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I recently gave my grandaughter my 20Long tank and complete set-up for it. I told her how to do the fishless cycle. The tank is up and running and she says her parameters are fine. It is, I think, stocked with 6 tiny guppies and some sort of algea eater. The fish have been in the tank for a week and except for one getting sucked into the filter intake, they are doing well. Now it's time to clean the tank and gravel. Since we live about 2 hours apart, we've been using email and cell phone to communicate. Finally, to my question. She is having difficulty getting the siphon hose working. Can someone give me a step by step lesson on starting a siphon hose? I can't seem to talk her through the process and we are frustrated. She finally gave up and just stirred up the gravel with her hand and bailed out 25% of the water and replaced it with new. Sorry for the long post.

I have recently had some problems with siphoning my tanks. I don't know if all the gravel siphons have the same set up by in side mine I have a little flippy flap that holds the water in the hose as you shake it. My flap was gettng stuck up so the water coule run right back out. I would check and see if this might be a simmilar problem.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

There's no "flippy flap" in this one. It is a hose with the working end being an inch or so in diameter with a smaller, maybe 1/2 hose attached that goes in the pail.

Ok........ so yeah......Lets see here.......

Does what you have look something like THIS)??

or do you just have a 1/2 inch hose? I am kind of lost...sorry


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Yes, just like that. I need to know, in written form, how to get one of these siphons started, so I can send it to my grandaughter. My instructions aren't working for her.

Last edited by Caviar at 20-Sep-2005 11:52

First, make sure the pail is below the tank. The siphon uses gravity and air pressure (I think) to move the water from one place to another. Just think that water must move downhill.

Second, when you insert the working end into the tank, it's best to remove large air bubbles by tilting the end slightly.

Third, and the approach varies here, a brisk shaking motion is usually enough to get the water up into the hose. Might need to continue the motion until the water cna crest the high-point in the hose so that it can naturally run down.

There is also the method of using suction to draw the water out, and many use their mouths to begin the process (like sipping through a straw). I find that method to be rather messy, but in a worst-case scenario, it might help.

That's exactly what I told her, but she couldn't get it started. I sent your instructions to her. Hopefully if she sees it in black and white it will make sense. Thanks to you both for your help.

No need to do all that. Just put the tank end of the hose in the water. Hold the output end over a pail(5g bucket). Now use the large end and fill with water(a slight incline upward with the mouth being higher than the hose). After the solid tube is filled with water ,lift it out a bit till you see water running into the bucket. Then put the tube back in tank before the tube runs out of water. Gravity should be working by then and you can now start vacuuming the gravel. There are different ways of accomplishing this, but this way takes about 5 seconds to get it going. Hard to do this if tank is low to the ground(ie lower than the bucket).

Now that sure sounds easy! She should be able to handle that! Thanks!

This may be even easier. Its the method I used prior to getting my Python setup. Completely submerge your syphon setup (hose and gravel vac). Plug the discharge end with your thumb (thus trapping the water in the tube). Put the discharge end in the bucket and remove your thumb. TahDah, your syphoning water. When its time to dump the bucket, Plug the discharge again, and put the discharge end back in the tank(below the water level), dump you bucket, then repeat the process. I hope my explanation made sense and is of help to you

Last edited by firecontrol at 21-Sep-2005 17:13

Buy her a Python. The unit attaches to the sink faucet, but be sure that she has a threaded sink faucet near her aquarium. The unit will self start when water is turned on...

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I like the submerge version too. Once she has the hang of it she can graduate to the version where you submerge only enough that will be downwards run (still covering the end of the hose with thumb).

But the full submerge is a champ too.

I hope she gets up and running it is very frustrating being so far away. *good wishes*

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

The submersion thing works great. just put the whole thing under ther water and when the hose fills with water plug the end of it, pull it out, aim into the bucket and it will do the rest. Much better than getting a mouthful of water every time.