Reason not to swallow tank water

[Altum]

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908

Notice how resistant the isolated strain is to antibiotics. As well as
being a good reason to wash your hands after playing in your fishtank,
this is a very compelling reason to avoid using antibiotics in aquaria.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

[Gill Passman]

Altum wrote:
> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>
> Notice how resistant the isolated strain is to antibiotics. As well as
> being a good reason to wash your hands after playing in your fishtank,
> this is a very compelling reason to avoid using antibiotics in aquaria.
>

And I thought it was my cooking.....lol

[Flash Wilson]

On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 22:40:35 GMT, Altum > wrote:
>Notice how resistant the isolated strain is to antibiotics. As well as
>being a good reason to wash your hands after playing in your fishtank,
>this is a very compelling reason to avoid using antibiotics in aquaria.

I always wash my hands after tank maintenance... otherwise they
smell "tanky"! And I wonder if the same applies in the UK where
we don't get antibiotics for pets over the counter, so it's
very rarely seen in home aquaria. Be interesting to compare.

--
Flash Wilson - Web Design & Mastery - 0870 401 4061 / 07939 579090
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Work: www.wdam.co.uk Personal: www.gorge.org

[Altum]

Flash Wilson wrote:
> On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 22:40:35 GMT, Altum > wrote:
>> Notice how resistant the isolated strain is to antibiotics. As well as
>> being a good reason to wash your hands after playing in your fishtank,
>> this is a very compelling reason to avoid using antibiotics in aquaria.
>
> I always wash my hands after tank maintenance... otherwise they
> smell "tanky"! And I wonder if the same applies in the UK where
> we don't get antibiotics for pets over the counter, so it's
> very rarely seen in home aquaria. Be interesting to compare.
>
The tanks were Aussie. IIRC, aquarists can't get antibiotics there
either. The resistant strains probably come from fish farms.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

[Mister Gardener]

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 19:41:11 +0000 (UTC), (Flash
Wilson) wrote:

>On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 22:40:35 GMT, Altum > wrote:
>>Notice how resistant the isolated strain is to antibiotics. As well as
>>being a good reason to wash your hands after playing in your fishtank,
>>this is a very compelling reason to avoid using antibiotics in aquaria.
>
>I always wash my hands after tank maintenance... otherwise they
>smell "tanky"! And I wonder if the same applies in the UK where
>we don't get antibiotics for pets over the counter, so it's
>very rarely seen in home aquaria. Be interesting to compare.

I don't think we can blame North Americans for this one. Clipped from
The New York Times:

Though the particular drug-resistant strain identified in Australia
has yet to be reported from American aquariums, Dr. Fred Angulo of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that taking the sorts
of precautions that Dr. Lightfoot and Dr. Gaulin recommended made good
sense.

The article headline was something about Nemo. Maybe this story will
scare some mommies enough that they will stop buying cute little Nemos
for their snotty nosed little brats to imprison and slowly poison in
little fishbowls.

-- Mister Gardener

Everything Aquaria & Tropical Fish at The Krib:
http://www.thekrib.com/

[Koi-Lo]

"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
> The article headline was something about Nemo. Maybe this story will
> scare some mommies enough that they will stop buying cute little Nemos
> for their snotty nosed little brats to imprison and slowly poison in
> little fishbowls.
===================
It can't be any worse than how the baby turtles, chicks and ducklings were
tormented and abused to death until outlawed. :*( Tiny fishbowls should be
the next thing to go.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
Altum > wrote:

-> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908

---QUOTE---
It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
"If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
---END QUOTE---

Uh oh.
--
8^(~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Gill Passman]

Suzie-Q wrote:
> In article >,
> Altum > wrote:
>
> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>
> ---QUOTE---
> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
> ---END QUOTE---
>
> Uh oh.

Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-

"Dear Gill,

Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
our aquaria.

In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones
that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.

However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water,
and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
If you're not too embarrassed."

I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....

