Reddit reviews RPS PRODUCTS DFK Waterbed Drain/Fill Kit

No, honestly it's so easy I just did it myself without instructions. But I can summarize what I did.

I connect my changer to my shower head pipe; takes standard pipe threads; I use a pipe-thread to hose thread adapter I got at the hardware store. Put some teflon tape on the threads to make it water tight; make sure to wrap the tape the right way so it doesn't unwrap when you screw on the adapter. Crank the hose to adapter connection to german gutentight specs so you can leave it on the hose forever. If you do the teflon tape right you can install and remove the adapter by hand and it won't leak.

I bought a 50' hose and cut off about 6 feet and used hose repair fittings to put new ends on both pieces, so I have a 6' hose and a 44' hose. I use the short section to go down from the shower head pipe to get the actual water changer thingy closer to the drain so it doesnt' spray dirty tank water all over my shower. You can skip this if you connect it to your sink. The waterbed adapter comes with a shitty plastic sink thread adapter; throw it away and get a brass one from the hardware store.

I run the long hose from the changer to the tank. At the far end of the long use I use a cheap garden hose shutoff valve and a barbed fitting to adapt hose threads to the normal vinyl gravel vac tubing.

I vacuum using just cold water. When I'm done vacuuming I pull the vac up out of the water and let the venturi suck all the dirty water out of the hose. Then I go back to the shower with my digital thermometer, run the hot water out of the tub spigot until it stabilizes, and then use the thermometer to get within a couple of degrees of the aquarium temp, I try to shoot for a couple of degrees colder rather than warmer, the thermal mass of water left in the aquarium moderates the change anyway and the heater will do it's job.

The only thing about these is they waste a lot of water by using a hydro venturi to create suction for vacuuming. You could potentially turn off the venturi and use it as a siphon, if the changer below the tank level, I don't bother on my 20g tank.

Here's somebody's writeup, I'm sure there's others

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_python.php

I bought this waterbed water changer; it appears to be the exact same one used in the Python: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FT2PUO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Don't get the python, get a water bed one. Its the same darn thing and it costs $4!!! lol You just need to have your own garden hose, which you can buy for cheap and get the length you want.




Stopped using that style of system a couple years ago. We now have a pond pump connected to a garden hose. We put the pump into the tank to drain the water & then we use the "python/water bed thingy to put water back in OR we just screw a garden hose onto the tap OR we use the pond pump inside a bucket in the sink to push water into the tank. For us, it really depends which floor we are working on.




The basement has the hot/cold taps for a washer leading to a Y which connects to a garden hose that goes up into the rafters. We have 1000 gallons of water to deal with, so this was best for us and it keeps the hose out of the way.




EDIT: Its the large blue piece. I bought a few at Walmart but here is an image from Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Drain-Innomax-Waterbed-Flotation-Mattress/dp/B005XST1M2/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1420912780&sr=1-2&keywords=waterbed+Fill+and+Drain



I think this is the same but for cheaper http://www.amazon.ca/Rps-Dfk-Waterbed-Drain-Fill/dp/B000FT2PUO/ref=pd_sim_k_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=17Y2JJSR56YATAW2JEEB



Please note I was using Amazon Canada.

Get a faucet to hose adapter for a water bed. Hook it up and spray down your car. When I was a kid a guy at our apartment would do this every Friday. Wasn't until I was older that I realized this guy was a genius.

I'm pretty sure that's what ya need. Plus a garden hose and nozzle.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FT2PUO/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522637966&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=waterbed+fill+kit&dpPl=1&dpID=41qgeX9MJpL&ref=plSrch