How to Clean With a Siphon Hose
Siphons are used to transfer liquid from a high tank to a low tank by using gravity. Siphons are useful when draining water from an object not having a drain. Because the sucking action of a siphon is powerful enough to lift water up and over the edge, you can also use it to clean material from the bottom of a higher water-filled tank, like a fish aquarium. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Start a siphon by filling a hose with water, keeping the two open ends pointed upward and at the same height. Pinch the hose near the ends so that water cannot escape.
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Place one end of the siphon hose in the water, and let it go. Place the other end of the hose in a drain or bucket which used to collect the debris, making sure it is at a lower level than the container you are draining, and let go of that end. The water should start flowing from the top container to the waste receptacle or drain.
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Use the suction to clean. Point the hose in the top container toward debris until it is sucked up inside the tube. If you do not wish to remove all the water from the top container (e.g., if you are siphoning waste matter and algae from a fish tank), use care not to draw the water level down quickly. If necessary, slightly pinch the hose to lessen the pressure and decrease the speed of the flow of materials into the siphon.
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Increase the power of the siphon if necessary. Simply maximize the height difference between the top and bottom containers to create a larger negative pressure on the siphon hose to give you more power in your siphon.
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Tips & Warnings
Attaching a rigid tube (made from PVC or glass) at the end of the hose can be helpful in directing the cleaning efforts of the siphon. It will keeps your hands dry and minimizes exposure to the liquid you are siphoning.
Do not begin siphons by sucking on the hose with your mouth, which can lead to accidental ingestion of the fluid in the tank you are cleaning.
