Cleaning substrate help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I think you should make your own siphon too, but the one I made is a little different than tomosjg's.

I bought 1.5" sump hosing from Home Depot. http://m.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-Sump-Pump-Discharge-Hose-Kit-FP0012-6U-P2/100645330

Then I cut it at the 8 ft mark. I put a pvc tube on one end to vacuum with and I put a shut off valve on the other end.

To start a siphon, you need to suck in air from the shut off end. Once your siphon starts, you can then connect it to the other pieces of the sump hosing and go out to your yard. Or drain it into a big trash can and use a pump to push it out to your yard. I can drain a 240 tank in just a few minutes like that.
 
Why don't you look up the pump you have and see if you can run the pump in-line(external).
If you have a spare pump laying around but it's too strong you can attach pvc valves to
manually control the flow which should reduce the power of the siphon, also you can attach
loc-lines and a flare nozzle tip.
 
johnnycoolxx said:
I think you should make your own siphon too, but the one I made is a little different than tomosjg's.

I bought 1.5" sump hosing from Home Depot. http://m.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-Sump-Pump-Discharge-Hose-Kit-FP0012-6U-P2/100645330

Then I cut it at the 8 ft mark. I put a pvc tube on one end to vacuum with and I put a shut off valve on the other end.

To start a siphon, you need to suck in air from the shut off end. Once your siphon starts, you can then connect it to the other pieces of the sump hosing and go out to your yard. Or drain it into a big trash can and use a pump to push it out to your yard. I can drain a 240 tank in just a few minutes like that.
Click to expand...

I've used sump hoses before actually but it's just to bulky lol. A drain tube is better in my opinion; you can get it in clear so you can see what you siphon.
This way you won't siphon any small fish like I once did when I was cleaning the tank and forgot to attach my nozzle on it. Thank fully I was using clear
drain tubing and caught it before it was too late and put the fish back in the tank... lol
 
By the way you don't have to use a water pump you can use a decent power head also. :cheers:
 
tomojsg said:
My solution is a home made mechanical siphon :)
1. Buy a cheap used water pump which can be used externally.
2. Go to Home Depot or similar store buy 2 drain tube cut at a
favorable length for you & some zip ties.
3. Connect the drain tubes to each end and zip tie the connected
area tight as possible.
4. Enjoy your new siphon as cleaning just got easier and quicker. :)

I used a 50' python on the siphoning end and connect a 50" drain tube
on the drain end so when I siphon the floor of my tanks I can also direct
the drained water to my yard and water the grass and garden :)

hoped this helped. :cheers:
Click to expand...

Nigelk8485 said:
Do you have a picture of it? Or any recommendations on the pump? I'm guessing you go with a low gph so you're not just sucking up all the substrate before you even know it. I have a fountain pump I use to drain my tank but it only has one area to attach a hose to for the output.


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Click to expand...

Yes...pics please!! ;)
 
I don't have it anymore lol. I gave it to my nephew last year since I never used it, but I'll make
another one and post pics then since I'm setting up 3 more tanks which will have sand and small
gravel as substrate with live planted plants & moss.
 
tomojsg said:
I don't have it anymore lol. I gave it to my nephew last year since I never used it, but I'll make
another one and post pics then since I'm setting up 3 more tanks which will have sand and small
gravel as substrate with live planted plants & moss.
Click to expand...

....give the other one to me when you make it! Or take it back from your nephew and give it to me.


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
He stole my idea! LOL jk

Lol I'm not gonna take it back from my nephew it's his only siphon,
he's only 9 years old, so he has a hard time cleaning already lol...
Maybe it's time I start mass producing these babies for the market lol :p
 
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