[crazy72]

So with nearly 150G worth of tanks in the house now, I am getting a bit tired of carrying my 3G bucket around for water changes. I'm looking at alternatives, and no I won't take a 5G bucket as a significant improvement . I'm sure many of you use or have tried the Python Clean and Fill system. What do you think? Do you like it? Any problems with it? I'd be looking at the 50 foot one.

... Errr... and I have a dumb question: how do you add the water conditioner? Directly in one go into the tank after the new water is in? While it flows in?

Thanks.

 

[target]

I love my python. It is such a time saver. I haven't had any problems with my set up. I usually do the vacuum and water change, then adjust the water temperature to match the tank, add the conditioner to the tank and start refillng. I can do a 90% change on both my 46g tanks in less than 30 mins. Plus, while it is draining, you can sit and let it run. ust be careful about getting into something else while refilling. I have overflowed my tanks twice because I sat down at the computer while it refilled.

 

[Mferko]

I love my python. It is such a time saver. I haven't had any problems with my set up. I usually do the vacuum and water change, then adjust the water temperature to match the tank, add the conditioner to the tank and start refillng. I can do a 90% change on both my 46g tanks in less than 30 mins. Plus, while it is draining, you can sit and let it run. ust be careful about getting into something else while refilling. I have overflowed my tanks twice because I sat down at the computer while it refilled.

i can see myself doing that
i once did that while making kraft dinner and ruined the pot, the noodles seemed to fuse with the metal lol, impossible to clean.

 

[crazy72]

Thanks. Actually I have another question. Just as dumb I'm afraid. What do you do with the water remaining in the hose when you shut off the tap? 50 foot of hose probably makes a decent amount of water. How do make sure it doesn't end up on the floor while you roll up the hose again?

 

[josephl]

I love my python. I have a 240 gallon and 72 gallon.

With the python, the 240 gallon gets 2 X 50% daily water changes and the 72 gallon gets 1 X 50% daily water change while I am watching TV.

For water conditioner, I just add prime to the tank just as I turn the hose on to refill. Never had a problem

For remaining water in hose, just turn nozzle to drain and the remaining water will more or less drain as you roll up the hose

 

[2wheelsx2]

I am one of the weird ones who don't use a python as I feel it wastes too much water. I have a Jehmco Super Safety Siphon and just pump the water out. I got the garden hose bib adapter one. And when I want to gravel vac, I use my big gravel vac and just insert into my 5/8" garden hose that I use with that setup. That's for the 125. For the 20 and the 15 I use 2 x 5 gallon buckets.

 

[crazy72]

How does it waste water? To clean, or to fill up?

 

[2wheelsx2]

The suction is started by your tap water creating negative pressure. So the python can pull water uphill. It doesn't just use gravity. Nice tool. I got the Jehmco setup for the same price as the python, but of course there's the added expense of a hose. Don't get me wrong, the python is a nice tool, but in my setup in the basement, I can't use gravity very well, so I'd have to use the tap most of the time. When I use gravity, it takes me 45 minutes to change and refill 60 gallons in my 125. When I used the pump, 20 minutes tops to do that same thing. It's a no brainer for me.

 

[crazy72]

How does it waste water? To clean, or to fill up?

Oh ok I just looked it up and I see why it wastes water. Humm.... yes that's a problem for me too. Maybe all I need is a 50 foot hose to hook up to my tap to fill up the tank. I just siphon the water out into the garden too, so that's not really a problem for me.

 

[catgoldfish]

How does it waste water? To clean, or to fill up?

Cleaning......if you don't want to spend the money on a python because of the expense you can use garden hoses. One for filling and one for cleaning. You can buy the hoses at Home Depot or XS Cargo for about 10 bucks 50 feet.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Well, if you can use gravity, the python only wastes a small amount of water to start it up. I can't do it, so it's not an option for me. For my new tank upstairs I can use gravity, so I'm thinking about getting a python for it.

 

[crazy72]

Well, if you can use gravity, the python only wastes a small amount of water to start it up. I can't do it, so it's not an option for me. For my new tank upstairs I can use gravity, so I'm thinking about getting a python for it.

Oh ok so you can turn the water off once the water starts coming out and gravity does the rest of for you. Yes that makes sense. Humm I might give it a try then. Thanks.

 

[crazy72]

Cleaning......if you don't want to spend the money on a python because of the expense you can use garden hoses. One for filling and one for cleaning. You can buy the hoses at Home Depot or XS Cargo for about 10 bucks 50 feet.

Yes that's the other option. I didn't realise the hoses were so cheap though. All right. Off to scratch my head now. Thanks.

 

[target]

Gravity draining is nice if it works for you. I just ordered a safety siphon as well as my new place doesn't have a sink on the right level to drain the tank with the python. So I will use the python to refill the tank.

As for the water in the hose, like was said, you just let it drain into the sink as you roll up the hose. Or, you just turn the tap on after you have removed the nozzle from the tank and it will pull most of the water out of the hose for you.

 

[Mferko]

I love my python. I have a 240 gallon and 72 gallon.

With the python, the 240 gallon gets 2 X 50% daily water changes and the 72 gallon gets 1 X 50% daily water change while I am watching TV.

For water conditioner, I just add prime to the tank just as I turn the hose on to refill. Never had a problem

For remaining water in hose, just turn nozzle to drain and the remaining water will more or less drain as you roll up the hose

you have got to be kidding me, you waste in excess of 250 gallons of water every day? whats in the 240g tank that makes it necessary to do that? and to think i get mad at people using their sprinklers on days they shouldnt be lol
whats your water bill like?

 

[tony1928]

If you have a big tank and can gravity drain, going to a bigger diameter of hose will give you huge time savings. The python with the water running is limited by the small diameter of its hose. I'm using a 1" ID hose to drain my 400g and water just flies out of there. I can probably drain the whole tank in well under 30 min just using gravity.

The Jehmco siphons are pretty cool.

 

[tony1928]

whats your water bill like?

There's a water bill?!?! LOL. There's none yet in Vancouver for residential detached homes. No meters. My friends in California definitely pay for every gallon they use.

 

[Nanokid]

then there me on well water.... free water! what i dont use goes to my septic field and waters the grass. i cant imagine having all the tanks i do and paying for the water.

 

[eternity302]

Have a python and will never ever go bak without one! Definitely worth my $75 for the 25 foot one!

 

[WCL]

I love my python. It is such a time saver. I haven't had any problems with my set up. I usually do the vacuum and water change, then adjust the water temperature to match the tank, add the conditioner to the tank and start refillng. I can do a 90% change on both my 46g tanks in less than 30 mins. Plus, while it is draining, you can sit and let it run. ust be careful about getting into something else while refilling. I have overflowed my tanks twice because I sat down at the computer while it refilled.

Is it cool to do this and add Alkalinity and GH buffers the same way as the conditioner? By simply adding them straight to the tank before filling the tank with water? I have a hard time with getting the Seachem Equilibrium to break down before putting it in the tank when water changing with a 5 gallon bucket. It leaves a coating on everything.
Could I add the KH/GH buffers straight to the tank after refililing the tank with water as opposed to before filling with water?