Gill

[Mister Gardener]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>Suzie-Q wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Altum > wrote:
>>
>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>
>> ---QUOTE---
>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>> ---END QUOTE---
>>
>> Uh oh.
>
>Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>
>"Dear Gill,
>
>Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
>trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>our aquaria.
>
>In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
>tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones
>that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>
>However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water,
>and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>If you're not too embarrassed."
>
>I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
>the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
>kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>
>Gill
>
>
>
I got the same email from PFK. I shall continue to suck on my siphon
tube. I don't do water changes while preparing dinner, but I do hang
my nets on the kitchen pegboard alongside all of my cooking utensils.

Perhaps I will begin wiping off the end of the tube on my sleeve
before sucking on it. As for the nets in the kitchen, perhaps I'll
find a new hook for them, away from the other stuff.

-- Mister Gardener

[Charles]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>Suzie-Q wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Altum > wrote:
>>
>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>
>> ---QUOTE---
>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>> ---END QUOTE---
>>
>> Uh oh.
>
>Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>
>"Dear Gill,
>
>Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
>trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>our aquaria.
>
>In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
>tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones
>that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>
>However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water,
>and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>If you're not too embarrassed."
>
>I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
>the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
>kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>
>Gill
>
>
>
Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
full.

<:-)

I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
that on.

<:-)

[Altum]

Charles wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
> > wrote:
>
>> Suzie-Q wrote:
>>> In article >,
>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>
>>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>
>>> ---QUOTE---
>>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
>>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
>>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
>>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>> ---END QUOTE---
>>>
>>> Uh oh.
>> Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>
>> "Dear Gill,
>>
>> Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
>> trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>> and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>> our aquaria.
>>
>> In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>> Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
>> tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>> In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>> some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones
>> that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>
>> However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>> hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>> mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>> taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>> have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water,
>> and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>> non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>> If you're not too embarrassed."
>>
>> I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
>> the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
>> kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>
>> Gill
>>
>>
>>
> Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
> full.
>
> <:-)
>
> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
> that on.
>
> <:-)

These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing to
start siphons anyway.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

[Charles]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
wrote:

>Charles wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>> In article >,
>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>
>>>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>>
>>>> ---QUOTE---
>>>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
>>>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
>>>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
>>>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>>> ---END QUOTE---
>>>>
>>>> Uh oh.
>>> Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>>
>>> "Dear Gill,
>>>
>>> Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
>>> trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>>> and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>>> our aquaria.
>>>
>>> In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>>> Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
>>> tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>>> In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>>> some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones
>>> that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>>
>>> However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>>> hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>>> mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>>> taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>>> have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water,
>>> and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>>> non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>>> If you're not too embarrassed."
>>>
>>> I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
>>> the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
>>> kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>>
>>> Gill
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
>> full.
>>
>> <:-)
>>
>> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
>> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
>> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>> that on.
>>
>> <:-)
>
>These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
>fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
>diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
>siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing to
>start siphons anyway.


For people in the US who have a store "Harbor Freight" they have a
squeeze bulb siphon on sale now. I have something like that from long
ago that was sold for aquariums, I haven't seen it sold for a long
time.

URL:

http://www.harborfreight.com search for item 93290

[Nikki]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
...
> Suzie-Q wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Altum > wrote:
>>
>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>
>> ---QUOTE---
>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or
>> bathroom sink: "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and
>> disinfect all the surfaces used with a bleach solution of four
>> tablespoons per liter of lukewarm water. Rinse these surfaces well before
>> reusing."
>> ---END QUOTE---
>>
>> Uh oh.
>
> Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>
> "Dear Gill,
>
> Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
> trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries and
> out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in our
> aquaria.
>
> In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
> Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
> tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water. In
> these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but some of
> the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones that have
> resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>
> However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your hands
> thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your mouth to
> start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth taking the
> news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and have
> inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water, and I
> haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
> non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog If
> you're not too embarrassed."
>
> I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
> the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
> kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>
> Gill
>
>
>
>
I change tank water in the sink...however I do clean my sink with bleach
several times a day being my youngest son Luke has problems with getting
sick.
Instead of sucking on the hose to get it started.......I use the carpet
vacuum /shop vac which ever is closer, turn it on then off real quick and
99% of the time don't get no water in the vacuum, or else ask my husband to
start the hose... that way it will be him and not me with water in the
mouth.
nik

[MEAlston]

It's been said that long long ago, the Greeks rinsed with urea as a
dental-whitening measure. Without going into detail on the pursuit of this
urea, it is, however awkward, food for thought.

