Diy python water change

gm333

1. Check to see what type of faucet you will be using the tank cleaner on. Most kitchen faucets have threads on the inside of spout, some on the outside.

2. you will have to purchase the three way pump. You can find this pump at most aquarium stores online, or at local water bed stores. Sometimes you can find them at some walmarts(although they come in a waterbed kit, so they are a little higher on price).

3.You will also have to purchase an adapter(depending on your faucet) this will allow your three way pump to attatch to your faucet.

4. you will also have to purchase an adapter to fit your hose to the three way adapter. You can find this in your local hard ware store as well

5. Determine what hose your going to use. Personally I use the 3/8" clear hoses that you can get from your local hardware store(make sure it is the thicker hose the thinner ones seem to kink to easily. They tend to roll up easier w/o kinking up on you. You can also use cheap 3/8" water hose they work just as well, although you will want to go w/one that is braided, so the hose does not kink.

6. You can use your existing gravel cleaning tube for this, or purchase another one that will fit the 3/8" tube. The bigger diameter cleaning tube, the less suction power, the smaller diameter the more powerful the suction will be.

If there are any questions, or comments, or where to find any parts, just ask!

determining which thread is on your faucet(outside or inside)


The brass adapter that is needed to fit the three way pump


The three way pump(can be found on e-bay or sometimes walmart)


The fitting from the hose to the three way pump, home depot carries something similar

gm333

The gravel cleaner and hose, the hose can be aquaired at any home improvement stores.

Ushma

Hi,

forgive the stupid question, but how does this work? I'm tired of doing water changes by hand in my 55 gal that is about 50 ft from the nearest (kitchen) faucet, and I'd like way to pump the old water out of the tank into the sink, then pump new water from a bucket in the kitchen (where it is treated for chloramine) back into the tank. As I see it, that's 2 different problems, because the new water is not coming out of the faucet at some pressure, but needs to be drawn up out of a bucket. Does this 3-way pump provide enough pressure differential to solve the "old water out" issue: get water out of the top of my tank, run it through the 50 ft of hose at ground level, and then back up to the sink (say 3 ft above ground)?

For the "new water in" : do I need to buy a pump that would pump water back into the tank (the top of the tank is about 4 feet off the ground)? What sort of pump do I need? Finally, I should be able to do all this with one pumping system, right? Any help is much appreciated! Thanks,
Ushma

gm333

The way the python works and how well it works depends on your water pressure. How the green thing (pump) works is wtar is forced through a funnel, which creates a vaccum, which in turn pulls water from the inlet in the side of the (pump). The more the water pressure = the faster the vaccum = the faster water will be pulled from the tank.
As far as dechlorinating the water before adding to the tank, it is not necessary, you add the dechlorinator to the tank right before pumping the water into the tank. I generally add it close to the end of the hose. I have used this method for over 8 yrs and never had a death from chlorinated water.
The only important thing to remember is to get the wtaer temp as close to the tank water as possible. If you cant get it the temp exactly the same make sure it is cooler than warmer.

orb4me

After getting the hang of the python, I have found it to be a good investment. I dont think it cleans the gravel was well as I want, so I use the old vacuum and the bucket brigade every once in awhile. Im now taking gravel clear out of the tank and rinsing it., but it still beats carrying all that water back and forth.

andysutt

That green spout and hose fitting you showed me is identical to mine... What you made is the generic python that they sell at stores. I picked mine up for about $15... Just curious as to what you have invested in making your own, as mine came with all the fittings needed for any sink, the house and the gravel cleaner.

nyrmel

Wow those things look scary. (what is the betting I will be asking where to get one after a few months of water brigade Changes) any one have an idea if i could make it work with tap water temp that is only 40* on a 20 gallon??? (my water doesnt contain anything I need to take out like clorine so I think I will have to keep an eye on this post to see how all this works out.
Good Luck