Easier Water Changes?

[LeeAberdeen]

Wondered if anyone has any tips for an easier method to change your water? Currently, as a newbie, I'm siphoning the water off into a bucket and carrying it over to the sink at least six times. It might be that that's the only way to take the water out, because I have to know how much I've taken out in order to dose the replacement water with dechlorinator correctly. Or maybe you know different?
 
Surely, though, there's an easier way to add water than measuring it out into a bucket, adding dechlorinator then carting it from the kitchen sink at least six times, getting on to a chair and heaving it on to the tank rim in order to pour it slowly into the tank? My kitchen tap's only about 15ft from the tank, so could I connect a hose and put it lukewarm water directly in from the mixer tap (my water conditioner removes copper, so the hot tap should be safe), adding the dechlorinator as it fills?  
 
I'm looking to do big, regular water changes because I'll be getting cichlids and overstocking them, so any tips on saving time during water changes would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[fluttermoth]

You can certainly refill from a hose, yes, plenty of people do.
 
As for the emptying; if you can get a syphon started, you can use the hose for that too; I connect my hose to the tap and get the water running through, then pull it off, with my thumb over the end and chuck it out the back door.
 
You don't really need to measure precisely how much water you've taken out each time. Either empty using buckets once and make a discreet mark somewhere on the tank, or just work it out in your head (so, if you've half emptied a 240l tank, then you'll be putting about 120l back); you can slightly overdose on dechlor without issues anyway.

 

[RRaquariums]

I got a small water pump at my local hardware store really cheap I use that to get the water out and in.

 

[LeeAberdeen]

You can certainly refill from a hose, yes, plenty of people do.
 
As for the emptying; if you can get a syphon started, you can use the hose for that too; I connect my hose to the tap and get the water running through, then pull it off, with my thumb over the end and chuck it out the back door.
 
You don't really need to measure precisely how much water you've taken out each time. Either empty using buckets once and make a discreet mark somewhere on the tank, or just work it out in your head (so, if you've half emptied a 240l tank, then you'll be putting about 120l back); you can slightly overdose on dechlor without issues anyway.

 
Not sure how I would connect my syphon to a hose to get the water out that way? Don't have the back-door option for the hose anyway because I'm in a first-floor flat, so the sink is the only option, and the water would have to travel up the hose for about three feet to be drained into there, and I'm not sure it would do that.
 
Putting it in that way would be easy enough, though, and that would save shedloads of time.

 

[coolie]

You need a python: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Python-15m-50ft-No-Spill-Clean-Fill-Aquarium-Maintenance-System-50NS-/400509337392?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item5d40377f30
 
In my opinion they are over priced, but I will get one eventually because they make water changes so easy, and you wont skip changes.
 
They are powered by your tap to syphon off the water (ideally into a water butt outside) and then refill it again. You don't need to add dechlorinator to each bucket, just calculate the total amount needed and add it to the tank as it fills. http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Concentrated-Aquarium-Tap-Water-Dechlorinator-Fish-Chlorine-Chloramine-Remover-/300871346778?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item460d546a5a

 

[LeeAberdeen]

You need a python: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Python-15m-50ft-No-Spill-Clean-Fill-Aquarium-Maintenance-System-50NS-/400509337392?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item5d40377f30
 
In my opinion they are over priced, but I will get one eventually because they make water changes so easy, and you wont skip changes.
 
They are powered by your tap to syphon off the water (ideally into a water butt outside) and then refill it again. You don't need to add dechlorinator to each bucket, just calculate the total amount needed and add it to the tank as it fills. http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Concentrated-Aquarium-Tap-Water-Dechlorinator-Fish-Chlorine-Chloramine-Remover-/300871346778?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item460d546a5a

 
Looks like just the job. I'd even get away with the 7.5-metre version, which is much cheaper. Thanks for the pointer. Presumably it'll fit a normal kitchen mixer tap?

 

[sawickib]

I saw this YouTube video on how to fill up the tank again, he said the trick is to add the full amount to add as much as the tank holds, so a 150 gallon tank you take out 75 gallons, you dose for 150 gallons. Just to make sure all the chlorine gets killed.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I use a DIY python hose system which runs directly to the bathroom and refilling tank is connected to the shower head tap mixer which mean water is slightly warm when refilling the tank.
 
