Used to clean and fill your tank by attaching to an existing water faucet.
Product Specifications:
These siphons can be purchased with different lengths in both the siphon tube and in the hose. Siphon tubes come in sizes ranging from 20 inches to 72 inches. Hoses come in sizes from 25 feet to 100 feet.
My first change with this had me mad. One fitting busted and water was everywhere (what a nightmare that was). Bought some metal clamps that fixed that. Second time, another connection failed, water everywhere. Also, getting the water out of the tube at the end can be tricky until you figure it out. You'll need to go back to suction while rolling up the tubing then its easy.
So after several water changes I've gotten used to the python and it's the easiest way to change the water. If you don't have this product you are doing it wrong.
Polarbear69 has used this product for 3 Years or More.
I would only reccomend this product if your tank is within 25 feet of your faucett and on the same floor. Will not work if your tank is downstairs and sink is upstairs. You will be able to fill but not drain, and if the length is more than 25 feet and you have to go up/down stairs..forget it. NO suction and won't drain properly.
I love my Python. Ever since I purchased it, cleaning my tanks have been 100x easier. The only problem I see was with the rinky cheapo plastic piece that threads into your sink. You can purchase the brass version of that piece and it helps greatly, no more stripping!
yashua201 has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 8.25/10
January 30, 2009
"Better than a bucket..."
This product is better than a 5 gallon bucket, especially if you have more than one tank. I have 350 gallons of water between the 6 tanks that I have set up. It makes the changes easier for sure, but the same downside that almost everyone who owns one will agree on is the cheap plastic faucet connectors. After breaking mine while hand tightening it (easier to do than you think), the solution that I found was the adapter for a water bed fill kit. These can be a little difficult to find, but call around to local hardware stores. The piece is identical in design, but the quality is MUCH better than the Python OEM.
Works really really really good! When siphoning it works faster for me to hook it up to the hose as the water pressure is more intense from the spigot outside. Only problems I have ever had with it is when I used it to vacuum out sand (on purpose). If I vacummed too much the connection to the spigot would get a lil clogged. If you do it slow enough though it smooth sailing when trying to cut down the depth of your sand bed.
I use one of these and i love them, but there is only one problem, the little pieces keep breaking. The connector and the thing that controls suck and blow
Leaky, cheap plastic parts and a high price tap offset a good idea. while trying to tighten the pump and fill valve hand tightening caused it to snap. they sent me a new one, but same problem. good thing it is attatched to a laundry tub with a basement drain 3 feet away. piece of garbage. if you can find a different company, buy that product instead.
When I first heard about this in the UK - my first though was... what's the catch? Why don't I see these in every shop in town?
After plugging it in then sitting down with a beer, getting up to flick the switch to "fill" and sitting back down again, a normally tedious and wet water change was done in no time!!
I can't believe I didn't buy one before!
Cost was approx £40 in the UK, ok not the cheapest for actually what's it's made up of but it's the end result that counts and that makes it tbe best £40 I ever spent!
This tool is a must for all aquarist. All you do is hook it up to the focet and let the vaccum do the rest. It makes water changes a breeze.
ALthough the suction is a little low, it's still a great product and I highly reccomend it.
partsrep has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 9.25/10
January 28, 2008
"An aquarist must have!"
The Python is a must have maintainance tool for any serious aquarist. I found if you want to save some water you can get the siphon started with the faucet, then turn the faucet off and it keeps on draining. It takes a little longer, but saves a lot of water. The downside is the parts wear out and it can spray wildly around the sink when worn. I've wrapped a rag around it and at the faucet and that keeps things from becoming a mess.
i really did love this product for a while and it worked great, but after a while the plastic on metal(who ever came up with that one?) fittings wore out and it would become a major disaster every time it would randomly fly off the faucet spraying my entire kitchen(the faucet pressure isnt even that high). luckily you can buy replacement fittings which I've had to do. the other thing is that it can be a little inconvienient to find out what type of fittings you can even use beacause many times you need to buy an adapter for your faucet whihc is around 10 dollars
"I guess great things come with large price tags!"
this is an absoulute must for every aquarasist, although expensive it is THE MOST usefull thing on the market for cleaning...it also does waist quite a bit of water, but nontheless it is AWSOME.
Been using Python for 19-20 years now & I wouldn't be w/o one.
I would caution anyone to buy it with all of the adapators that you MIGHT need & understand that wear & tear on some of the joints will occur & they can be replaced over time.
I'd also caution anyone with one to watch the faucet connection as over time it will leak & spray all over the place.
