Who Owns a Python Siphon Hose?

[RussC]

I just received a 50' python siphon hose. Used it last night for my water change. It was slow! I was disappointed. I don't need all 50'. So I thought I could reduce the tube length with a barbed joint and improve strength. Just curious if anyone has done that with any success at increasing the suction to improve performance? Or would I be just chasing a ghost?

 

[jeffp1]

I bought one of the 25ft Python's and it quit working after first use. Have taken apart and cleaned and no go. Waste of money.IMO

 

[RussC]

The idea is very convenient. I just assumed I would get a quicker siphon. It was very slow. And the whole idea of adding the sink and the siphon was to speed up the water change.

 

[mfinn]

I've been using the python water change system for 20 years or more.
The amount of flow( suction or return) depends on the amount of flow from the faucet you are using.
I found my kitchen sink faucet had lousy flow and the python hose didn't work that well.
So I went to the most powerful faucet in the house ( at the time) and it was the bathtub faucet.
I had to change out the regular spout for one that would accept the python valve. It was ugly and the wife wasn't happy about it, but it worked.
So when I brought up the idea of putting in a utility sink in the garage, my wife was all for it.
The utility sink and faucet gets maximum water pressure ( no flow restrictors like the ones used in alot of kitchen faucets).
I had to add and 16' section to the 50' hose I had to get to the farthest tank and still get decent suction.

One of the things you have to be careful of with them is the valve will clog pretty fast if you let sand or algae get sucked into it.
I do that and then have to take the suction end back to the sink to clear the clog by reversing the valve, then it will work again.

 

[RussC]

I installed a utility sink just for this hose. Water pressure is great and its only about 30 feet away. I need to siphon 20 gallons for my water change. But it was surprisingly slow. Any chance you can give me an idea of the time it takes to siphon your water? I'm just trying to get a comparison of some kind. A benchmark. I was previously using a pretty good pump. So I may have spoiled myself on the speed. But I was having to truck buckets back and forth. Didn't like that. I use the same pump to refill the sump from a Brute trashcan. 3-5 minutes at most.

 

[Sea MunnKey]

I tossed out Python valve altogether and just suction water down the hose and use the siphon end to clean my sand bed. It's a very old Python ...

 

[mfinn]

I installed a utility sink just for this hose. Water pressure is great and its only about 30 feet away. I need to siphon 20 gallons for my water change. But it was surprisingly slow. Any chance you can give me an idea of the time it takes to siphon your water? I'm just trying to get a comparison of some kind. A benchmark. I was previously using a pretty good pump. So I may have spoiled myself on the speed. But I was having to truck buckets back and forth. Didn't like that. I use the same pump to refill the sump from a Brute trashcan. 3-5 minutes at most.

I really haven't paid attention to the time it takes.
I usually do it on Sunday's when a football game is on or a race.
I take out 65 gallons. I vacuum the sand bed and I also suck out the detritus in my sump and just let the suction continue until the water line in my tank and sump reach a line I have marked on the tank.
I use a mag 12 to return the water from the mixing barrel out in the garage, to the tank.
I use the long gravel vac ( 24" ) and have to be careful that the sand doesn't go too high in the tube, or it will go into the hose.
Whatever time it takes, is just fine for me. I haven't had to carry a 5 gallon bucket of water for water changes in a very long time.

 

[Jerett83]

I shortened my 50 footer up to the length needed to reach my tank ( 35 feet or so) and I can drain 30 gallons in less than 5 minutes. I only use it to drain water. If im doing my sand bed I swap the tube onto a piece of that extra hose I cut off and drain into a pail or a sock in my sump cuz I find the piece that attaches to the faucet gets clogged with sand if Im not careful enough to not vacuum up sand into the hose.

 

[RussC]

Jerett, when you shortened the tube, did you just cut one end and replace the fitting? Or did you cut the tube in the middle somewhere?

 

[jpluttme]

Like Mfinn said, your water pressure is the culprit. I lived in an apartment and even though I was further away from the sink than I am now in my house, the python worked great because of the better pressure at that location. Now, I have to make sure there are as few dips as possible in the line from the tank to the sink by propping it up on a line of chairs and along the countertop to make for less head pressure on days when water pressure is bad.

 

[Elder1945 Verified Sponsor]

I love mine and works great.

 

[Jerett83]

Jerett, when you shortened the tube, did you just cut one end and replace the fitting? Or did you cut the tube in the middle somewhere?

At the valve that connects to the faucet. Its just a compression fitting. I unthreaded it cut the hose and threaded it back together.

 

[hart24601]

I use one quite a bit. Never had any issues with it and have bought extensions to make it longer. I do have very high water pressure though. I will also say if the detritus is thick, like already said, you need to clean that fitting where it attaches to the sink out often, or just reverse flow into a bucket to clear it of shells. However I really like it for cleaning sumps out, a bit slower than a bucket head vac which I also use sometimes but the python allows me to get more detritus being slower.

I recently moved a 30g and 65g FW aquariums, the python made it 10x easier.

 

[Actuarious]

There are many factors. Where your tank is in relation to the sink. I use a 100' hose. Tank is on second floor and the laundry sink is on the first. I turn the water on only until a syphon starts then turn it off. If the tank is lower than the sink it will require more pressure.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Have had mine over 20+ years !!!

 

[cycled123]

Hate my python hose. The petco one we bought works so much better. Same faucet, same distance, same tank. The python is junk. Now just use it for QT tanks only

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hate my python hose. The petco one we bought works so much better. Same faucet, same distance, same tank. The python is junk. Now just use it for QT tanks only

Python is the originator of these hose systems followed by Lee products and now 7 others manufacture similar. Python also has many accessories to make use more enjoyable. Have you contacted Python for resolvement?

 

[oldfishman]

I have had one for years. It works fine and if plug with anything it is easy to clear.

 

[Jerry Ebner]

I love mine works great. It's all about water pressure and not letting the drain end clog. No issues here

 

[KJAG]

Hate my python hose. The petco one we bought works so much better. Same faucet, same distance, same tank. The python is junk. Now just use it for QT tanks only

Absolutely hate mine too. May even ceremonially Burn it in my firepit one day. I’ve also tried those Home Depot bucket shop Vac attachments and so far have cracked two buckets, with a tertiary problem of the bucket filling too fast. Currently using a little giant sump pump for WC’s but may just spend the $ on a Genesis Renew auto water change system and use a shop vac for sump detritus.