How to Siphon a Tank of Water

Siphons work using gravity, as they cause water to flow in a counter-intuitive, uphill direction without the usage of an apparatus such as a pump or a similar external device. The siphon is an ancient device, and the principles behind siphoning are still applied in the early 21st century for a variety of modern uses, including hot tubs, plumbing and aquariums. Siphoning a water tank is easy to do once you know how to do it.

Things You'll Need

  • A rubber tube
  • Tank of water
  • Large bucket
  • Low chair or stool
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Instructions

  1. Siphoning Using Your Mouth

    • 1

      Place a stool or a chair in front of the water tank and put a bucket on it to catch the water from the siphon. The stool should be high enough that the water doesn't splash all over when it hits the bucket,

    • 2

      Place one end of the siphon into the tank of water, making sure that it doesn't hit the bottom of the tank. It should rest a few inches above the bottom.

    • 3

      Hold the tube so that it is lower than the water in the tank, but higher than the bucket. Suck very lightly on the tube, until the water begins to flow through the tube. Remove your mouth, and the water should be able to flow freely into the bucket.

    Siphon Using Immersion

    • 4

      Place a bucket on a stool or low chair in front of the tank. The bucket should be positioned so that the water doesn't splash out when it hits the bucket.

    • 5

      Place the entire device you are using to siphon (usually a flexible rubber tube) into the water tank. Ensure that all of the bubbles have stopped emanating from the tube (i.e., there's no air in the tube anymore).

    • 6

      Cover an end of the tube completely with one of your fingers. Raise only the end that is being covered out of the water tank and point it at the bucket. The second end should remain completely in the water. Remove your finger from that end, and the water will start pouring out of the tube.