I can remember the days prior to the PYTHON. Buckets,lifting,pouring. A labor intensive nightmare. Now I simply "snap" the connector to the faucet(using the brass snap fitting sold separately)turn on the water, and clean my gravel. To fill; just adjust the temp and switch the directional flow over and fill. A child could do it. If you cannot use this you are an egg-head. Maybe the bucket method is more to your intellectual capacity. LABOR SAVER INNOVATIVE EFFECTIVE BUY ONE OR USE A BUCKET YOUR CHOICE!!!!
I don't know what I would do without a Python. I use buckets to change the water in my tank in the past, and it took forever. Since I got a Python, water changes are a breeze with no heavy lifting. A must have for all fishkeepers.
I decided to go for Python brand for quality, but instead I get a package missing the tap adapter.
So I had to go to Home Depot and spend six bucks on one. The threads in that didn't exactly line up so then the threads were stripped and water squirts out from the tap.
Then, the green plastic thing broke in half so now I can't suck water out of the tank anymore.
I have a 65 gal. tank in our living room. Had been using a siphon vaccuum into a bucket...back and forth. Then back and forth again to refill. No more.
I did two things to improve useability for me: I cut the 50-ft. length down by about 12 ft. which improved the suction and got rid of excess length. Second, I am a homebrewer and frequently use hose attachments for the kitchen faucet. For this purpose, I already have a portable dishwasher-style aerator attachment on the faucet. It allows me to quickly attach hoses to the faucet with "quick-disconnects". These adapters use the same garden-hose threads used by the Python pump. I simply screwed one of these onto the pump. Now when I need to do a water change, all I do is snap it on and turn on the water.
i recently purchased this product a few days ago. having also a 160 gallon tank i needed something simple to make easy water changes. this product is a godsend. works very well as advertised. also the very flexible soft tubing is perfect for siphoning manuverability. the only thing i would change is an increase in flow rate. other than that it is almost perfect.
You absolutely need one of these or an equivalent for a large tank.
Connect to an indoor or outdoor faucet. Turn on. Fill your tank. You will have to add water conditioner to the tank first, with the dosage based on total tank capacity, not the amount of water added.
To change water, turn a switch, turn on the faucet to get a siphon suction going. When the siphon is going, you can turn the faucet off so you don't waste any more water. At that point, I disconnect the faucet connection and let the water drain in the front yard.
Water changes could not be easier without actually having a faucet and drain hooked up to the tank!
I love my Python, but I am consistently having constant problems with the faucet connection coming apart, and have had it come apart at another connection as well. Cheap plastic fittings where brass or at least better plastic would be better.
"Expensive....but makes water changes alot easier"
very expensive for plastic tubing, for water changes and new tank setups it is great!! The only thing I do not like about the python is it is not powerful enough to get any waste at the bottom, I still use a cheap gravel washer for that.
eklikewhoa has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 10/10
November 27, 2006
"No fish hobbyist should be without one!"
when it comes time for water changes theres nothing that helps like the python! 352.5gallons between 6 tanks all done in about an hour with the python hooked up to the garden hose!
It is easy to fill and drain your water. However, it does not have enough power to remove dirty stuffs.
I would use regular siphon to clean my gravels and fill water back with the bucket. That way you save water conditioner also. If you fill water directly to the tank from the faucet, you have to add water conditioner for the whole volume of the tank.
Left Coast DJ has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 8.75/10
September 15, 2006
"Indispensable for larger tanks!"
Great product - especially for large tanks. No more bucket brigade!
One caveat: When siphoning, it tends to waste tap water. So this might not be ideal for desert communities where water usage is at a premium. However, you can always use this to siphon without attaching to a faucet, and then attach to a faucet to fill tank.
tuccis8 has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 10/10
August 13, 2006
"The Best!"
This is like a dream come true. Since I have been using this I water change more often and my tanks and fish look 100% better. Well worth the money.
Guinnessman has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 8.25/10
August 11, 2006
"Great to use, but expensive."
This is an awesome tool, but little pricey for what it is. Let's face it, it's a pile of plastic. I've got a great deal on it. So, if you're looking for one wait for a good sale and make the investment, as it is well worth it. There is a downside though. It's hard to mix water conditioner while filling the tank.
I am a newbie with fish tanks, but growing up my dad had numerous tanks and I remember what a pain it was when he changed water. Well I did my first water change and I must say the Python made it a simple as possible. One thing that I noticed is a minor leak but I think I may just need to tighten it a little. I would highly recommend this product to anyone.
I have no idea why the guy at the fish store didn't tell me about this thing when I got my first tank. Its amazing, and makes tank cleaning sooo much easier.
