1-2-3 easy aquarium siphon instructions - video

HI everyone..
we have come across this question so many times. How do I get my siphon to work? Some suck up fish water.. others plunge it up and down in the water creating all kinds of waves that disturb the tank and stress the fish.
Others just would like to know how it get it to work! So I asked my daughter while she was still here to demonstrate while I took a video of it. She had not done it before and with the simple instructions you can see how really easy it can be.
This is why I did the video, in hopes that it will help anyone that is interested in doing it another way than sucking up dirty tank water .
I demonstrated in a 10 gallon betta tank with the small siphon. If you use the larger size siphon as I have for the 55 gallon tank, the only difference is letting up on your finger hold enough to let the water fill the hose before releasing the water. You will see what I mean when you check out the vid..
~ kate

 

That was excellent! Thanks so much I do my larger one the same way except it is attached to a garden hose that drains outside.
Carol

 

Thanks Butterfly... ;D
I don't think that I am the only one that has come across these questions on getting the siphon to work on numerous occasions. Any thoughts to "sticky" this in the care and maintenance section where this thread is located for any future references? It will get lost .... as posts goes by and thought it may be helpful for anyone new that comes along.. Just a suggestion... what do you think?

~ kate

 

Kate that was a very well laid out example of a great presentation and great learning manual.

Fishlore definitely benefits from having people like you and your daughter on here.

 

Thank you CWC! ;D I have learned so much since joining this forum and always glad to be able to share any input on something that I may know about. At one point I was ready to throw out the sipon because I just couldnt get it to work. lol.. So I sure can understand any frustration when it comes to trying to get them to work. Hope that I have helped someone and saved them the frustration I had at learning how to do it.
Everyday I learn something new... as I try to be a better fish keeper. ;D

~ kate

 

Haha! Great video and thanks for posting it. Folks don't have to drink fish water anymore.

Stickied

 

Haha! Great video and thanks for posting it. Folks don't have to drink fish water anymore.

Stickied

thanks for the sticky Mike.. glad to help.. and hope that the video does too!


~ kate

 

Uh! I am so upset that I have been using that up-down-up-down method. This is so great! Man, I wish it was time to do a water change. Thanks for tip.

 

Uh! I am so upset that I have been using that up-down-up-down method. This is so great! Man, I wish it was time to do a water change. Thanks for tip.

Your welcome!

I know what you mean.. its like a tidal wave going on in the tank... and your fish are wondering what the heck your doing! lol... I used to do that too.

 

Thanks a lot for the video. I just wish that there was an easier way for me. I can't use the one that hooks up to your sink so I have to put the water in a bucket have my husband haul it outside and dump it.Then put fresh water in the bucket then have good ole hubby put it in the tank.If there is an easier way please let me know.I'm sure my husband would appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

Thanks a lot for the video. I just wish that there was an easier way for me. I can't use the one that hooks up to your sink so I have to put the water in a bucket have my husband haul it outside and dump it.Then put fresh water in the bucket then have good ole hubby put it in the tank.If there is an easier way please let me know.I'm sure my husband would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Hello T Fishie
I know just what you mean! I do the vacuuming and cleaning and filling of the tanks, and my husband hauls the 5 gal buckets for me. I don't know an easier way other than using the python... which I hear are great!

 

I don't understand why anyone would be sucking up water to start their syphon with that tool, you guys do know you just bob it up in down in your tank and it creates a syphon right? The instructions are on the package it's sold in :|

I mean the trick is cool for a regular tube or something, but that's a pump syphon you're demonstrating with and can easily be started without sucking on it.

 

Thanks a lot for the video. I just wish that there was an easier way for me. I can't use the one that hooks up to your sink so I have to put the water in a bucket have my husband haul it outside and dump it.Then put fresh water in the bucket then have good ole hubby put it in the tank.If there is an easier way please let me know.I'm sure my husband would appreciate it.

Thanks!

My siphon is just like the one in the video except I have a water hose connected to the end the water comes out of so the water goes outside into my flower beds. Then you can use buckets to fill back up with or do as I do and reverse the hose and connect it to my kitchen faucet, adjust the temp and then run water back into the tank. of course adding dechlor as you start the water into the tank
Carol

 

I don't understand why anyone would be sucking up water to start their syphon with that tool, you guys do know you just bob it up in down in your tank and it creates a syphon right? The instructions are on the package it's sold in :|

I mean the trick is cool for a regular tube or something, but that's a pump syphon you're demonstrating with and can easily be started without sucking on it.

