Have An Idea About Water Changes, I Want To Try This

[ultimatebob]

i just had an idea. what if i were to purchase 2 sumps of the same rating(same gph), and a very large tote to help make my water changes even faster. the idea is to fill a large tote with water, treat it as you would your new tank water. attach a sump connected to say a 15ft hose going into your tank. and place a sump of the same rating into your tank connected to the same length of hose going i guess out to the lawn. maybe a lot of setup, but it might beat carrying 5 gallon buckets to your tanks. just an idea that i would like to try someday. the problem i think would be shuting both sumps off at the same time and the tote must still retain enough water at shutoff so it will not dryburn.

 

[SaTiVa1984]

I've seen some great videos on youtube about automated water changing systems, they look awesome!

Here's one: DIY Aquarium Auto Water Change

 

[ultimatebob]

I've seen some great videos on youtube about automated water changing systems, they look awesome!

Here's one: DIY Aquarium Auto Water Change

that is pretty awesome. but sure seems like it takes a long time. still an awesome setup!

 

[OldMan47]

The simplest automatic water change system that I have seen is one that I saw at the ALA convention. The person was using a simple irrigation timer to supply water to his tanks and using an overflow system to prevent a tank overflow. The overflow system was similar to one that might be used to run a sump on a tank. The outlet flow was simply routed to a drain instead of to a sump. The end result was that he added some water each day, about a 9% change, and the overflow arrangement kept it from causing problems in his fish room.

 

[CezzaXV]

I recently came up with a DIY Python system which has been working an absolute treat. When I get some spare time (hopefully soon!) I plan on taking photos and writing a tutorial on how to make your own.

 

[OldMan47]

That would be great CezzaXV. I look forward to seeing it.

 

[dgwebster]

I also have a simple version:

25 mtr garden hose.

couple of feet from the tank end, one of these:

http/www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=28641

other end sits trapped in the toilet bowl by the seat.


Once I've drained the required amount of water, add tap safe of your choice, connected toilet end to cold water tap via commonly available adapter, disconnect pump and put other end into the fish tank (I have an mdf hood, so I also pin it down this end by closing it.)

turn tap onto a gentle supply.

Takes about 30 minutes to change around 15-20 gallons, most of which I spend watching the telly.

 

[SaTiVa1984]

I have started using an old power head from what i believe is an Aquaone internal filter.

Because i do not have a mixer tap or the funds to buy one and get it fitted at the minute, what i have to do is place a 12litre bucket under both taps and get the hot and cold tap running just right so the temp is similar to that of the tank, then i shove a 10 metre hose pipe into the power heads output nozzle which fits perfectly, then drop it into the bucket, with the other end in the fish tank, it does a really great job..

No more 20 trips with the bucket to refill

 

[micko]

I have a garden hose extension on my siphon and let it flow out onto the flower bed.