CrazyFishGuy has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 9.75/10
May 17, 2006
"What can I say?"
Except its one thing I wont ever do without. No bucket worries, and easy fill up. As simple as that :)
Literally cut my 25% water change in my 55 gallon to 15-20 minutes! Got mine at Petsmart where its $40 but used their online ad and got it for 24 bucks for a 25 footer!!! Absolutely love it!
Davolous has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 9/10
May 11, 2006
"When it comes to keeping fish I would say a Python is about as important to have as a fish tank!"
When it comes to keeping fish I would say a Python is about as important to have as a fish tank! At least for tanks in carpeted rooms.
I've been using mine since 1996, I have had to replace a few fittings and add a extension, but it's still cleaning all 10 of the tanks I keep upstairs.
I have a drain in the middle of my up and coming fish room downstairs, so I think I will only be using my spare Python to fill tanks in the fish room. Only because they wastes a lot of water to clean with.
scubadude has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 7.75/10
March 5, 2006
"couldn't keep fish without it"
got 4 tanks and use filtered well water so cleaning and filling is all thru the python takes about an hour and a half to do all my tanks
immortal has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 10/10
February 28, 2006
"Must have"
This is a must have for any aquarium. Changes water in a flash without buckets. I have had mine for 7 years and have not had any problems with it. Its a must buy!
kinda expensive; not fully effective if the tap water's temperature is not desired; have to roll the pipe after use; other than that, can't think of anything bad about it.
"Great product, makes water changes an "enjoyable" task"
I love mine, it really makes cleaning the tank a breeze, I would however like to use less water, but for the ease I am willing to let the water it uses to syphon slide. Great Product
fishgeekva1 has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 9.25/10
July 24, 2005
"Great!"
No more hauling buckets around, gets water changes done fast. The only disadvantage is that it does waste some water.
I see no reason in giving this thing anything less than a 10!!!
It's a little costly...considering what tubing costs...but, its the design your payin' for here! It is easy to use...nbo need for anything else...literaly emptied tank and refilled in 10 minutes...I can't see doing it any other way...Im a newbie...but it doesnt take long to recogzize a genuis product!!! Get one!
It doesn't have enough power to clean my gravel but it's great for removing and adding water. I use a regular siphon to clean my gravel...one bucket full
I love this thing... it keeps my floor from getting wet and it does a great job for filling and draining the tank. With a large tank it takes a lot of the burden out of water changes and gravel vaccuming. I only wish all the parts were a little more sturdy... if they had used brass for all of the hardware that would have been nice.
Just got mine about 2weeks ago and I just love it. Got it from Big Al's and it was only $28 with shipping. I will never get rid of mine, just love it. Who ever buys one will love it too.
Just bought my Python for my 75g...best thing ever for water changes. The suction is usuable though not great (due to where my sink is in regards to the tank). I used the PetsMart pricematch and bought it for $25 (their in store price was $40...online $25) Just had to remove the aerator from my kitchen faucet (one of the extendable arm faucets...pulls out from the sink) and hook up the Python. Mine also came with the upgraded Brass fitting. Now water changes are easy once the kids go to sleep...an incredible product
NO MORE DUMPING BUCKETS!!!!! I wish I bought this a long time ago!!! If you're dumping buckets, do yourself a favor and go buy this! Cuts the time in half. Very easy to use.
EdgarFanCLS has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 9.75/10
December 1, 2004
"Couldn't imagine a water change on my 75 without it!"
My python purchase was one of the best investments I have made. Doing water changes is as easy as turning on the faucet, and sitting on the couch, while your tank drains and refills. I couldn't imagine lugging huge buckets of water back and forth between my 75G and the sink, not to mention the water I'd probably spill on the floor int he process. If you've got a larger tank, then get yourself a python. Trust me it'll save you a lot of time and effort doing water changes!
I bought my python brand new for $21.99 and it came with the brass fitting. Great product and even better since I paid so little! Water changes will never be the same.
This is the best investment I have purchased for my hobby. My wife loves it too, because there is no more water on the floor or buckets laying around. Yes, the cost can be high but that is due to the dealers. Go straight to the sorce and save cash.
We just got our Python in the mail today and tried it out. It works like a charm. It's easy and fun (weird but true)!!! It was the best $30 I ever spent. A LOT better than a bucket and a million trips back and forth. Try it ... you won't be disappointed!
I got a great deal for a 50 footer off of Petsolutions and this thing has saved me so much time, and aches in the back from tugging the bucket back and forth.
i purchased mine from petsmart. I got the 25' python for 25 bucks. all you have to do is go petsmart.com and get the online price and go to petsmart and they will most likely match the price. i get mose of my stuff this way. It's like have a 30-40% sale all the time. great invention that saved my back! highly recommended!
