When DIY Meets Kevin: The Fish Tank Siphon Catastrophe That Left Us All Speechless
There’s “learning through experience,” and then there’s whatever Kevin did with a fish tank siphon tube. If you’ve ever owned an aquarium, you know the ritual: siphon the gunk out, rinse, repeat, and hope you don’t end up smelling like the business end of a goldfish. But for one Redditor and his infamous roommate, Kevin, this cleaning session turned into a real-life slapstick comedy—one that even Wile E. Coyote would envy.
This isn’t just a story about a fish tank mishap. It’s a tale of good intentions, questionable decision-making, and a moment of instant karma that left an entire room in utter disbelief (and fits of laughter). So, what happens when you mix a stubborn clog, a candy cane-shaped tube, and a “helpful” Kevin? Let’s dive in.
The Setup: When Siphon Meets Silliness
Picture this: it’s just a regular day, and your roommate is elbow-deep in aquarium maintenance, wrestling with a stubborn clog in the siphon tube. Enter Kevin, the well-meaning but somewhat oblivious sidekick. The siphon in question is shaped like a candy cane—which should be the first clue that this could go sideways.
As the original poster, u/Hegewisch, recounts, Kevin sees the struggle and offers to help. But instead of grabbing the brush or finding a tool, he goes straight for the “direct approach”: putting the tube to his mouth and blowing with gusto. Now, to anyone who’s ever watched a single episode of Looney Tunes, the outcome here is obvious. But as commenter u/rosuav hilariously observes, “This is what happens when people haven't watched enough of the classic cartoons to know what to be careful of.”
What happened next would leave everyone—except maybe Kevin—speechless.
The Blowback: A Faceful of Fishy Regret
In a move that will go down in roommate history, Kevin doesn’t realize that the short end of the candy cane-shaped tube is pointing directly at his own forehead. As he blows into the siphon, all that trapped fish tank gunk—fish poop, algae, unidentifiable goo—shoots out at warp speed, landing with pinpoint accuracy right between his eyes. The room falls silent, then erupts into laughter.
The best part? The roommate saw it coming and, as u/Hegewisch admits, decided not to intervene. Why? “He felt if he didn’t realize it was a bad idea then too bad.” Sometimes, the best lessons are the ones we learn the hard (and messy) way.
Redditor u/FrangibleSoul summed up the moment with the perfect pun: “Did Kevin ‘see’ the error of his ways?” Unfortunately, as the original poster replied, “Considering some of the other things he did, I would say no.” It seems that Kevin’s learning curve is more of a gentle incline.
Community Wisdom: Kevins Gonna Kevin
This post didn’t just provide comic relief—it sparked a wave of community stories and insights. “Kevins gonna Kevin,” declared u/Nightmare_Gerbil, who shared a similar tale involving a bud vase, a misplaced mouth, and a face full of water. Apparently, the “blow first, think later” approach is more common than you’d expect.
Others in the thread added their own flavor. u/RedDazzlr proposed a hypothetical: “Try it with a tube that has scrambled egg in it and see what he does.” The original poster chimed in, speculating, “He would probably suck it instead of blowing.” To which u/RedDazzlr replied, “Either way, it would be hilarious.” The consensus? When it comes to Kevin, there’s always potential for another classic blunder.
But amid the jokes, there’s a subtle lesson about the importance of observation—and maybe a warning about letting “helpful” roommates near your aquarium gear.
Why We Love a Good Kevin Story
Why do stories like this resonate so much? Maybe it’s because we’ve all had our own “Kevin moments”—times when we leapt before we looked, only to learn a memorable (and maybe messy) lesson. Or maybe it’s just the universal truth that watching someone else’s well-intended disaster is funnier when you’re not the one washing fish poo off your face.
As u/rosuav pointed out, the classics never lie: heed the lessons of slapstick, cartoons, and Reddit’s collective wisdom. And if you ever find yourself with a clogged siphon and a Kevin nearby, maybe—just maybe—keep your distance. Or at least grab your phone and get ready to tell the internet.
Conclusion: Share Your “Kevin” Moments!
So, what’s your most memorable DIY disaster or roommate mishap? Have you ever witnessed a “Kevin” in action—or been one yourself? Drop your stories in the comments! After all, life’s too short not to laugh at a little fish tank chaos.
And remember: in the world of home maintenance, always check which way the tube is pointing before you blow.
Original Reddit Post: Kevin offered to help clean the fish tank filter.