The Puffer Forum

Actually I pulled apart the Python and it wasn't plugged. Sometimes I can see some soft debris in there but the flow is so weak it isn't flushing it out.

I do have a floor drain and I might give that a try... first I'm got to go to town with my wife's new vacuum. It has an adapter on it that I can connect to the Python and let the vac drain directly into the sink!

haha evil thoughts now

ok .. the vacume didn't work. Without the case it can't create the negative pressure to draw water

Now I'm going to try and tackel that floor drain.

the floor drain sort of worked. I got the tank to drain a bit so I could add more hot water but the pressure wasn't there to pick any debris (even the light stuff).

so now I have I have to try to narrow the mouth on the python so that I can get more pressure.

You should not be having these problems. Make sure everything is tight and no air is getting in anywhere, and double check that nothing is plugged (including the ball valves).

Might have misread somewhere but have you tried connecting one end to a tap and forcing out anything trapped in the tubing with water pressure?

I'm always amazed what falls of of external power filter hoses even when you think they are working ok

For me, when the Python clogs, it is almost invariably from debris at the valve which converts from suction to filling. That restriction point is easily clogged by plant debris in any quantity. I have more rarely had clogs at the in-line valve near the tank intake/fill end, but that one can easily be cleared as you suggest, by reversing the flow.

yea did that ... actuall I took off the ball valve completely so it work like a regular syphon.

I am going to try Myaj's suggestion and set up some chairs so that the hose isn't laying on the floor. That way it should remain horozontal at the level of the lip of the tank until it reaches the floor drain.

I am also going to see if I can get a rubber baby pacifier, wrap it around the mouth of the intake and cut it out so that there will be a slight bottle neck providing more pressure to suck up debris