Whats this syphon thing.

[DarknessMe]

Why do people get a mouth full of water??


wouldn't it be easier to just dip all the syphon in your tank, hold the end with your thumb, let go thumb when over bucket?

Is there something im missing?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I don't use that kind of syphon

Although, I think the point is to take it out of your mouth just in time

I use the shakey up and down kind, but it's a gravel cleaner that I use to syphon as well.

 

[mike45]

I dont know the answer to the mouth full of water thing, but usually I get someone to help me siphon. I made the mistake of letting my 5 year old brother help me, and towards the end he got bored of holding the end over the bucket, so he sprayed it all over me and my carpet.... But I dont know, hey maybe some people siphon with there mouths..?

 

[MadCow]

Python water changer, I love you man!!

 

[cutechic]

I don't like to get the entire siphon wet because then it drips everywhere, even when I put a towel down. It's easier just to suck on the end of it, and take it out of my mouth as soon as the water gets above the top of the tank (and starts descending into the bucket).

 

[modernhamlet]

I hear the Pythons are great and I'll probably get one when I have a larger tank to take care of. But for now I just mouth syphon. Quick, effective, and I comprehend the laws of physics, so I don't get tank water in my mouth...

 

[sinistral]

I hear the Pythons are great

Pythons are terrific. Sometimes I feel a pang of guilt about all the good water going after bad down the drain though...but not enough to make me go back to gravel siphon and lugging 5 gallon buckets around.

I never mouth siphoned when I was using the regular gravel siphon, always did what DarknessMe suggested and didn't have a problem. Once I tried the push siphon up and down to get the flow started. I think I wasn't coordinated enough to get it going, and anyways after a while my fish were really freaked out by the waves I was making!

 

[plecoperson]

I use a syphon/gravel cleaner when I do my tank and I heard the one about putting the whole thing in - its the easiest, most hygienic method for starting them! but i just shake the thing really vigourously in the water - then I worry about knocking out one of the stupid neons becuase they never seem to got out of the way.

 

[freshwatergal]

What you could do instead of sucking on the end is put the gravel cleaner part in the water, fill it up, take it out then hold it up (kinda like a beer bong), get ready to hold your finger over the end that goes in the bucket...once the water gets to that end, put the gravel cleaner part back in the water and fill it up. Put the other end in the bucket and go to town.

 

[tmlhaus]

I'm happy to say I have never put my mouth on the end of those
I just put both ends in and fill 'er up with the water and then the suction begins...
I bought one of the pythons for my 55 gallon that I just bought, but it won't fit on my kitchen sink!!! The hardware store couldn't help me out either. The good news about those is when I called the company they told me to send in my piece from the kitchen sink and they would send me an adapter that fits for FREE
Anyway, I don't know why anyone would want to use their mouth for it. JMO

 

[ChriX]

I use the shakey type of gravel cleaner too, but don't use it as a gravel cleaner, just as a syphon.

 

[pete28]

hey the easiest way (other than a python) that i have found is to just put the syphon in at an angle then completely submerge it after that take the tank end out and hold it strait up in the air when the water reaches the emptying end quickly submerge the tank end and the syphon should start asap. no nasty tank water.

 

[noelberg]

For me the mouth-started suction is kind of like some ancient tribal test of skill Seriously it's kind of fun to play the "i hope i get enough suction without swalling some water" game.

 

[tsr770]

I agree... I always use the suck on it to get it goin method, a little tank water isnt that bad anyway.... Try dripping water from the underside of a road slush covered semi truck, now thats bad stuff. That and a saltwater tank, nothing much nastier than 80 degree fishy salt water!

 

[petitericeball]

i forgot who said it but i found out like a month ago the same thing.. you fill it up with water then put the other eng in the bucket and when the water in the lil rigid tubing thing is almost empty you fill it up again and it should start it.. i have one of the up down thingys 2 but it sitll works