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Aquarist Forums => Equipment / DIY => Topic started by: aidensmomma2000 on October 16, 2005, 09:25:04 PM

Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 16, 2005, 09:25:04 PM
Hey all,
 I live in a big old high rise, and have been told that I cant have a washer or dishwasher because it backs up my neighbour's sink.

I have a 30g and do at most a 50% change at a time.

Think it will cause problems?

Thanks all!
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: squeeker on October 16, 2005, 09:48:25 PM
You use more water than that by showering.  Just empty the tank water into the tub!
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 16, 2005, 11:18:53 PM
It wouldnt reach that far...
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Shouganai on October 17, 2005, 01:23:07 AM
I do regular changes with my python and my 65g with no problems. I live on the 9th floor of a 21 storey building circa 1960-70, and my python fills and drains from the kitchen sink. I do put the flow fairly low, just so my own sink doesn't overflow, but I have NEVER had any complaints.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 17, 2005, 07:22:39 AM
Good to knw- thanks!

I just wonder, if I cant have one of those countertip dishwashers which are pretty teeny...
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Julie on October 17, 2005, 07:26:03 AM
Robin, park your car adjacent to your window and drain that python numerous floors down.  You'll have a semi clean car and a clean tank.

Julie
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 17, 2005, 07:45:22 AM
Quote from: "Julie"Robin, park your car adjacent to your window and drain that python numerous floors down.  You'll have a semi clean car and a clean tank.

Julie

Ahaha!  :lol:
Title: draining water
Post by: nickie on October 17, 2005, 09:02:39 AM
Hi Robin... I use to live many years ago in an old apartment bldg..
I had a portable dishwasher which drained into the sink,..
     I also had a portable washing machine which was in the bathroom ,..it attached to the sink tap, and the drain hose into the toilet ,... ....
     The only complaint I received was that I used too much hot water at meal time, which folks needed for showeruing and washing dishes... I was asked if I could wait till after 7:30 pm to do my washing .... it was only used only once a week....  John
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 17, 2005, 12:06:35 PM
Unforuntaly there is an explicit rule against both  :roll:
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: artw on October 17, 2005, 12:42:55 PM
rules, bah. you'll find that the "no pets" rule is bunk in most cases as well
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Nelson on October 17, 2005, 12:44:38 PM
Hi Robin;

I'm know where you live (visit Loyed on occasion) and the building appears to be well maintained.  Sure sounds weird that you could back-up into a neighbours sink.  Water from your apartment shower/bath and sink(s) finds its way to the same sewer pipe, so if its ending up next door then the problem is with the owners, and not with you.  I'm sure there are many apartments with 4-5-6 occupants, showering and dish washing - do you know if they've been told to restrict water flow?  

You could also try putting an small inline pump or rigging up a powerhead to reduce the flow.  That way you wont have to run the water into the sink from the tap, which will also eliminate the additional water flow.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: BigDaddy on October 17, 2005, 12:59:08 PM
With all the tanks Loyed has at his place... I'd say your one tank should be a non-issue.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Tim on October 17, 2005, 06:28:43 PM
Ok just to clear a few things up for people. The problems that arise from washers/dishwashers are the following. When a portable machine is hooked up to a faucet and both the hot and cold taps are turned on you get crossover. That is when the water gets to the connector on the machine the hot (usually but can be cold) water is at a bit of higher pressure so when others in the building use their cold taps the water will cross over through your tap into the cold line and people will start getting hot water out of their cold tap. The other problem is the soap suds that are created in the drainage system which can easily back up into someone elses sink/tub/ toilet etc... The other problem is when the drain lines from the machines are hooked directly to the drain you are now "forcing" water down a drain that may not be able to handle it and therefore will back up where it can. If a machine is drained into a sink then the drain (assuming it's not partially blocked) will handle it. So to answer you question a python system will have no effect on your neighbours but make sure you use only cold water.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 17, 2005, 06:55:06 PM
Wow Tim that was great- thanks!!
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Tim on October 17, 2005, 07:01:24 PM
:wink:
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: ottawadiscus on October 18, 2005, 09:57:31 AM
Robin,

This is a big issue in this building. Don't use Python to drain your aquarium water. If you use your kitchen sink to drain then water will over flow the sinks in lower floor appartments. Every second weekends I got soap water overflow into my kitchen sink. Someone above me is using washer and drain the soap water into the kitchen sink. I inform this to the rental office several time but nothing changed.