[Gill Passman]

MEAlston wrote:
> It's been said that long long ago, the Greeks rinsed with urea as a
> dental-whitening measure. Without going into detail on the pursuit of this
> urea, it is, however awkward, food for thought.
>
>
Well we are drifting a little off topic here but....

When I went to Pompeii a couple of years ago it was documented that
urine was used in most of the laundries for the cleaning of clothes and
other linen - in fact it was a sellable commodity....

Personally, I think tank water is great for gardens....got the best
tomato crop ever when solely watering with stuff from my tanks.....not
aware I got food poisoning from eating them....and you should have seen
the growth of the Basil also watered from my tanks....amazing and far
better and tastier than you could ever buy....

Gill

[Mister Gardener]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
wrote:

>Charles wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>> In article >,
>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>
>>>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>>
>>>> ---QUOTE---
>>>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or bathroom sink:
>>>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the
>>>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm
>>>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>>> ---END QUOTE---
>>>>
>>>> Uh oh.
>>> Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>>
>>> "Dear Gill,
>>>
>>> Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that "the
>>> trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>>> and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>>> our aquaria.
>>>
>>> In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>>> Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of the
>>> tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>>> In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>>> some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant ones
>>> that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>>
>>> However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>>> hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>>> mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>>> taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>>> have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden water,
>>> and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>>> non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>>> If you're not too embarrassed."
>>>
>>> I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to start
>>> the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on the
>>> kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>>
>>> Gill
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
>> full.
>>
>> <:-)
>>
>> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
>> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
>> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>> that on.
>>
>> <:-)
>
>These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
>fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
>diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
>siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing to
>start siphons anyway.

Come to think of it, I use a Python Clone for but one tank, and that
one is an easy self start or barely suck.

-- Mister Gardener

[Mister Gardener]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:30:56 GMT, "MEAlston"
> wrote:

>It's been said that long long ago, the Greeks rinsed with urea as a
>dental-whitening measure. Without going into detail on the pursuit of this
>urea, it is, however awkward, food for thought.
>
Or drink. (Someone had to say it.)
-- Mister Gardener

[Mister Gardener]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:55:11 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>MEAlston wrote:
>> It's been said that long long ago, the Greeks rinsed with urea as a
>> dental-whitening measure. Without going into detail on the pursuit of this
>> urea, it is, however awkward, food for thought.
>>
>>
>Well we are drifting a little off topic here but....
>
>When I went to Pompeii a couple of years ago it was documented that
>urine was used in most of the laundries for the cleaning of clothes and
>other linen - in fact it was a sellable commodity....
>
>Personally, I think tank water is great for gardens....got the best
>tomato crop ever when solely watering with stuff from my tanks.....not
>aware I got food poisoning from eating them....and you should have seen
>the growth of the Basil also watered from my tanks....amazing and far
>better and tastier than you could ever buy....
>
>Gill
I've read that the wealthy ladies of the European estates would often
pause during their garden strolls over certain plants or flowers that
needed a little tonic and quietly water them without anyone being the
wiser. So this gives us a clue as to what they wore under those long
puffed out dresses.

Next?

