How Do You Do Your Water Changes?

[micko]

syphon out water into buckets, use that water for the garden and then fill buckets, use dechlor and empty them in slowly. There probably is much faster, easier ways I could be doing it but I don't mind it to be honest.

I've heard of people setting up a system in their tank that's connected directly to their water and a ballcock is released when the water level drops and re-fills with water. I really think your tank would have to be huge for that, well, for me to start that it would have to be a huge tank as my girlfriend wouldn't be having any of it.

 

[tenohfive]

The biggest tanks I have are 340L and 180L and I do 40-50% water changes every 4 days or so.

So I bought 10 metres of 12mm tubing (£12 on a well known auction site) and I run that outside to the drain. Syphon, pick up any obvious crud (sand tank, takes a few seconds to get it all) then have a cuppa. 5 minutes later add enough dechlor to treat the whole tank (recently switched to pond dechlor - more concentrated, better value for money) and run a hose pipe into tank. Finish cuppa, job done in about 10 minutes.

 

[kevinjames]

i have a 500 litre tank that gets 40% water change every week. i syphone with a hose pipe straight outside to a drain then i have a 15 metre hosepipe attached to my electric shower and fill up at the same temp from there. no buckets thats just silly, i do my mams 125litre with buckets and i swear it takes twice as long!!!!!

 

[tenohfive]

i have a 500 litre tank that gets 40% water change every week. i syphone with a hose pipe straight outside to a drain then i have a 15 metre hosepipe attached to my electric shower and fill up at the same temp from there. no buckets thats just silly, i do my mams 125litre with buckets and i swear it takes twice as long!!!!!

Personally I wouldn't (and don't) use hot water - the temperature fluctuation even at 50% isn't that much - and if anything the fish seem to play in the stream of water coming in (less so the cichlids.) I just use a hosepipe from the garden tap and since water changes are significantly easier that way I find myself doing more of them.

 

[JoshuaA]

Unplug my external filter, open the aquaflow tap into a bucket... until enough water has gone.

Fill some buckets begin by siphoning it back in and then just pour the remaining buckets in and pour it onto the reflector of my light which spreads it evenly and gentle lands into the tank not causing disturbances.

 

[ATK!!!]

I heat up my water the night before on a heating pad meant for making wine Then i use my huge siphon which sucks out about a litre per second! (pretty stupid seeing as my tanks only 35l in the first place!) Then i use big concrete mixing buckets to pour all the water back in, in one!

 

[Rogue4Fish]

Some great tips!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Some great tips!

Yes, indeed! Looking like I'll have to set up a discharge hose into my garden to avoid the buckets and buckets and buckets

 

[kevinjames]

i have a 500 litre tank that gets 40% water change every week. i syphone with a hose pipe straight outside to a drain then i have a 15 metre hosepipe attached to my electric shower and fill up at the same temp from there. no buckets thats just silly, i do my mams 125litre with buckets and i swear it takes twice as long!!!!!

Personally I wouldn't (and don't) use hot water - the temperature fluctuation even at 50% isn't that much - and if anything the fish seem to play in the stream of water coming in (less so the cichlids.) I just use a hosepipe from the garden tap and since water changes are significantly easier that way I find myself doing more of them.

i personally wouldnt like to hose the water straight in during the winter we have just had. i find the less fluctuations the better unless trying to start spawning behaviour

 

[Tolak]

Most of my tanks are drilled with overflows for easy water changes. Hot & cold water run to the fishroom, hang a hose, adjust for temperature on the fly. Time it out, gpm x quantity needed, add dechlor once the overflow is done draining. I'm about $100 in pvc & a free weekend away from drilling the last few tanks & running water to each tank so I can change several or all at once.

Going back in time it started with buckets, everyone starts with buckets, pitchers, whatever is available. After a few tanks this progressed to a 35 gallon Rubbermaid garbage can with a pump & hose for waste water, and a hose run from the laundry room to fill. I still use this for the couple of tanks with gravel outside the fishroom, though I run the hose to fill from the fishroom now.

After putting in a rack of drilled 40's it was time to drill & standardize the system. I swear this is going to be a work in progress for the rest of my life, I'm always coming up with new ideas. Inline carbon filtration for supply water, room for ro storage, and a diverter valve to water my lawn with waste water are penciled in.