A Cheap DIY "Python" - A Must-Have for Large Tanks

Leopardess

Leopardess

Everything's eventual.
Aug 13, 2003
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New Hampshire Seacoast Area
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It seems as though a lot of people are still lugging buckets on their large tanks - and I know how much that stinks because I used to do it myself. A lot of people buy the Python that is premade, and that is fine, but it is extremely easy to make a similar version yourself. So, here's one way of doing it. I am using attached pictures instead of having them show up in the text because I don't want them cluttering my server :p and so that they'll always be here. Also, I snapped the pics really quick and Dante was pushing the camera around so some are blurry and not that great, I apologize.

Ok, so...You have a faucet. Most faucets have a little metal piece that is at the end where the water comes out and it just screws on. (Picture 1) If you unscrew this, you are left with the threads that are directly on the neck of your faucet. This is where you'd attach an adaptor piece that would allow you to securely attach a hose to the faucet.

These adaptors are very cheap, about $1-$3 at Home Depot. This adaptor is the second picture I've included. You just need to make sure that it fits the threading on your faucet. To do this, remember that little piece you first took off? Just bring it to Home Depot with you and they can find the right size adaptor.

You then screw this onto your faucet. (Third picture)

Then, you attach the hose. I suggest using the clear Food & Beverage hose from Home Depot. 25 ft costs about 6-7$. They also make the reinforced kind that looks like the spray nozzle's hose on a sink. I suggest this for a few reasons; it is cheap, it is sturdy, it is 100% positively fish/human safe, and it is clear (sometimes you suck up things you don't want to!).

Now, to prevent this (sucking up fish or something) from happening, I would take a piece of nylon material and stretch it out over the end of the hose that will go in the tank. Use a small metal clamp to attach it (Picture 4 and 5)

Using 1 more of those same metal clamps, attach the hose to the adaptor on your sink, and secure it. This makes sure that there won't be any spraying leaks and that the hose won't fall off when you're filling the tank. (Picture 6).

So, all told you need:
1 adaptor for your faucet
2 metal ring clamps
hose - as long as you need it to be
piece of nylon

I syphon the water into the bathtub. Then I bring that end right to the faucet and attach it. If you don't have a special end on your faucet, you can leave the adaptor on all the time. (I filter my water using a Pur, so I can't, but it takes 5 seconds to attach.) If you want, you could add a variety of attachments, such as a stop valve so that you can turn the water off at the end of the hose...just like you have for an outside house with a nozzle. You can split the tubes and fill 2 tanks at once...

faucet crop.jpg adaptor crop.jpg adaptor on faucet crop.jpg metal clamp crop.jpg hose wtih cover crop.JPG
 
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Not used to this whole mutliple uploads at a time thing.....it only lets you attach 5 at once...

So! Here is the 6th picture of the hose clamped to the faucet.

EDIT: Oh, just thought I'd add. That Food & Beverage hose is about 3/4" thick - larger than most gravel vac tubes - so the water syphons out a *lot* quicker and you can fill it up quicker:)

set up crop.jpg
 
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You got me thinking about the money I wasted on my python so I wrote this up to vent my frustration.

I shelled out the cash for a 75” python and have been kicking my self ever since. It’s not that the produce doesn’t work; in reality it works great and is a time saving must. The problem was when I final got it in the mail and had a good look at it I realized I could have built the thing myself for 1/3 the cost.

At the heart of the python system is this little unit.

tap.jpg


Water flows down thru a funnel in it causing a strong vacuum on the tee. This lets you change water and clean gravel directly to your sink without the need to siphon water to a position lower then your tanks water level, i.e. a bucket or out the front door. On the bottom of the pump is a twist type valve. When closed the vacuum on the tee stops and water is forced back thru the hose to your tank. I leave the valve open and set the water temperature at the sink. Once the temp is right I close the valve and begin adding chlorine treatments in small increments to the water flow at the tank.

