How do people use a " python system" (direct from faucet to tank) to do water changes?

Hello all!
I just upgraded to a few larger size tanks (mainly a 40 breeder and a 55 long) and am having a lot of struggles with water changes. I have always done 35% water changes weekly at MINIMUM. Without way too much detail I have back issues and I cannot lug around 5 gallon buckets like I used too. My water has chlorine and chloramine so how do people use a " python system" (direct from faucet to tank) to do water changes? Also how do you heat the water? Right now I pump the water using a gravel vac and I am setting up a system to pump that dirty water right outside. But I need to find an easier way to get the water back into the tank, conditioned and heated!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

I've never used one but from all I've read on the subject folks that use a python hook it up to a faucet that mixes hot and cold water. They just get it to the proper temp before refilling the tank. To treat it they add enough water conditioner to treat all the water in the tank instead of just enough to treat the amount of water they are replacing. I believe they turn off the filter, refill the tank and then turn the filter back on. This should prevent untreated water getting to the filter media.

 

Highly recommended. I do use one.

Amazon.com : 25 Foot - Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System by Python : Pet Supplies

 

Perfect that is what I have I just only use the gravel vac to empty the tank to outside. For some reason I just can't get it out of my head that treating the tank with conditioner isn't the same thing as pretreating the water and mixing it up before adding to the tank.

 

Perfect that is what I have I just only use the gravel vac to empty the tank to outside. For some reason I just can't get it out of my head that treating the tank with conditioner isn't the same thing as pretreating the water and mixing it up before adding to the tank.

Only thing is, be sure it will hook up to your sink. They usually work on faucets that are 1/2" I learned this when I replaced my kitchen faucet and the fitting was too big. So I'm stuck using buckets again

 

Hello all!
I just upgraded to a few larger size tanks (mainly a 40 breeder and a 55 long) and am having a lot of struggles with water changes. I have always done 35% water changes weekly at MINIMUM. Without way too much detail I have back issues and I cannot lug around 5 gallon buckets like I used too. My water has chlorine and chloramine so how do people use a " python system" (direct from faucet to tank) to do water changes? Also how do you heat the water? Right now I pump the water using a gravel vac and I am setting up a system to pump that dirty water right outside. But I need to find an easier way to get the water back into the tank, conditioned and heated!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I use a Python for the water removal and vacuuming. I then have a tube directly from a Reverse Osmosis system that pumps it back in.

When I used the Python directly, I added in my dechlorinators at the source of the input and adjusted the temperature with the faucet. However, I admit that I pretty quickly abandoned this when I discovered that that tap could easily get to boiling if I didn't pay attention. Plus, the RO removes any other contaminants that Prime won't.

 

Mike1995 thank you for mentioning this! I took a look and they are, fortunately, the same size.
zorianak temp is something I am concerned with also. Now I am just nervous this is going to get expensive if I want anything other than hailing buckets back and forth. Thank you for your input and I am very jelous of the r.o!