-- Mister Gardener

[Mister Gardener]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:55:11 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>MEAlston wrote:
>> It's been said that long long ago, the Greeks rinsed with urea as a
>> dental-whitening measure. Without going into detail on the pursuit of this
>> urea, it is, however awkward, food for thought.
>>
>>
>Well we are drifting a little off topic here but....
>
>When I went to Pompeii a couple of years ago it was documented that
>urine was used in most of the laundries for the cleaning of clothes and
>other linen - in fact it was a sellable commodity....
>
>Personally, I think tank water is great for gardens....got the best
>tomato crop ever when solely watering with stuff from my tanks.....not
>aware I got food poisoning from eating them....and you should have seen
>the growth of the Basil also watered from my tanks....amazing and far
>better and tastier than you could ever buy....
>
>Gill
This makes my all natural organic fishless cycling method pretty tame,
huh?

-- Mister Gardener

[Roy]

Yea, Koi-Lo aka Carol Gulley may have been in it.

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[NetMax]

"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
> wrote:
>
>>Charles wrote:
>>> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>>> In article >,
>>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> ->
>>>>> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>>>
>>>>> ---QUOTE---
>>>>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or
>>>>> bathroom sink:
>>>>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect
>>>>> all the
>>>>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter
>>>>> of lukewarm
>>>>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>>>> ---END QUOTE---
>>>>>
>>>>> Uh oh.
>>>> Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>>>
>>>> "Dear Gill,
>>>>
>>>> Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that
>>>> "the
>>>> trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy
>>>> curries
>>>> and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living
>>>> in
>>>> our aquaria.
>>>>
>>>> In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>>>> Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of
>>>> the
>>>> tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their
>>>> water.
>>>> In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria,
>>>> but
>>>> some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant
>>>> ones
>>>> that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>>>
>>>> However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>>>> hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using
>>>> your
>>>> mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also
>>>> worth
>>>> taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades,
>>>> and
>>>> have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden
>>>> water,
>>>> and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>>>> non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the
>>>> blog
>>>> If you're not too embarrassed."
>>>>
>>>> I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to
>>>> start
>>>> the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on
>>>> the
>>>> kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>>>
>>>> Gill
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
>>> full.
>>>
>>> <:-)
>>>
>>> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>>> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and
>>> had
>>> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the
>>> other
>>> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>>> that on.
>>>
>>> <:-)
>>
>>These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
>>fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
>>diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
>>siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing
>>to
>>start siphons anyway.
>
> Come to think of it, I use a Python Clone for but one tank, and that
> one is an easy self start or barely suck.
>
> -- Mister Gardener


A T valve installed at the intake of your canister filter (drain water
and backwash your filter at the same time). Siphon hoses are so passé
;~).

My gravel vac has a self-starting valve built in, just shake it in the
water. It did take a bit of practice to get the technique, but works
fine now.

Thanks for the article Altum. Makes a case against kitchen aquariums
where the bacteria could be carried into the air from an energetic filter
return.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[NetMax]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
...
> MEAlston wrote:
>> It's been said that long long ago, the Greeks rinsed with urea as a
>> dental-whitening measure. Without going into detail on the pursuit of
>> this
>> urea, it is, however awkward, food for thought.
>>
>>
> Well we are drifting a little off topic here but....
>
> When I went to Pompeii a couple of years ago it was documented that
> urine was used in most of the laundries for the cleaning of clothes and
> other linen - in fact it was a sellable commodity....
>
> Personally, I think tank water is great for gardens....got the best
> tomato crop ever when solely watering with stuff from my tanks.....not
> aware I got food poisoning from eating them....and you should have seen
> the growth of the Basil also watered from my tanks....amazing and far
> better and tastier than you could ever buy....
>
> Gill

food poisoning? any relation to where the water came from? (getting
paranoid now)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
Charles > wrote:
->
-> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
-> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
-> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
-> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
-> that on.



Take zinc for the cold. It may be too late for the cold you have
now, but if you take zinc lozenges starting as soon as you realize
you're getting a cold, your cold will not be as bad and will not
last as long. (Zicam is actually just zinc with a high price tag,
so look for the cheaper equivalent.)
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Charles]

On Fri, 21 Apr 2006 04:16:55 GMT, Suzie-Q >
wrote:

>In article >,
> Charles > wrote:
>->
>-> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>-> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
>-> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
>-> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>-> that on.
>
>
>
>Take zinc for the cold. It may be too late for the cold you have
>now, but if you take zinc lozenges starting as soon as you realize
>you're getting a cold, your cold will not be as bad and will not
>last as long. (Zicam is actually just zinc with a high price tag,
>so look for the cheaper equivalent.)


