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Starting a Python siphon

A posting or two this weekend mentioned using the faucet pump to start
a siphon in the Python water changer, then disconnecting it to drain
into the yard. That's the hard way ...  It's easy to start the siphon
without the pump and without sucking yucky crud from the tube.

First, position the end of the tubing to where you want the water to
end up. Like, "not on your carpet". 

Then put the gravel vacuum tube of the Python under water and fill it
with water.  
     ___
    /   \
   /  |~~\~~~~~~~~~~~
  /   |   \       
      |    \------
      |     ------
      |
      +--------------

Tip the open end up so the water doesn't escape. 
     ___
    /   \
   /  |~~\~~~~~~~~~~~
  /   |   \  | |  
      |    \ | |  
      |     \| |  
      |      \|      
      +--------------

Lift it out of the water. The slug of water in the gravel vac will now
start down the tubing.

            | |
            |~|
     ___    | | 
    /   \____|
   /  |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  /   |           
      |           
      |           
      |              
      +--------------

Once the water is on it's way, put the gravel vac back under water and
immediately fill it again.  You will get some air in the line but
don't worry - that slug of water travelling down the tube creates quite
a suction and will continue to pull water through.  
     ___
    /   \
   /  |~~\~~~~~~~~~~~
  /   |   \       
      |    \------
      |     ------
      |
      +--------------

Voila! Vacuum on, dude!
     _____
    /     \
   /  |~~~~\~~~~~~~~~
  /   |    |      
      |   | |     
      |   | |      
      |   | |
      +--------------

I used to worry about breaking the siphon by getting air in the tubing
until I realized that as long as water is moving in the tube, it
continues to pull more water in -- up to a point, of course.   

George


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