Universal faucet mounted aquarium filler (and vacuum)

 

 

I've been shopping around online for a faucet mount the python company for a few days and I haven't found anything that I trust to fit my strange sink plug. I need to do a big water change on my aquarium coffee table  because I'm going to start with sand as a substrate and I screwed up and didn't wash it well enough before putting it in the tank. I decided to build this because apparently Spiller has closed Pets in Tuscaloosa forever and I was tired of waiting for a solution to come my way. Also I have a helpless god complex that only a 55-gallon aquarium full of loyal subjects can suppress. Here is what I came up with. This template would also work well on ThereIFixedIt, unfortunately.

Tip: Make sure you have a water aerator on your sink. Half the reason I went to home depot was because I broke up trying to thread when I was planning on buying a sink mount and pissed off my girlfriend, causing me to look like this.

 

I've found that using the tube to fill your aquarium is a lot less intrusive and agitates the sand far less than the 5 gallon bucketer method.

 

 

 

Step 1: materials

 

 

 

 

For just about last week I went to Big Box and got a 20 foot nylon hose to replace the ~ 3 foot one my siphon came with. I definitely recommend this convenience regardless of whether or not you enforce the rest of this instructible, as sucking up aquarium water right in the street is a lot easier than in a bucket and then outside. This will be the first material. All part numbers are from Home Depot. It also bears mentioning that I bought a 3/8 "x 3/8" barb coupler to connect the two pieces of vinyl tubing I have. That was $ 2.

-1 X 1/2 "outer X 3/8" inner X 20 'nylon tubing, part # 42143620 (~ $ 5.00)

-1 x 3/8 "x 1/2" nylon barb, mip elbow, part # A-296 (~ $ 3.00)

-2 x 1 "hose clamp (~ $ .50)

-1 x trash 700c bike tube (free at your local bike shop)

 

 

 

Step 2: cut and assemble.

 

Your bike tube and find a place that has no holes. The best way to look for holes in any tube is to partially inflate it and keep it underwater. When you find a section cut it out of the tube. Leave enough space around the water softener spigot and the threaded end of the elbow nylon sheath. I left mine about 2 1/2 "long because I wanted to make sure that water was flowing at a safe rate and it allowed me to see the pipe expand. Now, wash the section of the pipe in soapy water and rinse it out, then let it dry. You will want to clean out any talc powder, its inside the coats. Next, slide both of your hose clamps onto the bike tube. Put one end of the bike tube over the threaded end of the nylon elbow and pass over a tube clamp Pull as far as you can to avoid leakage. Now put the other end of the bike hose over the faucet, trying not to crawl the image, you created in your head, your own urethra, replacing the tube and over it also move a pipe clamp. Pull that hard, but once it is tightened, don't screw too much with it or you screw your water aerator or just break anything you just got it represents.

 

 

Step 3: Dut Tut.

 

 

I don't have normal clamps, so I used my vice pliers to hold the nylon tube over the edge of the 
. Make sure you use something to secure it or you will flood your house and ruin your signed first edition of $ 400 the entire volume 50 Encyclopedia "Aquatica" Fish you helpless nerd. Well, waddle back to the kitchen and turn to the sink. Do it gently at first because the hose is soft and will expand under the pressure. Once the water has been pushed over the edge of the aquarium the pressure will be released and you can crank the sink up to full capacity. She likes it nice and soft at first but understands when its time to get the job done. Now sit back, relax, and dream of how, in a few days you will be breeding mollies and watching their brood die slowly, knowing that you should put some salt in your tank but rely on your newfound power while arguing yourself that you don't giggle that lazy.