KarenM Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Other than the usual put-the-tubing-in-your-mouth way? I'm just too much of a wimp to do that. I have gunk in my overflow boxes that I need to siphon out. The way I start a siphon is to put the entire tubing in the water to get rid of all the air, then keep one end in the water and put the other end in the bucket. But since I want to clean out the overflow, I can't do that. I tried holding my fingers over the ends of the tubing until I get one end in the overflow, but that's not working, either. Is there some kind of little gadget that will act as a vaccum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEW Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 You could use a power head. Why isn't the finger over the ends trick working? Put the entire tube in the water so there is no air. Then pinch both ends closed. Move to overflow and only release when you have the high end submerged and the outflow over your receptacle of choice. If you have soft tubing you could move the overflow tube out of your sump into bucket. Then you could stir up the gunk and let it flow out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirReal63 Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 A turkey baster will work if it is airline tubing size, if it is bigger it may not have enough volume for the vacuum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenM Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 You could use a power head. Why isn't the finger over the ends trick working? Put the entire tube in the water so there is no air. Then pinch both ends closed. Move to overflow and only release when you have the high end submerged and the outflow over your receptacle of choice. If you have soft tubing you could move the overflow tube out of your sump into bucket. Then you could stir up the gunk and let it flow out. I don't know why it's not working. I guess it's just not strong enough to move upward to go over the side of the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenM Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 A turkey baster will work if it is airline tubing size, if it is bigger it may not have enough volume for the vacuum. I was using a larger tubing, but I'll try it with the airline and the turkey baster. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedude Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 The device you are looking for is called a "Python" and hooks up to the sink and uses that water pressure to start a siphon. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Bmwaaron Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 The way I do it is to put one end in the tank and the other end over the air intake tube for the skimmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dena's Hubby Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 THe Python works great, but it is expensive. If you want to go on the cheap, you could just buy the venturi hose attachment and provide your own piece of hose. You used to be able to get them at waterbed stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4R00P3R Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 (edited) I don't think a siphon will be strong enough to really clean it, especially if you use airline tubing. Force = mass x acceleration. You need more of a mass of water if you want to get it clean. If it's algae you need to scrub it off and it will get sucked down. If it's sand you can leave it or turn off the return pump and remove the box completely then use a high pressure hose or showerhead to spray it out before you dry it off and put it back. I make my fish drink the water so I just use my mouth. It's really not that bad. Edited December 26, 2007 by 4R00P3R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenM Posted December 26, 2007 Author Share Posted December 26, 2007 My overflows aren't removable, they're bult in as far as I know. And it's gunk at the bottom, probably some food that got in there or whatever, just brown gunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 (edited) I use a large shop vac that is just for my aquariums when I need to clean things like this. Works a champ if cleaning out sumps. Edited December 26, 2007 by caferacermike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKarshens Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Good to see you back on the forums Mike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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