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i dont think i would ever do a water change with out mine! WORTH THE MONEY!!!

-jim

I only have the attachment bit for the tap, but i found it a total waste of time. it took ages to get a suction going...... much esier to get one of those big plastic containers that you stor things in under the bed, and use that for taking water out. then fill it back up with the garden hose.......i little bit of cold water hasn't hurt my fish.

I'm thinking about getting one too, because my tanks are in my room and I have a bathroom in my room so it would be easy to hook up, I'm just worried that it wont fit onto my sink...

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Here's my official report: I used the Python for the first time today. My fiance was in charge of figuring out how to hook it all up and use it. But once it got started, I got busy sucking up all the yuck at the bottom of the tank. This wonderful tool sure made maintenance sooo much easier. Cleaning and filling was a cinch. And as I was adding the water back in, my fiance squirted in the Stress Zyme to decholorinate the water. Fish seem to be doing well and enjoying their newly cleaned water. I can now join the ranks of those who have used this product and I highly recommend it.

I just found this thread (haven't been here much lately) and have a couple of things to add.

If the cost of a "Python" is an issue, you can make your own out of separate parts. You probably already have a gravel vac so a hose adapter installed on the end of the tubing along with a shut off valve will work here. You can buy the faucet attachment (or even better, get a water bed filler which is the same thing and made of more sturdy material.) Then all you need is a length of garden hose to connect the two. Any cheap garden hose will do and most people already have some around the house to begin with. The hose adapter fittings are only about $1.99 each (and can be found cheaper).

To prevent the faucet stripping problem posted earlier, get a hose end "quick-connect" adapter for the faucet and the "Python". This just screws onto the faucet and the other end onto the Python. Then when you need to use it it just clicks into place. As lil mouseling posted, gravity is indeed our friend, and once the suction is started, you can disconnect the hose from the faucet attachment and drop it lower than the tank.

And don't forget - especially if the tank is on the second floor (but it works from the first, too) you don't have to drain into the sink, which definitely does waste water. Instead, suck on the sink end and drop it out the window (or into a bathtub if that's more handy - anywhere lower than the tank will work). You get faster flow in many cases (yay for gravity) and no waste. Plus, with a helper you can water the garden, or just drop the end into a waiting tub to water with later. Then just pull up and attach to the sink to refill (obviously, pull the other end out of the tank first, to stop the flow).

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

My experiences/feedback on the Python:
1. In terms of sheer energy expended doing water changes/cleaning, this product is a MAJOR timesaver.
2. The unit I bought came with a brass faucet attachment. I don't understand why this is not clearly noted in any advertisement. I spent a great deal of time looking at all the sold-separately adapters, trying to figure out what I really wanted/needed.
3. My tanks are planted. During cleaning (emptying), plant waste (dead leaves, strands of java moss, etc.) clog up the outtake at the sink. Sometimes I can jostle it out by reversing the flow back and forth, but usually I have to stop what I'm doing to detach the unit and deal with the clog.
4. Some of my tanks have snails. Sometimes they get sucked up and lodge in the hose. See above.
5. constant screwing/unscrewing of the faucet strainer has now caused water to leak around the faucet outlet. It's an American Standard brand bathroom faucet, so I can't see that it's turned into a shoddy unit. Teflon tape should fix it but, well, it IS a bathroom faucet. not a place for teflon tape to be seen.
6. Tip: When switching the lead end (the lever) from OFF to FILL, turn it slowly. Otherwise the water will forcefully spew out.
7. The hose has a natural bend to it, so it easily rolls up.
8. It's a MUCH dryer way of cleaning/filling the tanks - no more water sloshed all over the floor!

Overall, I recommend this product.

-Wayne

Thanks everyone for the feedback, I feel better about this already (but still a tiny bit concerned about adding straight tap water and the dechorinator separately). But taking the water out sounds like it will be soooo much neater and easier.
Another question, is that Lee's version similar to the Python brand? Curious why it wastes water, how could it use any more water than doing it with a regular syphon?
Well, I picked up the Python version yesterday and hope to get busy with it today. I got the 25 foot version and hope it works out well.

Thanks for the advice callatya & mouse mat. Seeing how scarce water is at the moment I better stick to the buckets. I would feel very guilty wasting water .

DASHMAN :88)

Its better to be hated for who you are...
Than loved for who you are not

dashman,

Yes, is available in Australia,
made by Lees.

Dashman, you are looking for LEE'S ULTIMATE GRAVEL VAC over here, but do be aware that they are a colossal waste of water.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

To all those who use this product or have tried it ... is it worth it? Wanted to hear some thoughts on this. Seems like a useful product for a tank as big as mine, but my main questions/concern is that it doesn't seem very safe to add water directly from the faucet to the fish tank ... without it being treated to remove chlorine first. Please help. Thanks.

"We care about...Saving you time."
-Python

heh, I just got a python yesterday

Hi,
These Pythons sound great (and look interesting on the net) and I dont mean to steal the post ... but does anyone know if they are available in Australia?

DASHMAN :88)

Its better to be hated for who you are...
Than loved for who you are not

I too love my python - It took forever to refill my 55's but now it takes no time - I don't know what I would do without it
Stella

yeah... we got one about 2 months ago, after doing water changes on our 55g with a 5 gal bucket for 4 months... I have no idea why we wasted all that time and effort and didn't buy the python sooner. We love it!

Beth

Oh man.. once you get a python, you will feel so dumb for not having one before.

Indeed. I don't think I would be able to handle the water changes on my 75G without my Python.

You just run the tap until it's about right, then hook it up. Since there's a small drip into your sink, you can stand there and adjust until it's just right. Especially in a larger tank, small variations in temp. just aren't going to matter. And the chlorine - not to worry. Even if small amounts of water managed to evade dechlor for a couple of minutes (which, assuming you have adequate flow, is all it would be), all they've got is minute traces of chlorine. Chlorine takes time (except in v. large doses) to really be a danger. A couple of minutes of exposure to the small amount contained in any water that "slips past" the dechlor isn't going to hurt anything.

And, yeah, I knew you were talking about the Python - but the "no spill" yada yada is more a slogan than a name, easier just to call it a Python, everyone does.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!