Stupid Python!

[J-P]

I have a 50' puthon vacuume. For filling the tank it is no problem, for draining the tank it is very slow and for vacuuming the that it is almost useless. It keeps getting cloged and the water flow is almost non-existant. There just isn't enough pressure to suck up the debris.
I have a feeling the problem is 3 fold:
1) It keeps getting cloged with stuff it does puck up
2) there is not enough "head" to have the water push the debris through the pipe.
3) the hose is too long for the application (only abt 36' to the furthest end of the tank)

Any recommendations?

Thanks
J-P

[L!$A]

Hey J-P, the length shouldn't have anything to do with it, unless it is kinked anywhere during your cleaning process, otherwise it shouldn't cause any problems, how is your water pressure?? That could be a factor, our python get's clogged sometimes too, you can feel the gravel bits inside the valve when you release the pressure, we usually clean the valve out and there is always something inside.. ours came with a fish guard but we never used it, maybe that could possibly help to prevent it getting clogged if that's the issue?

[J-P]

L!$A,
Thank you! I check the valve asap. The water pressure is good at 70psi. I was just draining some of the top tank and it was just coming out in dribbles, then I moved the hose to the lower tank, removed the airbubbles, reversed the flow and got nothing, zero, nada. I'm wondering if it is because the vacuume is lower in height than the drain sink.

[Pufferpunk]

Do you have somewhere lower you can drain to with gravity? I drain into my basement sink with a 100' hose. Maybe outside?

[J-P]

just checked the check valve and it was clear.

PP, no the tank is in the basement already, even if it went outside the vacuum head would be at the same level as the outlet.

I do have a submersible pump that I can sink in there (used it to drain my pool) but that doesn't help with a gravel vacuum.

Maybe later, I won't need it because of the plants but it would be nice to know how to get around this problem.

[RTR]

Actually, the length does matter: the longer the hose, the slower the flow at the same head. There is more frictional resistance with more length. For better flow I use a 25' in the tank room (small, the sink and tap are in there) and a 70' for the rest of the house - big difference in flow rate - whether filling or vacuuming.

Clogging is an independent function, and the flow control valve is the clutch point. I curse it routinely and soundly. It is also why I spent years clearing most of my tanks of Java Moss. Dead leaves or Java Moss are involved in probably >95% of my clogs.

But there may be another factor - is the faucet flow-restricted? I cannot use the Python on any of the newer hardware in the house - it is all flow-restricted. The suction is pathetic, the flow better but still slow. The changeover to all faucets being flow-restricted came sometime in the last 20+ years. Our original faucets were not so restricted. Now even the kitchen faucet is low-flow. By tests, I can only get useful work out of the oldest faucets in the house (~23 years old now - they will never be replaced in my lifetime). I don't know if Canada hassimilar regulations.

[J-P]

The faucet make sence .. we are using a standard laundry tub w. an unregulated fauct. If the previous owners installed a flow control it would be between the water conditioner and the pump (we're on well water). The problem is that with the faucet at WOT (Wide Open Trottle (car term)) I have no way of knowing if the tank is actually draining for at least 20-30 mins...

I think I might get some garden hoses and go through the drop celing. With a couple quick attach or a switch + my water pump, it might be the easiest route. I'll have a couple hoses dangling from the ceiling but might be able to conseal them.

Todays water change I had to reverse the python for taking the water out, and set it back to put water in. Not fun and lots of cursing! and it took well over an hour!

OR .. a wet / dry shop vac?

[Dadof4]

I have to agree with everything said. You can make your own gravel vacuum with a length of 3/4 inch vinyl tubing, schedule 40 PVC 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch fitting, and a length of 1 1/4 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe. The larger bore vinyl tubing is going to give you a faster flow rate and a higher vacuum. You can use a pump to supplement the uphill section of the tubing.

[J-P]

I have to agree with everything said. You can make your own gravel vacuum with a length of 3/4 inch vinyl tubing, schedule 40 PVC 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch fitting, and a length of 1 1/4 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe. The larger bore vinyl tubing is going to give you a faster flow rate and a higher vacuum. You can use a pump to supplement the uphill section of the tubing.

-3' head .. that eliminates gravity flow. Would need to get pressure enough to rise 3' into the sink.

[darb]

personally I use a Rio 800, saves a lot of headaches for $30

[OCgatergal]

a drain in the floor in the basement I've seen some house's basement with that to prevent flooding i think...

[RTR]

Some of us cannot have floor drains - radon area, and pre-construction tests were positive, so no floor drains and dissipation pipes under the house to atmosphere. No positive indoor tests in the house.

Floor drains were wonderful. I miss them.

[OCgatergal]

My python's valve broke so I can't connect it to the sink but I lead mine outside when cleaning but when it work, it went down 3' from aquarium to floor and then up 3' to sink.

[J-P]

Yea ... maybe it will work in the bath tub ..
If the intake and the head are the same level it usually works. Mine is below the outlet ...

[Myaj]

Do you have any floor drains? Just start your siphon and drain right into the floor drain. You should get some dang good suction that way, just be sure you don't suck up any fish because there will be no saving them like you'd get in a sink!

I am never happy with the suction from the faucet adaptor, and don't like wasting all that water, so in summer I drain out into the yard and in winter I drain into the sink drain at this place (no basement). That's all the suction I need. I've never had a problem with losing the siphon during the climb back up into the sink, as long as the tank is higher than the sink drain of course. Sometimes I stuff the end of the hose right down the drain, both to get those extra couple of inches for more "power" and to stop the hose from flipping out of the sink.

I also get sneaky and prop the hose up on doorknobs, chair backs, etc, so it never fully drops all the way to the ground if I can

And I do have to ask.. what the heck are you suctioning up that is clogging your siphon so bad??? If there's that much gunk laying around, take a net and scoop it out first, and figure out where its coming from. Even in my heavily planted tanks I don't plug up my Python.