Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System, Gravel Cleaner and Water Changer, 25 Foot

I've owned several of these over the years and loved every one. I used to carry buckets back and forth to the sink and always spilled some along the way. Needless to say, dirty aquarium water is not something you want on your floor or carpet. Since using my Python water changers, I seldom get water in areas I don't want to and can quickly remove and add water to even my tanks in other rooms.The key to these Pythons working well is the valve that you will replace your sink aerator with. You get an adapter too that works with most faucets. But if you have an unusual faucet, you can usually find the right adapter at your local hardware store. I also put on a snap on connector on my faucet and one on each of my devices too. Now I can switch them out as needed without wearing out the faucet. After setting your desired water temp at the sink, you will set the Python valve to an open or closed position, depending on whether you want to fill or empty a tank.In the open position (down), the bottom is open. Any water flow from the faucet will pass through the valve to the bottom and out the sink. The flow running down the valve sets up a suction of water and air at the hose. The water at the siphon end of the hose will be pulled down the hose into the sink. You can use this to vacuum the gravel at the same time that water is being pulled from the tank. When you have removed enough water, you can shut off the valve on the siphon and move on to the next tank or shut it off at the sink.In the closed (up) position, the bottom opening is closed off and the faucet water will flow out the attached hose to your tank. You'll dope the outflow at the tank with anti-chlor and any other chemicals you deem necessary. Be sure you have 1st set the temp wanted at the sink faucet. When the tank is filled, you can turn off the flow either at the sink or from the valve on the siphon.When you are all done, you should drain the hose into the sink while rolling it up. You don't want to leave a lot of water in the hose as this could generate mold. I just keep mine in an empty bucket in the tank stand under the tank.Once you use one of these Pythons you'll never want to go back to carrying buckets again. The price seems high but worth every dollar. And if you break some of the plastic parts or want accessories, they are available, many here on Amazon.I would not get one with a hose much more than you'll need. Often times, the longer the hose and distance the water has to travel, the slower the speed when emptying a tank. Be sure not to leave the aerator on the sink faucet with the Python as it will tend to stop suction from happening.One word of advice: When filling a tank, turn the valve on the siphon very slowly. Quickly flipping the valve full open will cause a pop and massive amount of flow and you're likely to blow water everywhere. Go slow.

Still working like new almost a decade after buying it. You do need to buy an adapter for your sink to have it work easily. I never use the inline shutoff, just the directional thing at the nozzle. Highly recommended!

I love this product it makes water changes much easier but I do have a hard time getting the suction going on my smaller tank I think it’s because gravity and a sink to tank height difference

As other reviews have said, why did I wait this long to try this thing?! It does everything promised.

Helped clean my turtles tank

I bought this for me and then another one for my mother in law! We’re obsessed!

make sure you have enough cord, it works great.

I wish I had caved and invested in one of these eons ago. Seriously, OMG! I was excited to set up my new 75-gallon African cichlid tank, but reluctant at the thought of the buckets upon buckets of water I would have to haul back and forth every single week. Soooo, I decided to go for it. I got a really great deal here on Amazon, so why not? I went with the 25-footer, which reaches from my kitchen sink, across my living room, and into both of my tanks with plenty of slack. I almost went with the 50-footer just in case, but I'm glad I didn't!EASE OF USE:It was a little confusing the first time I set it all up, and for the first few uses I actually thought that maybe it wasn't worth the hassle (I even used my old gravel vac once or twice because it was "easier"). But since I spent the money on it, I kept using it, and it felt simpler with each use. Now that I've used it several times I can hook it up and go without double-checking the directions, and I honestly can't imagine life without it! I'm actually considering setting up another tank or two because this simple little item has made such a huge time-saving impact on my life!MATERIAL QUALITY:My old gravel vac had tubing made from some terrible, inflexible material, and I had to manually hold it open in several spots in order to keep the water flowing (horribly inconvenient while trying to vac the ickies out of the gravel at the same time). The python's tubing is super flexible, and doesn't kink at all. This is one of my favorite qualities. I haven't had any problems with any of the pieces to date, and I've been using it on two tanks for over a month (including a week of daily water changes due to an ich outbreak).SUCTION:I read several reviews (Amazon and elsewhere... I always check reviews on several sites when possible) claiming they got no suction (some claiming it was due to low water pressure), so I was a little concerned because I don't have the greatest water pressure. However, I have no complaints at all in this area. I get just enough suction to clean the bottom of my tank really well, and any stronger suction would remove too much water before I could do so.Someone mentioned that this is meant for use with an outdoor faucet... no, I really don't think that it is (at least not specifically). However, I do think that it might not work as well if you have reeeeally low water pressure. I also saw some reports that height makes a difference. When I use it on my largest tank, it stretches from my kitchen sink, down onto the floor, then back upward at least four feet and down again, into my tank. The up-and-down has not seemed to make any difference in its performance, but you might try propping it up if you have water-pressure related issues with it.I think it is important to note that this hose will not fill your tank any faster than if you were to set the tank under the faucet you're hooking it up to. It does not suck water from the pipes any faster than the faucet itself does, so don't blame filling times on the Python! Even if your low water pressure adds more time to the process, it is still a zillion times more convenient than buckets, followed by buckets, and inevitably, more buckets.OTHER THOUGHTS:On one occasion when I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing, I accidentally sucked up a large amount of gravel... whoops! It was kind of a pain because it got caught in the connection and I had to turn the water off and unscrew the hose to get it out. No biggie, though. I just shook it out and went about my water change, lesson learned.One of my cichlids likes to get inside the vac tube while I'm filling the tank. This fact is completely irrelevant to the product itself, but I couldn't resist sharing because it makes me smile. :)Seriously, though. Buy this. Your only regret will be not buying it sooner. I told all of my non-fish-obsessed friends about it and they think I'm crazy, so I had to share with fellow fish-obsessed consumers. Yes, I'm referring to you!