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Hi,
Your mom may have the last word.
The python screws into the place where the strainer
is on the faucet. Bathroom sinks are normally
kinda shallow, and I question weather or not you will
have enough space in the bathroom sink to mount the
venturi assembly. Most who successfully use the
python, connect to the kitchen sinks as they are
deeper to accomdate pots and pans, not washcloths.

As for price, check your LFSs and online sources
such as BigAls, etc. Remember with the online
places you will also be paying "shipping and handling
charges."

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Easy way to get flow going - skip the sink entirely. Drop the vacuum end in the tank, walk the other end to the window, unscrew the sink attachment (you're left with the end of a hose, more or less), suck on the end, and drop it out the window. Unless the tank's in a basement or on the floor, this works very, very, very well. You can also go into a bathtub, which works better for first-floor tanks sometimes. Then just attach to the sink to refill. No wasted water, and lots of pull thanks to gravity.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

The biggest problem with the python siphoning kit is that you need pretty high water pressure for it to work.

BINGO !!! I can't use my python to remove the water from my tanks. I can only use it to refill. Pain in the butt but my optomistic side says at least it means I am only having to carry half the amount of buckets through the house.

My funny (or pathetic - take your pick) python story -

I went to one of the large local chain pet stores to ask about pythons - benefits, price, blah blah. The guy looked at me like I was from outer space then went dead silent. Finally, he sheepishly asked me why I was in the fish section asking about snakes ??!!

I recently got a Python. Got the 25 foot length at my local Wal-Mart for $30. I hook it up to my kitchen sink and have had no problems at all. It is a great tool, not sure how I ever managed without it. When I am filling the tank back up, we squirt in stress zyme and let the powerhead and HOB filter do the mixing.

So you don't need to run the water the entire time you are syphoning?? I did not know that, I'll give it a try next time around.

I know using the kitchen sink is gross, but it's the easiest for draining and refilling and it's right near the tank. I just clean the sink out with bleach when I'm done and pour some down the drain, that takes care of the "germs".

Actually, when draining, you can just turn on the water for a second, then turn it off. It starts the syphon going, but it doesn't need to be run continuously.

That's assuming that your sink is significantly lower than your tank. Otherwise, it will go quite slowly.

The biggest problem with the python siphoning kit is that you need pretty high water pressure for it to work. The water pressure at my house is barely enough to use the siphon.

Also, if you are using a python, only use it on a utility sink. You don't want all that dirty stuff in your kitchen or bathroom sinks!

I have found a better way of removing the chlorine using the python. I use a charcoal canister filter (made for RV's) inline when I refill the tank. They are available at Wal-Mart for only about 15 dollars and are rated to last 6 months with RV usage (about 2000 gallons). So mine lasts a year or so. Much cheaper then the "aquarium" tap water filters that cost upwards of 30 bucks and last only 3 months or so before needing to change the media.

only problem I found with hooking mine up outside was that I couldn't adjust the temp. of the water when I was re-filling.

Jason

Ok, I got a Python at Wallmart, I think it cost less than half the price it was at PetsMart!

Here's my review for anybody thinking about getting one.

Fist I wanted to fill my tank with warm water so the heater wouldn't have to do all the work. So I hooked it up in the bathroom:

this was kinda a pain, and messy (just water) as it was hard to get the seal tight in the faucet, and it also took a wrench to get the tip off the faucet. I eventually had to use the wrench (lightly) to tighten the python adaptor into the faucet. It still leaked if I ran the water hard. I wasn't very excited about it at this point.

THEN I did a small water change, and hooked it up to a hose spiggot outside:

This worked GREAT! I didn't need to little leaky faucet adaptor, and the regualar hose threaded piece didn't leak at all. I used the drain mode which sucked out water fast, then I turned off the spiggot, and the water kept flowing out of the tank (although slower.) Then I flipped the handle, and re-filled the tank. After it was done, I turned off the water, lifted the gravel vac end out of the tank, and walked out the door with the hose. Not a DROP was spilled on my floor! I loved it!

So in conclusion, if you can hook it out outside, where you dont' have to worry if you get a water leak, the thing works amazingly well. If you hook it up inside, there are more parts invovled, and you (of course) have to watch you sink, and your tank. Hook it up outside, and you can just watch the tank.

Overall, I'm very glad I bought it, but will probably only hook it up outside.

-Dennis

I believe you can get all the necessary hookups and even a similar type of hosing at places like Lowes or Home depot much cheaper than buying the Python Kit.

Jason

I have heard people talk about hooking them up to faucets, and using them to add water to your tank.

I gotta say, this sounds a lot to me like a HOSE.

I assume there is more to it. LOL. Could someone please explain it to me.

thanks.
-Dennis

where is the cheapest place to get those? $40 is the cheapest I've seen. Seems kinda expensive.

Ok cool after all this i kinda what a ppython. I have a bathroom close to my room which is where my tanks are would the sink in there be to small? cause my mom wont let me run it all the way down to the kitchen shes afraid some how it might spill on the Hardwood floor. Also where is the cheapest place to get them? thanks fish1

the python doesnt take clorine out, that is why you have to add something like stress coat, or nov aqua to the after after a water change.

The downfall to the Python system is that the water must be running when draining and filling the tank.

Actually, when draining, you can just turn on the water for a second, then turn it off. It starts the syphon going, but it doesn't need to be run continuously.

I love my python. They are a great invention that saves lots of time and muscle strain.

---

They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

How does it remove chlorine from the water when you refill tank. I always read that you should pretreat water before adding back to your tank after water changes.

Ok, thanks for the info. Now I understand. I figured it wasn't just a hose!

-Dennis

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_python.php for a homemade python.

Here is a pic to help explain how this works. At the bottom of the pic you can see the gravel vac and directly to the right of the open end of the gravel vac is the sink attachment. The top part of the attachment (where you see a copper adapter) hooks into a faucet and at the bottom of this piece is the 'drain' and 'fill' knob (for lack of a better term). In the middle of the vertical section you can see where a hose would screw onto this piece. The hose will attach this sink attachment to an extension hose which hooks via another adapter to the gravel vac.

When set to 'drain', water will flow through the sink attachment and out the bottom, creating a vacuum which will drain your tank once you insert the gravel vac into the tank. Once you finish vacuuming the gravel and draining the tank, you turn the knob to 'fill' which closes the bottom of the sink attachment forcing the water through the hoses and gravel vac and back into the tank filling the tank to the desired level.

Overall this is a pricey but useful tool. The downfall to the Python system is that the water must be running when draining and filling the tank. A similar, cheaper alternative is to create a similar system using the sink attachment, a garden hose, and adapter to the gravel vac. Instead of draining the tank using the faucet I run the garden hose out the front door and drain my tanks into the front yard. This way I only use the faucet to fill the tank cutting back on half the water I would have used with a Python.

I hope I explained that well enough. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

Jason