More water pressure for water changes
- Thread starter breakspirit
- Start date
Those methods all sound great, but I have had success with a simpler method... To build more suction before gravel-vaccing with the Python:
1) hook the python up to the weak sink. Then open the python's valve at the sink side & close the valve on the tank side.
2) Let the water run for a few minutes to build pressure in the line.
3) When you see the tubing start to deform & collapse from the suction, raise the vac a few inches away from the substrate (trust me) & quickly open the valve on the tank side. You should hear a pop & see the water start rushing out of the tank.
4) Adjust hose/tubing to minimize dead spots & keep the water flowing strongly.
You may have to repeat this whole process several times, depending on the size of your tank. When the strong syphon you built starts to equalize, just turn the hand valve off & let the pressure build again...
1) hook the python up to the weak sink. Then open the python's valve at the sink side & close the valve on the tank side.
2) Let the water run for a few minutes to build pressure in the line.
3) When you see the tubing start to deform & collapse from the suction, raise the vac a few inches away from the substrate (trust me) & quickly open the valve on the tank side. You should hear a pop & see the water start rushing out of the tank.
4) Adjust hose/tubing to minimize dead spots & keep the water flowing strongly.
You may have to repeat this whole process several times, depending on the size of your tank. When the strong syphon you built starts to equalize, just turn the hand valve off & let the pressure build again...
JakeH;3590745; said:
That sounds just crazy enough to work. I'll be trying that on my next water change for sure. Thanks =)
the lower the lowest point of your hose is the stronger the suction (thanks physics!) so yes tossing your hose out the window will help immensly especially if your on the second floor. Another thing not mentioned is the smaller the tube the greater the suction. When Im trying to lift heavy poop off things I use the smallest size gravel vac with like a 1" tube on it.
I agree. My Python is strictly for large WC's. I use a small cheapo vac for detail work & heavy cleaning because I can get all the little nooks & I have plenty of time to vac before the tank starts to get empty.
i do my water chages by using a 12 foot section of tubing and because the tank is in a laundry room theres a drain right on the floor pythons IMO are a waste i mean having to run water while draining is a waste of water give a peice of tubing a quick suck and your good to go
JUST SUCK ON THE HOSE A LIL TO GET THE SYPHON GOING. YOU CAN SUCK ON THE HOSE AND WATCH THE WATER SO YOU DONT DRINK IT. I DO IT ALL THE TIME HAVENT DRANK ANY YET!!! HAHAHAHA MY MOM SAID THE WATER WASENT TOO BAD.LOL
i had the same fustration with the amount of time it takes to drain tank during water changes. i put a 1 in pvc pipe from the tank thru the wall draining outside. drains around 100 gallons in around 10 minutes works awesome!
nope drilled the hole in my house( was really easy) ran the pipe up the back of the tank... place a valve...then inside the tank. Doesnt loss siphon unless I drain it down to low. Ran a 1/4 in pvc pipe to out door faucet to fill. Made my water changes whole lot easier!