Thanks, I've heard that. this one isn't so bad, just something to
talk about right now.

[Nikki]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Charles wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>>>> In article >,
>>>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ---QUOTE---
>>>>>> It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or
>>>>>> bathroom sink:
>>>>>> "If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of
>>>>>> lukewarm
>>>>>> water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>>>>> ---END QUOTE---
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Uh oh.
>>>>> Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>>>>
>>>>> "Dear Gill,
>>>>>
>>>>> Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that
>>>>> "the
>>>>> trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>>>>> and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>>>>> our aquaria.
>>>>>
>>>>> In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>>>>> Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of
>>>>> the
>>>>> tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>>>>> In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>>>>> some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant
>>>>> ones
>>>>> that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>>>>
>>>>> However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>>>>> hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>>>>> mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>>>>> taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>>>>> have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden
>>>>> water,
>>>>> and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>>>>> non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>>>>> If you're not too embarrassed."
>>>>>
>>>>> I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to
>>>>> start
>>>>> the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on
>>>>> the
>>>>> kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>>>>
>>>>> Gill
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
>>>> full.
>>>>
>>>> <:-)
>>>>
>>>> I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>>>> I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
>>>> interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
>>>> hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>>>> that on.
>>>>
>>>> <:-)
>>>
>>>These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
>>>fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
>>>diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
>>>siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing to
>>>start siphons anyway.
>>
>> Come to think of it, I use a Python Clone for but one tank, and that
>> one is an easy self start or barely suck.
>>
>> -- Mister Gardener
>
>
> A T valve installed at the intake of your canister filter (drain water and
> backwash your filter at the same time). Siphon hoses are so passé ;~).
>
> My gravel vac has a self-starting valve built in, just shake it in the
> water. It did take a bit of practice to get the technique, but works fine
> now.
>
> Thanks for the article Altum. Makes a case against kitchen aquariums
> where the bacteria could be carried into the air from an energetic filter
> return.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk


you mean by self starting you move it up & down then the water comes out,
mine says that but does not work that easy so i use the vacuum.
Nik
>

[Gill Passman]

Nikki wrote:
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Charles wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>In article >,
>>>>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>-> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>---QUOTE---
>>>>>>>It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or
>>>>>>>bathroom sink:
>>>>>>>"If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect all
>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter of
>>>>>>>lukewarm
>>>>>>>water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>>>>>>---END QUOTE---
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Uh oh.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Dear Gill,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that
>>>>>>"the
>>>>>>trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>>>>>>and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living in
>>>>>>our aquaria.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>>>>>>Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of
>>>>>>the
>>>>>>tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their water.
>>>>>>In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>>>>>>some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant
>>>>>>ones
>>>>>>that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>>>>>>hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>>>>>>mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also worth
>>>>>>taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>>>>>>have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden
>>>>>>water,
>>>>>>and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>>>>>>non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the blog
>>>>>>If you're not too embarrassed."
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to
>>>>>>start
>>>>>>the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on
>>>>>>the
>>>>>>kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Gill
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
>>>>>full.
>>>>>
>>>>> <:-)
>>>>>
>>>>>I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>>>>>I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
>>>>>interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
>>>>>hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>>>>>that on.
>>>>>
>>>>><:-)
>>>>
>>>>These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
>>>>fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
>>>>diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
>>>>siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing to
>>>>start siphons anyway.
>>>
>>>Come to think of it, I use a Python Clone for but one tank, and that
>>>one is an easy self start or barely suck.
>>>
>>>-- Mister Gardener
>>
>>
>>A T valve installed at the intake of your canister filter (drain water and
>>backwash your filter at the same time). Siphon hoses are so passé ;~).
>>
>>My gravel vac has a self-starting valve built in, just shake it in the
>>water. It did take a bit of practice to get the technique, but works fine
>>now.
>>
>>Thanks for the article Altum. Makes a case against kitchen aquariums
>>where the bacteria could be carried into the air from an energetic filter
>>return.
>>--
>>www.NetMax.tk
>
>
>
> you mean by self starting you move it up & down then the water comes out,
> mine says that but does not work that easy so i use the vacuum.
> Nik
>
>
>
My filter (FX5) has a valve on it for just this sort of thing (water
changes) but I haven't explored it yet....it wasn't in the docs that I
got and I haven't got round to watching the DVD yet...

