Equipment Review and Discussion :: Python or Aquavac

[heather822]

Hey everyone.I have been thinking about investing in one of those siphon things that attach to the sink for cleaning as I'm getting sick of going back and forth with a bucket and getting turtle water in my mouth from starting the gravel vac so I'm just wondering who has these and if you think the Python system is better or whether anyone has owned the Marina Aquavac system.

[jenaero]

I haven't seen the Aquavac, but I'm really happy with my Python. I've had mine for 5 years. I've had to buy a few replacement parts recently but the cost has been minimal.

[TurtleKeeper48]

I have the Python. I've bought a bunch of stuff for turtles in the last several months, and the Python is one product that I've had absolutely no problems or concerns with. It works great and saves me a ton of work.

I too was sick of buckets, and going to a bigger tank...

but I have to say - even when using strait peice of hose (no pump bulb) to syphen the tank, I've never ever started the syphen with my mouth. Yuck.

[mikee]

Heath-22 Don't put the syphon hose in your mouth. You can start it without putting in your mouth. There a lot of germs with all that poo. It can make you sick. Gosh!!!

[Fergy_123]

I just recently got a Python, and it's awesome.

Biggest concern though would be that a wastes a TON of water. I live in an apartment and don't pay for the water so I'm not too worried about it from the money side, but it could add up for a home owner.

I've read that many people choose to use the hose as a regular syphon when emptying water, it's long enough you can suck on it to start a syphon and not get a mouthful. Then they just use it to water plants etc. Tank just needs to be higher than your bathtub/sink/yard wherever you're emptying. Less power may be a bit of a problem with this method, never tried it.

And for filling water, just hook it up to the tap, set your temp, and then run it straight into your tank. It's awesome, easy and a huge time saver.

If you're handy with plumbing at all I'm sure you could construct your own as well, for quite a bit cheaper.

[SpenceMasta]

forget a python or aquavac, i paid 5 dollars for several feet of regular tubing, and i dont know why people have to suck on things to start the suction, just fill the tube with water and cap one end off with your hand, stick that end in the water, release and the water will start flowing out the other

[jenaero]

Fergy, I remember reading something in the packaging of the python that it wastes no more water than one flush of a toilet. I don't pay the water bill where i am now, but when I did, I didn't notice a difference in the bill.

[Fergy_123]

Fergy, I remember reading something in the packaging of the python that it wastes no more water than one flush of a toilet. I don't pay the water bill where i am now, but when I did, I didn't notice a difference in the bill.

Hm I never read the packaging, just the directions. That's pretty good if true though... Just seems like it could waste quite a bit if you were doing a 50% change on 50gallons or more. I have to keep the tap running while I empty since my tank is lower than my nearest sink, or else I lose the suction.

But I guess it wouldn't be too much more water use than a shower or a bath, and if you've only got a one or two tanks to look after even large ones wouldn't add up that much.

Guess I over-exaggerated a bit in my first post.