Warning to Newbs everywhere: Saltwater not nearly as delicious as it looks.

[Tanked]

So I was performing my weekly water change this morning on my nano. I guess I was not on top of my game because in addition to spilling a good deal of water onto the floor and my pants, I also ended up with a mouthful of used saltwater. I have one of these siphons (not sure what brand it is) that operates by shaking it up and down in the tank to get the suction going...there's a dirty joke here someplace but my head is still dizzy. For whatever reason, this technique was not working to it's desired effect so, smart guy that I am, fell back on a more tried and true method to get the siphon going. I was NOT quick enough and there's nothing like starting the morning with a mouthful of snail, crab, shrimp, and fish poop mixed in with salty water.

 

There is a point to this. As I would prefer not to repeat this ordeal any time soon, I would appreciate some advice on better siphoning methods/products out there.

 

You may insert your jokes here:

[OxInYourBox]

It happens to everyone at one point or another. Time to bust out the listerine or some other mouthwash as you don't want what's in the water in your mouth. Personally I use a MJ1200 and a few feet of tubing for changing my tanks. On the smaller ones I use it to just start the siphon and on the larger ones I run it the whole time. Quick and easy but it can be hell on earth if the tube decides it doesn't want to stay in the bucket (think flailing garden hose inside your home with saltwater @ 300gph). When I refill the tank I do the opposite and direct the output towards algae build up areas or I fill up containers and pour them in with regards to the smaller tanks where I would blow everything around. HTH and you don't get saltwater herpes.

 

Ox

[Tanked]

Thanks Ox. I was hoping to establish some sort of support group to get past the emotional trauma of this salty morning.

[Crakeur]

pm sea mountain for the best suck and blow siphoning around. He's a master.

 

I've swallowed the sea water numerous times. Licked a zoo or two and I'm sane, at least that's what the voices in my head tell me.

[kennerd]

You can also start the siphon by putting the in-tank end in front of a powerhead to push enough water into the tube to start the flow.

 

"I've had this taste in my mouth before. Does have a little wang to it. Good though!"

[Crakeur]

Originally posted by kennerd

"I've had this taste in my mouth before.  Does have a little wang to it.  Good though!"

 

 

remind me to never end up alone in a room with you.

[kennerd]

I'm disappointed in your missing the movie reference, Steven.

 

Shame on you.

[Crakeur]

I actually know the quote, can't recall the movie tho (fried brains - late night at work and a screaming sick child all night).

 

Makes me think of Austin Powers saying the coffee tastes a bit nutty.

[kennerd]

Newbom, you're such a putz.

[skylsdale]

I was actually siphoning out an established sandbed from a 20L one time. My friend was asking me about some piece of equipment or something I had lying around as I was in "mid-prime." Needless to say full-strength seawater and whatever nasty junk that had been sitting in the SB ended up in the ol' digestive system. It was only there for a few moments, though...since I heaved right into the bucket.

 

There's no good siphon method...just experience to make you more aware.

[jjharrisx4]

HAAAAAAA HAAAAAAA

Guffaw

HEEEE HEEEEE

 

Glug YUK...Been there!

[mattie]

heee!!!! heeee!!!

done that too many times. nasty

[Quash]

holy cow, i nearly died reading that first post. I dunno about yall but took me a while to figger out my siphon thing. I have the same one as tanked. shake it several times to get it going.

 

what i did was fill up that canister with the water, and then take it out of the water, plug the other end with your thumb, and let go accordingly until all the water makes its way close to your thumb. fill canister with water and put it where you want to siphon, then stick the other end in some type of bucket and then release your thumb.

 

so suckin nothing here

[brahm]

..this may make me sounds like an idiot.. but why don't you guys just use a little bucket and scope out the water? I've got like one of those Casino change holder things that i use for my water changes.

[OxInYourBox]

Try doing that on a not-so-nano nano. That and those buckets aren't so strong. I use rubbermaid containers of varying sizes on my smaller tanks as it's easier. For the larger ones I use the MJ1200.

[birdman204]

Quash - Good call. Glad some of us are using our heads. I prefer not to use the pumpandprime method. I guess theyre good for gravel filter types though.

 

Ken - I am DEFINATLEY gonna use the PH method, sounds foolproof

 

Crakeur - Zoolickin and Salt water shots are part of the initiation into reefing right? That's what all those guys at the LFS told me.???.......Everyone does it Right :ermm:

[JLTRUK]

I just use the hose you hook up to the faucet and turn it on. Place the tube in the water, turn the faucet on and the water pressure sucks the water out. All you need to do is make a mark on the side of the tank with a desired amount. I do 2 gal water changes on the tank, so I have a dash where the water level is with 2 gals removed. When I do the water changes, I hook up my siphon to the faucet, turn it on and then drain to the mark....no more mess on the floor or saltwater in your mouth.

 

This also works extremely well on my 100gal since I do much larger water changes on that...2gal water changes are kind of a joke on the little tank.

[onthefly]

Ken - is that from "hollywood nights"?

[Jahkaya]

you mean you're not supposed to swallow the seawater? No wonder I kept getting sick to my stomach.