How would you clean Python tubing?

[brynbyers]

My water change hose has turned almost black over the many years of using it for maintenance. It's the Python tubing and probably at least 40-50'. Any suggestions on how to clean this? Or is it time to invest in new tubing? Even after so many years it is still flexible, so I would hate to just toss it.
Would it help to leave it in the sun? I may try to thread a string through it a few times with a tubing brush at the end.

 

[mockery]

Try the string w/ the brush on the end. Could take it out side and swing it around? That could also work.

 

[jennm]

Put it in a bucket of water with some bleach in it, and attach a powerhead to one end to push the bleach water through the tubing. A maxijet should fit right on there perfectly.

Once it's clean, change it out for some clean water with Prime to rinse/neutralize the bleach and air dry. Should be good to go.

Jenn

 

[acroholic]

Bryn,
Mix up a 5% bleach solution in a 5 gallon bucket. Do this outside. Elevate the bucket a couple feet off the floor. Put the drain end of the python in the bucket. Start a siphon by sucking on the siphon end of the Python. The bleach water will start siphoning thru the Python. When the bleach water reaches the valve on the siphon end of the python, close it off and let it sit for 30 minutes. The bleach will kill the algae in the tubing. After 30 minutes the inside of the Python should be clean. Run some regular water thru it and you are done.
Dave

 

[dakota9]

To both of these great answers below, I'd just add that after you've bleached it (if you're a anal-retentive perfectionist) and still have biological residue on the inside of the hose;

Get a shop vac and suck a string through the hose (a crumbled piece of plastic tied to the end of the string will insure the string comes out the other end) When you have string coming out both ends, tie a rag or pipe brush to the string and pull through.

The extra special perfectionist with a pure attention to detail (the kind of person that would call Martha Stewart a lazy slob) would also tie a second string to the rag/brush so once the first string was pulled through, the second string could be pulled back through to get any residue the first pass missed.



Personally...... I'd just leave it black......:up:

JennM;491339 wrote: Put it in a bucket of water with some bleach in it, and attach a powerhead to one end to push the bleach water through the tubing. A maxijet should fit right on there perfectly.

Once it's clean, change it out for some clean water with Prime to rinse/neutralize the bleach and air dry. Should be good to go.

Jenn

Acroholic;491341 wrote: Bryn,
Mix up a 5% bleach solution in a 5 gallon bucket. Do this outside. Elevate the bucket a couple feet off the floor. Put the drain end of the python in the bucket. Start a siphon by sucking on the siphon end of the Python. The bleach water will start siphoning thru the Python. When the bleach water reaches the valve on the siphon end of the python, close it off and let it sit for 30 minutes. The bleach will kill the algae in the tubing. After 30 minutes the inside of the Python should be clean. Run some regular water thru it and you are done.
Dave

 

[brisco15]

Ive also just gone to home depot spent about 11 dollars and replaced it completely :/ call me lazy.

Dakota9;491367 wrote: To both of these great answers below, I'd just add that after you've bleached it (if you're a anal-retentive perfectionist) and still have biological residue on the inside of the hose;

Get a shop vac and suck a string through the hose (a crumbled piece of plastic tied to the end of the string will insure the string comes out the other end) When you have string coming out both ends, tie a rag or pipe brush to the string and pull through.

The extra special perfectionist with a pure attention to detail (the kind of person that would call Martha Stewart a lazy slob) would also tie a second string to the rag/brush so once the first string was pulled through, the second string could be pulled back through to get any residue the first pass missed.



Personally...... I'd just leave it black......:up:

 

[myvwrock]

jennm;491339 wrote: put it in a bucket of water with some bleach in it, and attach a powerhead to one end to push the bleach water through the tubing. A maxijet should fit right on there perfectly.

Once it's clean, change it out for some clean water with prime to rinse/neutralize the bleach and air dry. Should be good to go.

Jenn

+1

 

[jennm]

Replacing it was an alternative We carry the thick-walled stuff too.

Jenn

 

[dakota9]

Actually, 11 bucks wouldn't touch 50' of python tubing. as the cheap stuff collapses easily and would start kinking when you're talking that sort of length....

But I get your point...... Again, personally, I'd just leave it black

 

[acroholic]

I've had one for about 11 years and have never cleaned it either.

 

[brynbyers]

Love all of the ideas

 

[weaglereefer]

I think if you do FW one of the benefits they tout is easy refills, however I don't think anyone here has SW "on tap" (save maybe Andy...). If it's just for draining, why worry?

 

[acroholic]

It may not actually "need" cleaning, but seeing black vinyl hose that used to be clear might offend one's sense of clean.

 

[weaglereefer]

So I guess IF it is replaced, replace with black hose, lol.

 

[brisco15]

Black hose works garden hose or they sell clear as well

 

[brynbyers]

ares;491512 wrote: isnt it only used for draining anyway? or do you refill with it also?

I use this to drain during water changes, and then attach to a pump to refill.
I'll let you know how it all turns out.