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Over the weekend, I did my first water-change on the my big tank. To use a 15 liter builders bucket to bring about 60-70 liters of water each way to the kitchen (nearest water disposal and the best water-supply), is a bit of a pain.

I've got an outside drain that is well below the bottom of the tank, but is a few meters away from the tank (outside of the kitchen). Does anyone have any ideas of how to get the siphing going to the outside? I probably need about 10 meters of hose, and I doubt that "sucking on the end" will be a suitable method even if I was willing to do that.

All the tank siphoning stuff that I've seen so far seems to come with short hoses of a meter or two, which is fine for filling a bucket next to the tank...

What do others with big/many tanks do to solve this?

I accept that I probably have to carry the water over to the tank when filling it up, as I have to mix the water with declorinator as well as make sure it's right temp...

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Mats

hi mats

in my last house i didn't have any water supply or drainage.in the room where my 100 gallon(uk) tank was situated i couldn't syphon out of the window as there were no drains there, and the neighbour although thought it was great during summer to have his garden irregated at no cost (his garden was on a slightly lower level) objected to this "flooding"(20 gallon in total, spread over both gardens) during the bad weather, so i turned to syphoning the water directly to the rear outside drain;
exept during summer (when i made sure that i syphoned enough water for my garden only)
i used a run of the mill garden hose as a syphon, all that is required; is to get the water flowing just past the bottom of the tank and let gravity do the rest, it isnt as hard to do as one may think
(it doesn't matter how long the syphon tube as all that is required to start the syphon is that drop below the level of water)
and in my fish house during the summer i syphoned directly onto the rear yard and let the water find its own way to the drain, except during the cold weather when to retain heat in my fish house i had the door closed and syphoned into a bucket, then emptied the bucket on the yard, in my new house i use the same system for water changes in both
cases,, my fish house routine is the same; the tank i now have in the house is only 65 gallons(uk). and i have similar problems with drainage access however i dont have the same problem with neighbours

because of the bore size of the gardening hose, it can take a little time when water changing big tanks , but i take this oppertunity to make myself a coffee, and help myself to my wife's choccy bickies.

I probably need about 10 meters of hose, and I doubt that "sucking on the end" will be a suitable method even if I was willing to do that.

You could place a powerhead at the hoses entry to get the flow started.

Mats,
If you have more than one 10 gallon tank and are not using a Python you are crazy. I think the Python is the only reason many of us still have a functioning back.
-Shane

I agree with Shane! Lee's now makes a very similar product to the Python.

Shane wrote:Mats,
If you have more than one 10 gallon tank and are not using a Python you are crazy. I think the Python is the only reason many of us still have a functioning back.
-Shane

Yes! All hail the mighty Python! Water changes at home have never been so easy (you need an outside tap though really).
Should you not have an outside tap and don't fancy fitting one, if you phone up hose suppliers out of the Yellow pages you should find one that will supply hose with a wide enough internal bore to empty the required water out of a large tank in a few minutes (don't go over 25mm internal diameter though ideally, the suction on wide bore hose can be enough to damage fish if they get too close).
I paid under £25 for 10m of 18mm diameter potable water hosing (which is the right size to get a snug push fit over most kitchen taps for refilling should you wish).

Python presumably being what's displayedhere...

Anyone know who sells them in the UK. I haven't tried my LFS yet, they may do it. I just haven't been looking, as it's usually better to know what you're looking for first, than to buy whatever the LFS has.

I have an outside tap, but it's on the back-side of the utility room, which means that it's about 20 meters from my tank, and there's no drain there, so I'd be flooding the lawn (not a problem in the summer, but winter-time it tends to get more than wet enough without me adding an extra hundred liters every weekend...]

I think, however, that some minor plumbing inside the utility room might solve the "outside tap" problem and get me a suitable drain-point. I've re-plumbed the bathroom, so I should think adding a simple tap and a drain shouldn't be impossible... Finding the time might be a different story...

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Mats

MatsP wrote:Python presumably being what's displayedhere...

That's the puppy. You can also buy extensions. One way to get around flooding the lawn is to get a disposable bucket, drill a hole just above the base, glue/squeeze in a length of hose (long enough to reach a suitable drain point) and when you are using the "Python" you place the bucket underneath. You trail the hose to wherever you want the water to go, avoiding flooded lawns (which is just as important in Summer should you take every opportunity to lounge in the sun as we do).

Anyone know who sells them in the UK. I haven't tried my LFS yet, they may do it.

They should, or someone local should have them. If in doubt get in touch direct with Python and ask for a list of suppliers.

I buy vinyl tubing from the hardware or fish supply plance--cheaper than the python and you can chose your bore. For changes sans vacuuming, I stick a piece of Aquaclear Mini foam filter with a hole in it for the siphon tube. Use scissors or a knife and make a snug fit. Then I can use a plactic clamp to hold the siphon on the side of a glass tank, or just stick it in a hole in an acrylic tank. Keep an eye on the thing so it doesn't slip down in the tank and remove more water than you wanted. (doen't happen often). For low tanks, I use a powerhead, with prefilter like on the MaxiJets to move water. Pond pump when I have to move ALOT of water fast. You can start the siphon using a vacuum bell, like barbie said, then put the foam on, or just suck on it <g>.

FWIW, I heard a fishroom pro say both he and others had losses when using some garden hoses for fill. He suggested pure rubber hoses. This might depend on your water, FAIK. His water was "liquid" cement.

for fill, I use the "universal" adaptor that Lee makes. The metal ones seem to work better. They are not universal, but fit most plumbing. Easy to adjust temp.

troi

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a python, does anyone know where is a cheap place to buy one?? preferably online(UK), unless you know of a LFS near Edinburgh.

I've found one for sale at http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/listse ... roduct1032 but I thought £48.99 was a bit expensive.

Thanks

what's all this python stuff?

the only pythons I have in my house are
The Holy Grail
Life of Brian
and
Jabberwocky.

I just use a hose and suck if I want to change the water.
and I DO have more than 10G......


NI!

For the last 20 years...I've been using a normal everyday garden hose. I'm not sure if Python has changed thier design, but I found them to be a terrible waste of good water.
To start the siphon...simply hook the garden hose up to your water source. Fill the hose with water...until water is coming out the other end (without air pockets). Then, just turn the water off; disconnect the hose; and place the drain end lower then the water level of the tank. This is just as fast as a python...unless your tank is only a few inches off the ground. It will still work, it'll just be slower.
The beauty of this method is...garden hose is cheap...you can use as much as is needed (I've used up to 100 feet) and you can hook the hose right back up to fill your tanks. Temperature is controlled right at the tap.
If you need to mix your water for any reason (RO/PH/dechlor) you will need a holding/storage tank. I use straight tap, and do 50% water changes...after I've acclimated the fish to the chlorine in the tap. (start with a 10% change for new fish...and build up) I've found that chlorine in the water actually acts as a trigger to induce spawning.
Please be careful, as your water may have different amounts of chlorine in the water then mine does. (Acclimate your fish to this...don't start with 50% water changes). The only tanks that don't get straight tap...are my pleco tanks...during thier simulated rainy seasons. For them...I run the RO water directly into a 100 gallon storage tank. You can premix in the storage tank...or add your own mix of RO and tap directly into the tank. If I didn't explain something clearly...Please ask!