manifold and python sump vacuum

[AlanM]

Parts List from Lowes:

 

3/4" ID Braided hose for water supply to top of python pump: http://www.lowes.com/pd_432506-104-RBVNL50_0__?productId=4330486

5/8" ID hose for vacuuming stuff: http://www.lowes.com/pd_443194-104-SVLK10_0__?productId=4566546

1" NPT to 3/4" ID barb: http://www.lowes.com/pd_54267-322-350417_0__?productId=3456474

3/4" Male Hose connection to 3/4" ID barb: http://www.lowes.com/pd_33298-104-A591/PB225GN_0__?productId=1083233

5/8" ID hose barb to 3/4" female hose adapter: http://www.lowes.com/pd_29381-104-A-486_0__?productId=3435176

Python replacement pump: http://www.amazon.com/Python-13B-Aquarium-Replacement-Pump/dp/B000255NVE

 

I redid my plumbing today.  I moved the ball valve that regulates how much water goes up to the tank upstairs downstream from my manifold and built a manifold coming off my return just before the ball valve:

 

 

Coming off the Tee shown just under the valve is my manifold made out of 1" PVC, tees, and threaded 3/4" ball valves and 3/4" NPT x 5/8" ID barbs.  Not shown is the union just behind the flexpvc in the foreground.  The union is so that the manifold can be rotated as needed:

 

 

Lastly is a 1" ball valve which I'll run the vacuum off of.   I put the 1"NPT x 3/4" hose barb part from the list above on it and 3/4" ID braided hose on it.  No clamp or anything:

 

 

The other end of the hose goes down into the return section of the sump with the 3/4" barb to 3/4" male hose thread on it.

 

 

Next is the python pump.  I removed the bottom part of the python pump because I'm never going to use it to fill.  Just vacuum.  It also had galvanized screws on it and I don't need the zinc in the tank:

 

 

I zip-tied a felt sock around it:

 

 

and attached it to the braided hose and dropped it into the return section of the sump:

 

 

Now I open up the ball valve at the end of my manifold and vacuum out lots and lots of hair algae that has grown among the stuff in my refugium in addition to the cheato:

 

 

It worked great until I got some cheato in there.  After that, the kinky cheato gathered hair algae and crud until it clogged.  It vacuumed detritus just great though.

 

Once I was done, I wanted to do a water change, so I hooked it up without the python in the loop:

 

 

Other end of the hose in the floor drain:

 

 

 

That's about it.  It had really good suction and I could move it all over the sump and didn't have to worry about losing the siphon or whatever.