnoob]

i use well water so I do not have to add anything just remove and add simple
Same. Isn't it great :D

[djdlemma]

Man, I don't care. I love my python. All I did was change the white plastic adapter for the faucet to a metal one, and everything has been good!!! Saves me so much time!

[Brian Fish]

I went a year before I bought my python. I got so excited hooked it up and it wouldn't work. No one told me it wouldn't drain a basement tank from 1st floor. Any ideas to help me tired of carrying buckets. I can fill tank from the washer hookup but draining is an issue.

[jcardona1]

how about using a small submersible pump and pumping out the dirty water into the washer drain?

[Ak-Kronic]

yeah a pump is really the only way to make Shlt flow up hill!!! but you gotta get one that can handle the head pressure of the 2nd floor......you're gonna need one that will at least push 12' gph is up to you since it's only for draining the tank gph isn't as important as how much vertical inches/feet it can push. i've never had a prob w/ my python the faucet connection is a bltch sometimes but doesn't leak......and the micro bubble thing, you may wanna turn your faucet down when filling..............never heard of micro bubbles killing fish i've heard of them injesting air while feeding and may lead to bloat or something like that.......still much better than buckets imo

[SpeshulEd]

I macguyvered my own. Took the gravel vac apart, bought hose from home depot and the aqueon part from petsmart that connects to the sink. Put it all together and it works like a champ. I got the gravel vac free with my tank, so it made no sense to buy a python. Far better than using buckets. I add prime for the whole tank though, not just the water change amount. So far, so good.

[Water Wolf]

I could not live without my python. Only gripe I have is the connection to your faucet is made out of cheap *** plastic and strips extremely easy. So I went to home depot and found a brass replacement for it, been cleaning peacefully and easily ever since.



I took the gravel tube part off because I have sand substrate, it works really well like that for cleaning up debris , etc.

[SpeshulEd]

My gravel vac is long and oblong - kind of wide...almost more rectangular. I think its a marineland or something like that. I can't remember exact name off hand. I know the python has a short fat round vac...do you guys think thats better for picking stuff up, or does it matter?

[Longimanus]

I went a year before I bought my python. I got so excited hooked it up and it wouldn't work. No one told me it wouldn't drain a basement tank from 1st floor. Any ideas to help me tired of carrying buckets. I can fill tank from the washer hookup but draining is an issue.


I have the same problem. I do have a bathroom down here, but the only tap that fits the python is upstairs, so I drain the tank into the toilet, then run upstairs with it to fill it back up.

[KaiserSousay]

http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/kaisersousay/Vac/WaterChange/FaucetAdpt.jpg
http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/kaisersousay/Vac/WaterChange/HoseAssm.jpg
Python....Smython....$0.02

[BPags52]

I bought a 25' Python a couple weeks ago (using the CK code on DrsFosterSmith so it was only $23). I bought a brass faucet adapter because I've heard complaints on here about the cheap plastic one it comes with. I was pleasantly surprised to see a note in the python bag saying it now comes with a brass faucet adapter instead of the plastic one. So, now I have a spare :D

[classic-chassis]

I gravel vac with a small hand pumped siphon, then i let gravity do the hard work with a big hose.
for the new water I fill three large ceramic pots, which are out side my house, (plastic bins would do) the day before a water change and add White Crain anit clori. I put the aged, treated water in the tank with a spare pump and the hose I empty with.
50% water change on a 205 gal tank, cleaned glass inside gravel vaced, done and dusted in 1/2 an hour.

[Cholly]

Fifteen years ago, I'd have agreed with you classic-chassis, but then I could, and regularly would, pick up three hundred pounds, put it on my shoulder and walk off. 5 hernia surgeries later though, not so much. They don't call me "Ox" or "Magilla" any more. Pythons rock.

[jrjerin]

I just got one from petsmart yesterday that had the wrong price on it 50' for 43.99 normally 69.99 at petsmart. So anyways what I am getting at is that this is my second one only because i gave my first on away 9 years ago after having it for 5 years. My friend that i gave it too still has it and uses it today.

[wckdkl0wn]

I went to the plumping supply warehouse near me and picked up a box of 100' nylon hose. Already had the rest of the adapters. So in total I spent $30 for a 100' python. I can reach all my tanks with this one with the furthest one being maybe 6ft of hose extra.

[classic-chassis]

Fifteen years ago, I'd have agreed with you classic-chassis, but then I could, and regularly would, pick up three hundred pounds, put it on my shoulder and walk off. 5 hernia surgeries later though, not so much. They don't call me "Ox" or "Magilla" any more. Pythons rock.

That's a fair comment!

[Wajrhall]

a few months back I bought a 125g and the guy gave me his python but I haven't used it . It seems to have a lot of hose segments and attachments and I have not gotten around to leak testing it before I commit it to a water change. I just started using a garden hose to drain and fill. I suppose I should get that thing out and give it a try.

[T1KARMANN]

i had the python

the refill is crap so just use the garden hose to fill now

the way you start the syphon is crap on the python you need to turn the tap on run back to the tank then turn the tap off hoping the hose hasn't fell out of the tank

the gravel cleaner is crap

basically the only good part about the python is the hose and shut off valve at the gravel cleaner end

i put the gravel cleaner in the trash just run the hose out side to the garden

brought the pump style gravel cleaner

my water changes are easy run the hose out to the garden connect the python hose to the good gravel cleaner move it up and down a few times in the tank the flow starts

put the garden hose in the tank dose the tank with prime turn the garden hose on sit back and refill job done

water change of 100 gal with a gravel clean finished in 45 Min's :D

[SpeshulEd]

Whenever I do it, I always leave the water running while I gravel vac, seems I don't have as good of suction if I shut off the water.

[DISCIPLE]

i had the python

the refill is crap so just use the garden hose to fill now

the way you start the syphon is crap on the python you need to turn the tap on run back to the tank then turn the tap off hoping the hose hasn't fell out of the tank

the gravel cleaner is crap

basically the only good part about the python is the hose and shut off valve at the gravel cleaner end

i put the gravel cleaner in the trash just run the hose out side to the garden

brought the pump style gravel cleaner

my water changes are easy run the hose out to the garden connect the python hose to the good gravel cleaner move it up and down a few times in the tank the flow starts

put the garden hose in the tank dose the tank with prime turn the garden hose on sit back and refill job done

water change of 100 gal with a gravel clean finished in 45 Min's :D
if you place the python in your tank and close it down on it with a lid (glass cover) it will hold nicely. also if you turn the little switch that will stop/start your flow till u make it back to your tank. as for prime you can add to the water as you refill with no ill effect. the warmer the water is the more oxygen bubbles you will have in your tank until they dissapate normally in a hr or 2.

[T1KARMANN]

not for me sorry i find it rubbish

i just use the hose that came with the python with the shut off valve at the gravel cleaner end

i have no need for the rest

i water my garden with the waste water from my tank it better than letting it go to waste down the drain

its just sooooo much easyer with the gravel cleaner you move up and down to get started