Habitat - Indoor :: Make your own Python?

[fishandcandy]

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_python.php
Has anyone tried something like this?
I think I will... but I don't know about getting the vacuum attachment. Is that something I could purchase or will I have to make one? I have a gravel vacuum but I don't know how I'd fit it on the hose.

[cam722]

Wow, that was a fantastic find and much less expensive than the real thing

I'd add the vacuum because it sure does help to get the bottom clean, but then it all depends on the size of your tank. It may not matter if it's like 10-20 gallon but when you have 50 and over, it's a back saver..

[jeggy]

i did the same thing but cheaper and more basic.

1) faucet adaptor
2) 10 feet 1/4" clear rubber hose from home depot.

DONE

i skiped the shutoff valve cause if i wanted to stop the water flow i'd just turn it off from the sink! duhh!

[fishandcandy]

i did the same thing but cheaper and more basic.

1) faucet adaptor
2) 10 feet 1/4" clear rubber hose from home depot.

DONE

i skiped the shutoff valve cause if i wanted to stop the water flow i'd just turn it off from the sink! duhh!

Do you drain the tank with this or just fill it? I think the extra parts here are for the draining/cleaning part.

[jeggy]

i do everything with it. drain, fill, partial water change, full water change, clean chunks of turtle doo doo.

i didnt give exact details of how i did my home-built python but if anyone wants i'll post step by step of how i did it. must have costed me $25-30 max.

[staman]

The way a python drains is by using a venturi. The venturi in this case is simply a plastic spiral which creates a vortex of water; which creates the syphon. I wish id known walmart sells those. I bought a replacement from big al's and they raked me over the coals. 16.99. What a joke. I want that fitting made out of brass. How your pumping water out of your tank without a powerhead or a venturi beats me. Sucking on the outtake pipe?

[steve]

Just an FYI... I've heard of people using waterbed fill/drain kits for tank cleaning. Although it doesn't have a gravel cleaner, it should be much cheaper than a Python.

[Spookster]

Just an FYI... I've heard of people using waterbed fill/drain kits for tank cleaning. Although it doesn't have a gravel cleaner, it should be much cheaper than a Python.

Except for the large sucking end of the python the other parts are right from a waterbed kit. When the drain/fill piece that attaches to the sink broke we grabbed the one out of our waterbed kit. It was the exact same thing except it was blue instead of green.