By the method described that comes with the vacuum you would be causing all kinds of tidal waves in your tank. Bobbing it up and down causes waves that really disrupt the tank and fish. I along with a lot of folks prefer a much gentler way to do it. As is described in the video.

 

By the method described that comes with the vacuum you would be causing all kinds of tidal waves in your tank. Bobbing it up and down causes waves that really disrupt the tank and fish. I along with a lot of folks prefer a much gentler way to do it. As is described in the video.

I agree. When I had my betta in the 5 gallon hex, that up down motion knocked her around, so I started taking her out for cleanings, both were stressful for her.

 

By the method described that comes with the vacuum you would be causing all kinds of tidal waves in your tank. Bobbing it up and down causes waves that really disrupt the tank and fish. I along with a lot of folks prefer a much gentler way to do it. As is described in the video.

aha that makes sense.

 

This really is a great idea... But.. Where do I get one of these syphons? I'm looking on the p-smart website and all I see are vacuums... Am I just ****?

 

This really is a great idea... But.. Where do I get one of these syphons? I'm looking on the p-smart website and all I see are vacuums... Am I just ****?

below is the link at petsmart for the siphon/vacuum that is used in the video.
It comes in different sizes. The smallest works well on 10 gallon tanks, and the larger size is better for all tanks over 10g

 

That was excellent! Thanks so much I do my larger one the same way except it is attached to a garden hose that drains outside.
Carol

Have you ever given the Python NoSpill a try? It is a bit expensive but it beats having to lead anything outside and whatnot.

 

Have you ever given the Python NoSpill a try? It is a bit expensive but it beats having to lead anything outside and whatnot.

Actually no I like having good fertilized water for my flowers and garden. This helps conserve water in the summer when it's so scarce. In the winter time I can lay the end over in the bath tub and then clean the tub after
carol

 

I just want to say thanks to capekate for posting this video! I can't tell you how mad I was becoming trying to figure out a piece of plastic! made me feel really dumb, but glad to know others have had issues as well the directions for my little one said to stick everything under water to start. well the little tank is 2.5g....I couldn't get the whole thing in. thanks very much for this vid.


PS. I was reading about ppl sucking water up? no idea!

 

Haha, OMG how stupid do I feel now

That is awesome capekate!

I usually suck water through (although I've never ingested tanks water), this is a much better solution

And, given water restrictions in Melbourne, I'll be trying the recycling method too!!!
and

 

Thank you for the video. ^^ Why would I thought of it sooner for my 10 gallon. Now I have 2 small tanks set up and I cannot find a sipohn thing for the 2 gallon tanks.

 

lol I have that siphon!

 

Ah!thanks guys the mouth syphon was a good excuse for a beer

 

Another simple way of siphoning the tank is to fill the hose at the sink--run the tap water into the hose until it is filled--hold the bottom closed and keep the bigger end up in the air. Put the bottom end into the bucket while continuing to hold the bottom closed, put the bigger part into the aquarium and let go of the bottom--suction started.

Also, put the bottom end into a bucket, lay the bigger part of the siphon into the water holding it horizontally, pick up the siphon out of the water letting water run through the hose, lay the siphon part back horizontally into the water quickly--siphon started. None of this entails sucking on the hose, unless you want to do it with a turkey baster at the small end just above the bucket with the siphon part in the tank water. All you have to do is squeeze the turkey baster bulb, insert into the bottom of the siphon letting the bulb go to create a suction, pull it away after letting the top of the baster go, and resqueezing the turkey baster again and putting back into the bottom of the siphon tubing to create suction. It only takes one or two times to get the water started down the tubing. Just like sucking turkey liquid out of a pan to make gravy. I use any and all of these ways to siphon water from my aquariums. The end of the line will never go in my mouth. Those fishies do foul the water, don't ya' know.

I also use the turkey baster to pick up the odd left over Cory Cat food left in the tank, or a piece of fish poo that I can see laying on the substrate.