so i just went out and bought a python to do water changes and i got it working, but i feel like it should work alot better. it doesnt drain very fast at all and it doesnt have suction power to get rid of debris.

does anyone have any tips to increase suction?

Not sure what a python is??but ive always done my changes with a large gravel cleaner(syphon), fitted to a garden hose that goes to drain in garden. its slow but it means i can clean sand well, and have tea while i wait.. if i need a quick drain i just fit hose to my pump..but i never need to do this.. I change 50gallon once and sometimes twice a wk this way.

o used to siphon water out into a bucket with a gravel cleaner and that had way more suction. a python is a device that allows you to syphon water from your tank directly into your sink and then re fill your tank directly from the tap.

it just doesnt have the sucktion power that i want

barna wrote:


yes, increase your water pressure.

The system relies on the strength of the water coming out of your tap. if you haven't got very strong flow coming out of the tap, it won't have a lot of suction at the other end. I bought one about four or five years ago and had exactly the same problem as you. It would lift a certain amount of waste, but leave behind big solid pieces. The water coming out of my tap is fast, but not fast enough or strong enough to make the Python work to its fullest performance.

I feel that the manufacturers should make it clear to people buying their products that if they haven't got strong water pressure, it won't work properly. I feel that they are misleading people by not putting a big notice on the front of the packaging telling people this information.

I also think that Python is bad for the environment. After all, we should make efforts to conserve water wherever we can. The Python wastes water terribly as you have to have the tap running to remove water from the tank, And then again to put it back in.

In my opinion, the Python is a complete waste of money. You also have to bear in mind that all your waist goes into your sink. Would you take a dump in your sink? Of course you wouldn't, so why would you want all fish crap going into it? so not only is it bad for the environment, it's all so terribly unhygienic. Save yourself the money and get a length of hose and a normal gravel back, does exactly the same job, and even better

personally i only use a python to fill my tank. i vacuum with a small vac into a pail(2 pails cleans the waste) and drain using a hose and large gravel vac. then use the python to fill

Regarding the suction for syphoning. I find opening the faucet fully and making sure no other water is being used within the house works great. When I've used the python while doing laundry, watering the lawn or someone taking a shower my suction sucked. I would never, ever want to own a
aquarium without it. One of the greatest aquarium inventions.

One more thing. They do get clogged occasionally too with the debri being siphoned. Because recently I had no suction and I know there was no other water being used, no kinks in the hose. So I took it apart and there was a large amount od debri clogging it.

Hi
I stand by my python. I think it does a great job and it's all I ever use.

I just use a gravel cleaner attached to a hose in the drain

When I had my 55G (US) manually siphoning and filling bucket by bucket was fine. When I got my 75 I bought the Python figuring carrying and dumping 15 - 5 gallon buckets was a bit much to do a 50% water change. Now that I'm about to switch to my 125 I thank god for my Python. I'll quote 'Margaret15' who earlier on this thread said "I would never, ever want to own a aquarium without it. One of the greatest aquarium inventions."
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