Loyed
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 18, 2005, 10:04:43 AM
Thats likely from a washer though- Tims explanation of all that made sense to me.

If I drain a full sink full of dishes and rinse them in the sink at the same time, thats a lot of water. This doesnt seem to have caused a problem and I dont run the water high enough additional to the python to even fill up the sink, theres just a lot of water going down for a longer period of time.

Hope that made sense!
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Tim on October 18, 2005, 10:08:06 AM
This is not true. If you are getting soapy water then someone is using a machine. Using a python will not cause a backup in lower sinks unless there is a major problem and if that was the case then simply draining a full sink would also cause backup. Do you mind if I ask what building you are in? If you use a python using only cold water then it is no different then running both the hot and cold tap on full together. Try this. take a big container and turn on both hot and cold full blast and time how long it takes to fill. then do the same thing with only cold and your python hooked up. I would bet the python set up if anything will give you less G.P.M.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 18, 2005, 10:09:16 AM
Lloyed and I are in the Banner apts (on Banner rd, off greenbank).
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Tim on October 18, 2005, 10:09:31 AM
What's a dink doing in your sink? :lol:
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Tim on October 18, 2005, 10:11:23 AM
33 banner? there definitley should not be a problem there. Is that still owned by GWL and run by Minto?
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: ottawadiscus on October 18, 2005, 11:08:03 AM
I used my python while back and my nehibour just below my appartment knock my door and said that it's overflowing her kitchen sink. I know it's not big water flow even though it's fill her kitchen sink. After that I never use python for water change. Managment added blocakage to stop the drain water to kitchen sink  for all appartment  but it's not working properly.

Loyed
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Poustic on October 18, 2005, 11:44:22 AM
Pythons are so handy... Would this work: plugging your sink and using the python until the sink fills up, then removing the stopper and partially plugging it with a cloth or other object, letting it empty itself really slowly.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: Tim on October 18, 2005, 11:59:37 AM
It would but you should be able to drain your sink without blocking it. If not then you should complain. Bottom line is as long as your drain is working the way it should a python will cause no problems at all.
Title: drains...
Post by: nickie on October 18, 2005, 12:31:36 PM
Why cant you use a long hose to drain into the toilet ??... I use to have my portable washing machine in the bathroom and the drain hose anchored into the toilet !! ,,  no  problems....
     exemple..if you take a bucket of water and por it into the toilet,...it will automaticly flush right down the drain...     John
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: 328iGuy on October 18, 2005, 12:58:49 PM
Quote from: "Tim"What's a dink doing in your sink? :lol:

:lol:
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 18, 2005, 03:53:01 PM
:oops: All fixed!

I agree that I should be able to drain a whole sink full of water without complications, and have since I moved here.

I dont have a longer hose to run to the tub- but dont think I should need to!
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 18, 2005, 03:56:45 PM
Quote from: "Tim"33 banner? there definitley should not be a problem there. Is that still owned by GWL and run by Minto?

Yup!

Its a beautiful building now that Minto is running it. They're renovating all the apts, and I have ceramic floors in the kitchen and bathroom, halogen lighting, and matching light fixtures including a beautiful glass chandelier. Walls are beige with white trim- very modern!  :D
Title: Re: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: UCGrafix on October 18, 2005, 07:26:51 PM
Quote from: "aidensmomma2000"Hey all,
 I live in a big old high rise, and have been told that I cant have a washer or dishwasher because it backs up my neighbour's sink.
I have a 30g and do at most a 50% change at a time.
Think it will cause problems?
Thanks all!
First, use a 5 gal. pail or two, it will be enough.
Second, Only change 1/3 of the water, in order to keep the good bacteria cycle going, it should be enough.
Title: Pythons in apt buildings
Post by: aidensmomma2000 on October 18, 2005, 08:34:48 PM
Theyre discus- a 50% change now and then is a good idea  :wink: