I have found that the taller the vacuum tube the worse the suction is and the more time you need to clean the gravel. But I don't mind the time it takes to do a WC b/c it gives me time to clean the glass, filters, and get my meds ready for the fill.
very true
but on my monster tank i can do all that,go eat,watch some tv,then maybe its done lol
now what i will do is
gravel vac
prep meds
clean glass
clean filter
then when im ready bring out the beast and in 10 min be refilling
I used 1.5 inch PVC piping connected to pool vac hose to drain my tanks. I can drain 60-70% of my 300gal in about 10-15 mins, 60-70% of my 240gal in 10-12 mins, 60-70% of my 180gal in 8-10 mins and 60-70% of my 75gal in about 4-5 mins. This is all done by gravity so no water or electricity is used. I run the 25ft hose either out side onto the drive way or the downstair bathtub that can handle the flow of water and not over flow since it can't drain the water as fast. I then vac with the python if it is needed and fill with it also. Can take anywhere from 25-40 mins for the larger tanks and about 10-20 mins for hte smaller ones.
I used 1.5 inch PVC piping connected to pool vac hose to drain my tanks. I can drain 60-70% of my 300gal in about 10-15 mins, 60-70% of my 240gal in 10-12 mins, 60-70% of my 180gal in 8-10 mins and 60-70% of my 75gal in about 4-5 mins. This is all done by gravity so no water or electricity is used. I run the 25ft hose either out side onto the drive way or the downstair bathtub that can handle the flow of water and not over flow since it can't drain the water as fast. I then vac with the python if it is needed and fill with it also. Can take anywhere from 25-40 mins for the larger tanks and about 10-20 mins for hte smaller ones.
Nope. I have two valves that trap water in the pvc and also I never drain the water from the hose since I just use it to empty water from the tank. With this I just open up both valves and its enough to get the siphon going.
I have the skimmer and outlet PVC in the tank. I was just illustrating the 2-valve diverter...with the valve handles both horizontal the water flows outside to waste.
When they are both vertical the water flows to the wet/dry-filter.
I just service the pump or shut it off, when I do water changes.
I like the splitter idea for emptying the tank but I would still need my python for filling. Since it's connected anyways...
The python is a lot better than my old way, bucket brigade on my 320 g (three times a week), 200g (twice a week), 165g and 120g. 36 five gallon buckets a week (72 if you count the refilling). And the bathroom was 100 feet away to empty the buckets. Good exercise but it took way too long (slave to my tanks). I love my Python!
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