Water Change Problem

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:19 am

Was not sure where to put this, so hopefully here is fine.

This is not a huge issue... more of a question, and maybe a solicitation for suggestions.

I have a Python system. however, my kitchen sink in my new house has one of those fancy faucets on it, that my Python will never fit, with any adapter they make. so now I have two options for water changes:

1. Use the water hose spicket outside the house, letting the fish tank water drain right into the yard, then refilling with the water from the outside spicket...

2. Bucket method. Um... I don't want to do this one.

What do you all think?

Cristy Keister · Post by **Cristy Keister** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:25 am

Assuming that you don't get hot water on the outside spicket, it will be a problem in the winter when the water is very cold. Can you get an extension on the Python to go to another indoor spicket?

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:29 am

I do not think any of my bathroom spickets create enough water pressure to be effective with suction... and then of course, refilling will be ALL DAY.

this was the one thing that put me off on this house when I looked at it... but the wife fell in love with the place, and it is really nice... just not fish tank friendly. clearly, when I finish the basement, this will change.

(speaking of which, Dave, I will be speaking with you, when I do that, on the whole plumbing setup you have for your 180...

).

PadreJP · Post by **PadreJP** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:38 am

Well...presuming the wife is in love with the house (but not necessarily those exact fixtures), do you think you could talk your wife into getting a new faucet in the room with your tank? You can promise her it will be "just as nice," but plus make it one that you can attach the python to.

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:42 am

that is a thought... maybe I can do that.

in the meantime, I am thinking then, that I will maybe use the outdoor faucet for the water pressure, to vacuum, and then use the bucket method from the kitchen to refill.

ah, new house. bah! LOL...

DelawareJim · Post by **DelawareJim** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:46 am

rich_one wrote:I do not think any of my bathroom spickets create enough water pressure to be effective with suction... and then of course, refilling will be ALL DAY.

You don't need to hook the python up to the faucet to remove water, just let it siphon out into the sink or outside. Then hook up to the bathroom faucet.

Otherwise you could add a faucet in the basement or basement stairwell. Pipes are usually run in the floor joists overhead which makes for easy open access. I ran some new plumbing in the basement using PEX and it was a snap to use.

Cheers.
Jim

Cristy Keister · Post by **Cristy Keister** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:50 am

DelawareJim wrote:You don't need to hook the python up to the faucet to remove water, just let it siphon out into the sink or outside. Then hook up to the bathroom faucet.

I agree. Using the Python to pull water out of the tank wastes too much water when you could just siphon.

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:56 am

I think mine is probably 75 feet long though... a 50 footer, with a 25 foot extension (that's what happens when you have tanks in multiple locations around the house, but use one faucet! lol...)

that said... let me take another look at these bathrooms then... thanks for the advice, you all.

and I had not thought about the basement for some reason... plenty of pipes down there, as it is not finished yet. maybe, for now, I can get a builder friend of mine, to install a utility sink down there for me. that is sounding like a plan...

SCMurphy · Post by **SCMurphy** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:20 pm

For added 'suction' have the python siphon to something lower than a sink. Like a toilet. I am lucky, I just run a hose out the back of the house to siphon water out of the tanks. I also use the outside spigot during the warmer months to refill or top off. In the winter I run a hose from the utility sink to top off. Summer or winter, I run the hose out back to siphon water away.

sherrymitchell · Post by **sherrymitchell** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:46 pm

I have a utility sink in the basement next to the fish room, but the fish room is lower than the sink so I rely on the pressure from the water to siphon the tanks.

For the one tank I have upstairs, I use a 75 foot python hose and run that from the utility sink up the stairs to the tank. It works so much better than buckets.....

You should get a utility sink -- definately......

Water Change Problem

Water Change Problem

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