Now I bet some of you with waterbeds recognize this little pump, as there original use is to fill and empty waterbeds. I bought this blue one as a replacement for a broken green one that came with my python. They sold them at the first local furniture, bedding store I went to and had about five in stock. It came with it’s own adapter and can connect to just about any faucet. The tee has standard garden hose type thread.

fittings.jpg
hose.jpg


So now I’m thinking I should have gone to the furniture store in the first place and bought a waterbed pump ($6 CND). Then off to the hardware store to buy 75” of garden hose ($20-25) and to the pet store to buy a cheap gravel vacuum ($10). Then take the stuff home and connect the pump to one end of the garden hose and cut the metal fitting off the other. Remove the hose from the store bought gravel vacuum and then attach the plexiglass tube part to the cut end of the garden hose. If needed I could have added one of those metal, screw type hose clamps ($1) to secure it. If I wanted I could have got fancy and bought some extra fittings, clear food and beverage hose and a valve for the hose. While the clear tubing and valve on the python is nice, I really don’t feel it’s necessary.

That’s $42 CND compared to the $120 I spent on the python.

I have another idea for people who already have a python or similar set up and are sick of wrapping up the hose. I bought a cheap garden hose reel and hooked it up. It sits up on the counter and I only reel out what hose I need. I leave the water on when I reel it back up and it takes 90% of the water out of the hose.

reel.jpg


Take that Python Products. :D
 
And that is fine, bayoupr, if spending the 50-75$ is worth taking 5 seconds to attach a simple metal piece to your faucet - though, as I said, unless you filter your water using an on-faucet attachment, you can keep the adaptor on all the time. All it is is a differently shaped nozzle. I personally don't have the extra cash to buy a 50$ python, and then pay the shipping on it:) Well, actually I do, but I'd be awfully bitter about it, knowing I could do it for 10$ :p

I've also heard a lot of people complaining that some of the plastic pieces on their pythons break, crack or wear - and some don't even fit...which means you'd need an adaptor anyway.

I'm not sure what isn't simple about this though. You take the hose with the clamp on it, and stick it on the faucet :soda:

For me, this works. Just trying to share for those who like DIY things...I'm by no means saying you can't buy the python:)

The only thing different about this is that you don't drain the water into the sink through the attachment. Granted, you could stick that end in the sink and accomplish the same thing. I'd spend too much time cleaning my sink if I drained fish water into it though LOL (I know, I know). So, as I said, I just stick the other end in the tub and drain it there. Then, I grab that end and walk it to the sink.

As for how you adjust the water temp, you just hold the spray nozzle on the sink and feel the water that way. When it is properly temped, let go.

Plan B - Too bad you came up with Plan B after the fact :D Thank you for sharing!!!
 
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I did exactly what plan-b described.


For about $15 you can buy the blue adapter in the picture above (Petsmart), the brass adapter in the other picture above (petsmart), and a common garden hose (Home Depot). The garden hose fits right on the blue adapter. I cut off the other end of the hose and plugged it onto a larger siphon tube. Viola!
 
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Yes, I agree with Plan B. The blue adapter is the heart of the python and they are made by Lee's Aquarium Products cat#11580 which I have purchased one as a spare(mine was 7.99 at my LFS) this is the same as a python. To me yes this is a cheaper way to go and its still easier than having to attach my hose to a faucet using a hose clamp and screwdriver. And why did I buy a spare, because all things will eventually fail.
 
I dont use a screwdriver, you can tighten it sufficiently just by turning it with your fingers:) I assume you have take the time to put that blue part on yoru faucet...

But I give up:) This thread wasn't supposed to be debating the merits of pythons. It's for those people who are so inclined to save some money and who like projects.
 
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Not debating. But I see hose clamps which mean screwdriver. As for the blue thing yes I attach it to my faucet by hand. Are you attaching the hose clamp by hand to the tubing on the faucet? (By the way, Debate is great, That's what makes this GREAT Country of ours).
 
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