Xtreme Cichlid has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 5.75/10
December 29, 2003
"Save your $$$... make your own 'Python'"
If it wasn't for the fact that it costs so much I would have most definitely bought one. I do ,however,have a hard time spending $80.00 (CDN) on something that I can build myself in 20 minutes for $25.00 (CDN) Sorry Python, but I'd rather spend the other $55.00 on fish !
specialname76 has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 7.75/10
December 27, 2003
"very good"
defintaly get the brass fitting my plastic one striped out, and my water pump cracked you should have an extra lying around incase.
misterted has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
December 8, 2003
"None better"
Doesn't everybody have one? It works well and makes it much easier to do water changes and set up new tanks. Definitely get the brass fitting for the sink though. Also, you do need to have reasonable water pressure for this to work properly.
I did buy the brass adapter to hook it to the faucet, bcuz the plastic one that comes with the siphon is cheap.
westwood8183 has used this product for 1-3 Months.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
September 25, 2003
"Best invention ever!"
I absolutely love my python. No more buckets for me! I did return mine a couple weeks after I got it because there was a small crack in the valve part, but walmart exchanged it for a new one. Best thing is, the new one has the brass fitting which attaches to the sink instead of the cheap plastic one. Hopefully they will be doing this on all their newly made pythons.
well, it doesn't work too well for me. i guess i don't have enough water pressure, but i get much less suction from it than a regular siphon. back to the old buckets meathod for me
The system design and idea is great. I no longer have to fill and dump a 5 gallon bucket. My change time has been reduced by half, while increasing the amount of water I change regularly.
But the material has proven to be of not so superior quality. In six months, I have already replaced one hose connector and a siphon/pump due to cracking. I replaced the siphon/pump with Blue Magic's waterbed siphon/pump found at Walmart. Although Blue Magic also manufactures the Python siphon, the blue waterbed version seems to be of slightly better design as the attachment to the faucet seems a bit more reinforced.
Coupled with this material/design problem, the high cost for the whole system will possibly be a deterant to many budget minded and beginning aquarists. Look around online for a better deal on the price.
FeelingFishy has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 10/10
"GREAT!!!"
Could not live without this......... So glad I bought one!:-)
Joefish has used this product for 3 Years or More.
Overall Rating: 9/10
"Nothing but the best"
I have allways use'd this method for changeing water and i have to say python is the way to go, i see alot people upset about the plastic fitting for the sink, but python does make a brass fitting so no more cross thredded adapters, so for a few extra bucks get the brass fitting.....
No doubt, this system is a time saver and works as well as it should. In fact, it works so well that people are willing to ignore the shoddy quality of the plastic attachment. It leaks under pressure, tends to come loose all the time, and the soft plastic threads ruin over time.
Take the idea and build your own better quality one for less money. You can find instructions on how to do it easily.
I've probably saved 6+ hours every month since I bought this thing. Doing water changes on a 125 gallon and a overstocked 55 gallon, would take FOREVER with out this thing. I can change 20 gallons in about 15 minutes now!
Morley Dotes has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 9.25/10
"Saves me a lot of time!"
I love my python! I have a 125 and it saves me a ton of time. I bought a long tube and now my substrate (esp. crushed coral) doesn't get sucked up. It's almost perfect! How did I live without it???? A must, especially if you have a larger tank.
Man.. I could not live without this thing.. I can't even remember what I did before it... I would not ever have a tank without one of these... easy as pie to use .. a bit expensive .. but you will know what you spent your money on once you use it...
This is the best maintenance item ever created. As far as the comment that someone made up about about the plastic piece that connects to the faucet, I agree, but let it be known that Python does make a brass attachment to replace the plastic one. It sells for under $3.
love it! after cleaning 125 gal the old way,I found this to be very nice and clean way of doing water changes and siphoning the bottom of the tank. a bit high in price at $29.95 but worth it.
Ratings are submitted by Cichlid-Forum users based upon their own subjective views and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Cichlid-Forum.com. CF disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in reviews submitted by users, or for any damage or liability arising from the content of any review appearing on Cichlid-Forum.com. All product information on this site, including descriptions and specifications, is based soley on information made available by manufacturers. CF disclaims any responsibility for this information or the products listed. Product information may be inaccurate and is subject to change without notice. You should confirm all information before relying on it by contacting either the manufacturer or vendor with any questions about the products or the information presented.
Used to clean and fill your tank by attaching to an existing water faucet.