These will help give you an idea and how to do a diy one, agree its overpriced if you buy one, this does the job perfectly well.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/388430-tutorial-diy-python-system/
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/250013-how-to-make-a-diy-python/?hl=diy%20python
 
Hope that helps.

 

[sawickib]

Oops this was where i was supposed to post it, the american one is a lot cheaper but still expensive http/www.ebay.com/itm/Python-NO-SPILL-CLEAN-and-FILL-50-Fish-Aquarium-Siphon-/161069125197?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item258077ce4d

 

[LeeAberdeen]

You need a python: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Python-15m-50ft-No-Spill-Clean-Fill-Aquarium-Maintenance-System-50NS-/400509337392?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item5d40377f30
 
In my opinion they are over priced, but I will get one eventually because they make water changes so easy, and you wont skip changes.
 
They are powered by your tap to syphon off the water (ideally into a water butt outside) and then refill it again. You don't need to add dechlorinator to each bucket, just calculate the total amount needed and add it to the tank as it fills. http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Concentrated-Aquarium-Tap-Water-Dechlorinator-Fish-Chlorine-Chloramine-Remover-/300871346778?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item460d546a5a

 
Just bought one. I agree, they are overpriced for a bit of glorified plastic, but I figure what price can you put on saving yourself at least half an hour twice a week during water changes? Er, a pretty high one, I think you'll find is the answer...
 
Also, it's better for the fish, because water changes will be easy, so they're likely to become more frequent.
 
Thanks again for the pointer, I appreciate it.

 

[KirkyArcher]

I saw this YouTube video on how to fill up the tank again, he said the trick is to add the full amount to add as much as the tank holds, so a 150 gallon tank you take out 75 gallons, you dose for 150 gallons. Just to make sure all the chlorine gets killed.

Only if you use SeaChem prime or SeaChem Safe is this the case!!!  (with the tap/faucet hose refilling method) For the vast majority of dechlorinators dosing only for the amount of water replaced is the best advice.
Also give consideration to the Python's ability as to whether it  will have enough "oomph" to actually raise water the height you require!

 

[LeeAberdeen]

 

I saw this YouTube video on how to fill up the tank again, he said the trick is to add the full amount to add as much as the tank holds, so a 150 gallon tank you take out 75 gallons, you dose for 150 gallons. Just to make sure all the chlorine gets killed.

Only if you use SeaChem prime or SeaChem Safe is this the case!!!  (with the tap/faucet hose refilling method) For the vast majority of dechlorinators dosing only for the amount of water replaced is the best advice.
Also give consideration to the Python's ability as to whether it  will have enough "oomph" to actually raise water the height you require!
 

 
Yes, adding double the amount of dechlorinator necessary did strike me as dodgy advice...
 
On the 'oomph' issue, I don't really see that as a problem because, even if it is struggling to raise the water a few feet to the sink, I can cut off the hose to the relevant length to make it a much shallower (or non-existent) incline. Hey presto...

 

[Ch4rlie]

I actually use a universal pump as well to help with the 'oomph' of the python hose system, makes it slightly quicker as sometimes using just the hose alone can be pretty slow and even cutting the hose to the very minimum may not have much effect
 
Ebay can sell cheap pumps that will help, I would recommend at least 600lph pump, not fast but consistent speed.

 

[sawickib]

Not my advice so my apologies if it was wrong this is the video. http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgggRr5_Qjo

 

[star4]

 

I saw this YouTube video on how to fill up the tank again, he said the trick is to add the full amount to add as much as the tank holds, so a 150 gallon tank you take out 75 gallons, you dose for 150 gallons. Just to make sure all the chlorine gets killed.

Only if you use SeaChem prime or SeaChem Safe is this the case!!!  (with the tap/faucet hose refilling method) For the vast majority of dechlorinators dosing only for the amount of water replaced is the best advice.
Also give consideration to the Python's ability as to whether it  will have enough "oomph" to actually raise water the height you require!
 

 
 
Ditto the above advice, only SeaChem Prime or SeaChem Safe you can get away with double dosing. Otherwise dose as per the instructions.