Tank Draining

[shortymet55]

Hi All,

Im working on a project and Im trying to strategize how to drain the tank. I know most filters draw water from the bottom, but Ive seen videos where people skim off the surface. I read somewhere that water at the top of the tank generally has more oxygen from being expose to air, and the bottom generally has more ammonia from being closer to fish waste in the substrate. Assuming this is true, is the only purpose of surface skimming to take off that wierd looking layer? Is there any real benefit of this? I have to HOB filters, so I usually have no problem with this layer.

But more directly to my question, if I was to attach a valve that can drain the aquarium, would I want to drill a hole near the bottom of the tank, maybe an two or three inches above the sand, or is there a benefit to putting it higher? I just dont want to mess up, because I only want one hole.

Thanks for your input,
JT

 

[ColR1948]

I'm not stealing you idea but I too have thought of something similar so I had an idea to try first before I tried anything with the tank.

The idea is very similar but I thought of using a plastic tub that you can get from the hardware store and with it being plastic it might be easier to work with, ie drilling and inserting a tap.
Also going on from that I thought of having a kind of suspended or raised layer off the bottom, some kind of grill, too small for the gravel but big enough to let any waste fall through. but not sure how effective that will be, perhaps an under-gravel type filter might be the answer there.

 

[shortymet55]

Does anyone have an opinion on taking water to the top vs bottom of the tank?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I'd take it from the bottom like under the gravel with some kind of mesh in the hole, that way you'd drain out most of the ammonia with it.

 

[shortymet55]

Im actually switching my tank over to sand, while I have it emptied. I guess Ill have to figure out how much flow Ill have and see how close to sand I can get without it being sucked up. Im going to use 1/2" tube, so I suspect it can be pretty close.

 

[shortymet55]

Also on a related note, how does everyone clean the sand underneath plants and wood? There is no way at all to get my syphon down underneath some of my stuff.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

TBH if going planted you dont need to clean the sand as the plants will use up any waste providing your filter creates enough flow.