Python vs aqueon water changer
- Thread starter fishboy15
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reefingnoob
Active Member
Hi, I own both of them. infact I own two aqueon large and medium. If you give me your water change amount and how big is the mixing container I can help you with it.
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
I only have experience with the Python, but I absolutely adore it! Makes things so easy! No more buckets, or swallowing saltwater trying to get the siphon started. Mine has a 25 foot hose...more than enough to reach my sink. Love it!
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
I think we are talking about two different things...my bad! 
reefingnoob
Active Member
They both have pros and cons. So if I knew how much water you change and how big is the bucket that you use to mix salt I can explain better.
reefingnoob
Active Member
What are you talking aboutI think we are talking about two different things...my bad!
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
Ah...brain is on cruise control right now. When I read fishboy15's question, the first thing that came to my mind was the siphons. Then I read what you had replied and thought he might be talking about something else. I think I should just mind my own business tonight...lol!
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
Sorry...
reefingnoob
Active Member
Sorry for for creating confusion. I was genuinely trying to avoid writing an small review type article but anything for a fellow reefer so here it goes:
1)Aqueon large size: in short, its garbage. Pipe is larger then the parts so its a loose fit so whenever you start a siphon theres going to be some air leaking in and breaking the siphon.
1)Aqueon large size: in short, its garbage. Pipe is larger then the parts so its a loose fit so whenever you start a siphon theres going to be some air leaking in and breaking the siphon.
reefingnoob
Active Member
2)Aqueon medium: its the best bang for your buck. Pipe is tight fit so the siphon breaking problem isn't there. However there are some inherent problem with the design itself such as: the hand pump that start the siphon becomes useless as substrates gets in there and when I say unless I mean trhow it away useless. However you can avoid making it useless by yanking it off after it has started the siphon but to do that you need to change the pipe.(I can explain it later if you like)
reefingnoob
Active Member
3)Python: its build quality is so superior to Aqueon that if I was the manufacturer of Python I would feel offended by this thread 
but it cost over $40. And a value minded reefer should question if he really wants to spend 40 bucks just to start a siphon but as ilovereefing mentioned the convince of dumping water directly to your sink is huge plus. However problem with this is, if only mix 5g of water like I do then use python to dump water to your sink then there is no way to be sure of the exact amount that went to your drain. Go too aggressive and you will end up needing more salt water then what you have. Go too conservative and you will end up taking more water out later.
but it cost over $40. And a value minded reefer should question if he really wants to spend 40 bucks just to start a siphon but as ilovereefing mentioned the convince of dumping water directly to your sink is huge plus. However problem with this is, if only mix 5g of water like I do then use python to dump water to your sink then there is no way to be sure of the exact amount that went to your drain. Go too aggressive and you will end up needing more salt water then what you have. Go too conservative and you will end up taking more water out later.
reefingnoob
Active Member
So going back to the question that I asked lets say if you only mix 5g of water every week then I would go with aqueon but if you mix 50g at once then change ~5g every week then go with Python.
Please let me know if any of it make sense
Please let me know if any of it make sense
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
Awesome write up reefingnoob! I had the same problem with never actually knowing how many gallons of water I took out, so what I did was this:
1. Shut of all circulation pumps, skimmer, and return. After everything settled and the pipes stopped draining into the sump, I used a piece of scotch tape and marked the water level on the tank.
2. Pulled out exactly the amount of my usual water change, which is 20 gallons. I did it the hard way, with a regular siphon and a bucket.
3. Once the 20 gallons was removed, I marked the water level with another piece of scotch tape. (I placed these pieces of tape on the side panel, towards the back of the tank so the tape is not visible at all)
Now, when I do my water changes I just pull out water with the Python siphon until I reach the lower piece of tape. My water level is always consistent because of my ATO, but I always double check my before water change level and after just to make sure I don't mess with my water chemistry.
I hope this makes sense. Happy reefing!
1. Shut of all circulation pumps, skimmer, and return. After everything settled and the pipes stopped draining into the sump, I used a piece of scotch tape and marked the water level on the tank.
2. Pulled out exactly the amount of my usual water change, which is 20 gallons. I did it the hard way, with a regular siphon and a bucket.
3. Once the 20 gallons was removed, I marked the water level with another piece of scotch tape. (I placed these pieces of tape on the side panel, towards the back of the tank so the tape is not visible at all)
Now, when I do my water changes I just pull out water with the Python siphon until I reach the lower piece of tape. My water level is always consistent because of my ATO, but I always double check my before water change level and after just to make sure I don't mess with my water chemistry.
I hope this makes sense. Happy reefing!
reefingnoob
Active Member
Haha I did the same thing except with sticky notes! But my salinity kept going to 1.024 from .025 after every water change and for the life of me I couldn't fix it so I stopped!
ilovereefing <3
Active Member
Lol...gotta use whatever is handy! So funny!