I use the move it up and down type syphon but can never get it going, or
if I can it takes me around 5 mins...quick suck on the pipe and it takes
a few seconds - this is why I use the suck method rather than the shake...

Gill

[Koi-Lo]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
...
> Personally, I think tank water is great for gardens....got the best tomato
> crop ever when solely watering with stuff from my tanks......
=============================
That water also grows great tropical house plants, peppers, squash and
anything you can think of.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Aquarium FAQ are at: http://faq.thekrib.com/
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Nikki]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
...
> Nikki wrote:
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>
>>>"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Charles wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>In article >,
>>>>>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>-> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>---QUOTE---
>>>>>>>>It advises against washing aquarium accessories in the kitchen or
>>>>>>>>bathroom sink:
>>>>>>>>"If you have no other option, then thoroughly clean and disinfect
>>>>>>>>all the
>>>>>>>>surfaces used with a bleach solution of four tablespoons per liter
>>>>>>>>of lukewarm
>>>>>>>>water. Rinse these surfaces well before reusing."
>>>>>>>>---END QUOTE---
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Uh oh.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Well I got this email from PFK this morning:-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Dear Gill,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Have you had an upset stomach recently? New research suggests that
>>>>>>>"the
>>>>>>>trots" and acute gastroenteritis normally attributed to dodgy curries
>>>>>>>and out-of-date chicken might actually be caused by bacteria living
>>>>>>>in
>>>>>>>our aquaria.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>In two separate studies, scientists have found that many cases of
>>>>>>>Salmonella were caused by contact with aquariums, and around half of
>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>tanks examined held the potentially dangerous bacteria in their
>>>>>>>water.
>>>>>>>In these studies, not only have Salmonella been found in aquaria, but
>>>>>>>some of the Salmonella strains isolated are particularly unpleasant
>>>>>>>ones
>>>>>>>that have resistance to many types of antibiotic.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>However, while this emphasises just how important it is to wash your
>>>>>>>hands thoroughly after maintaining your tank, and to avoid using your
>>>>>>>mouth to start up your gravel cleaning siphon, I think it's also
>>>>>>>worth
>>>>>>>taking the news with a pinch of salt. I've kept fish for decades, and
>>>>>>>have inadvertently inhaled the odd lungful of minging mulm-laden
>>>>>>>water,
>>>>>>>and I haven't noticed that I suffer any more stomach upsets than my
>>>>>>>non-fishkeeping friends. Have any of you? Tell us about it on the
>>>>>>>blog
>>>>>>>If you're not too embarrassed."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I suppose I ought to rethink my habit of sucking on the syphon to
>>>>>>>start
>>>>>>>the water change, along with my habit of doing the water changes on
>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>kitchen tanks while I am cooking dinner....
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Gill
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Lung full? Wow. A mouth full, at times, yes, but not a whole lung
>>>>>>full.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> <:-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I've filled my mouth full a few times, never worried much about it.
>>>>>>I've also eaten on the economy in a few third world countries, and had
>>>>>>interesting experiences from that, but haven't died yet. On the other
>>>>>>hand, I am tired of this cold I have now, I wonder what I can blame
>>>>>>that on.
>>>>>>
>>>>>><:-)
>>>>>
>>>>>These bacteria are pretty rare at the moment. Probably rarer than
>>>>>fishtank granuloma, and that's so unusual that doctors usually miss the
>>>>>diagnosis. I'm probably going to be a bit more careful about starting
>>>>>siphons on little tanks. In big tanks, I usually submerge the tubing
>>>>>to
>>>>>start siphons anyway.
>>>>
>>>>Come to think of it, I use a Python Clone for but one tank, and that
>>>>one is an easy self start or barely suck.
>>>>
>>>>-- Mister Gardener
>>>
>>>
>>>A T valve installed at the intake of your canister filter (drain water
>>>and backwash your filter at the same time). Siphon hoses are so passé
>>>;~).
>>>
>>>My gravel vac has a self-starting valve built in, just shake it in the
>>>water. It did take a bit of practice to get the technique, but works
>>>fine now.
>>>
>>>Thanks for the article Altum. Makes a case against kitchen aquariums
>>>where the bacteria could be carried into the air from an energetic filter
>>>return.
>>>--
>>>www.NetMax.tk
>>
>>
>>
>> you mean by self starting you move it up & down then the water comes out,
>> mine says that but does not work that easy so i use the vacuum.
>> Nik
>>
>>
>>
> My filter (FX5) has a valve on it for just this sort of thing (water
> changes) but I haven't explored it yet....it wasn't in the docs that I got
> and I haven't got round to watching the DVD yet...
>
> I use the move it up and down type syphon but can never get it going, or
> if I can it takes me around 5 mins...quick suck on the pipe and it takes a
> few seconds - this is why I use the suck method rather than the shake...
>
> Gill
>

plus moving that thing up and down to start it ....you mess the entire tank
up or smack a fish in the head, my female bettas are so curious no matter
what goes in the tank they all go around it to see what it is and why I am
doing it, it causes a real problem with vacuuming, I have to use the small
vac so I don't suck them up because they wont stay out of the way, when I
put a new plant in each one had to go over and investigate.
Nik

[NetMax]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
...
> Nikki wrote:
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>
>>>"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:57:02 GMT, Altum >
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Charles wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:05:16 +0100, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Suzie-Q wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>In article >,
>>>>>>>> Altum > wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>-> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=908

<snip>
>>>A T valve installed at the intake of your canister filter (drain water
>>>and backwash your filter at the same time). Siphon hoses are so passé
>>>;~).
>>>
>>>My gravel vac has a self-starting valve built in, just shake it in the
>>>water. It did take a bit of practice to get the technique, but works
>>>fine now.
>>>
>>>Thanks for the article Altum. Makes a case against kitchen aquariums
>>>where the bacteria could be carried into the air from an energetic filter
>>>return.
>>>--
>>>www.NetMax.tk
>>
>>
>>
>> you mean by self starting you move it up & down then the water comes out,
>> mine says that but does not work that easy so i use the vacuum.
>> Nik
>>
>>
>>
> My filter (FX5) has a valve on it for just this sort of thing (water
> changes) but I haven't explored it yet....it wasn't in the docs that I got
> and I haven't got round to watching the DVD yet...
>
> I use the move it up and down type syphon but can never get it going, or
> if I can it takes me around 5 mins...quick suck on the pipe and it takes a
> few seconds - this is why I use the suck method rather than the shake...
>
> Gill

Some people shake, some people suck, whatever works ;~). A few tricks to
the shake-start are i) have the hose clear of water (the added pressure of
pushing water through the hose may prevent it from working), ii) shake
horizontally a few inches below the surface, iii) leave a bit of hose in the
tank at or below water line, iv) when you see the water line cresting the
tank's top edge, pull the extra hose away from the tank and watch the siphon
start.

Because of water in the hose, I have less trouble with the 1st tank than
with subsequent tanks, so I pinch the hose moving from tank to tank.

Another way is to connect the hose on a lower floor faucet and pump water up
into the tank. As soon as the hose is full, disconnect at the lower level
and the water reverses (instant siphon). That's probably the easiest method
if your tank's are above your sink. Just keep a supply of spring clamps to
attach the hose to parts of the aquarium and the edge of the sink if you
work alone.
--
www.NetMax.tk