Water changers

[Benji k]

It depends on your situation. Some people keep a 55 gallon drum nearby and use a pump to transfer water from the drum to the aquarium. You could do the same thing while keeping the drum outside and just running a hose from the drum to wherever your tank is located.

I could do that I’ll probably just do buckets.

 

[AmyKieran]

Just a question, how would I use a python type water changer while using cichlids salt?

 

[Morganna]

I use Hygger's version of a water changer. Same thing as Python, just cheaper. It hooks up to my bathroom faucet once I got the aerator off. Only used it once so far, but both me and my dad like it better than the 5 gallon buckets (which he always carried, not me, since I can't pick it up). The pressure is lower than with a regular siphon into a bucket, and slow to refill, but I find it worth it to be patient.

 

[1L19]

I just use siphon but is there an easier way to get the water bank into the tank then lifting the bucket.

Look five posts above yours to see my solution. No lifting for me. I still use buckets but I put them (two) in the bathtub, run the water into them, add Prime, check temperature then just stick the intake hose for the pump into the buckets and move the water.

 

[Byron]

Just a question, how would I use a python type water changer while using cichlids salt?

You cannot use the Python to fill the tank directly if you need to first treat the water, as here by adding rift lake mineral salts. You could run the tap water via the Python into a container like a large tub or clean garbage container, mix the water to obtain the necessary GH/KH/pH (temperature would be controlled at the faucet obviously), then fill the tank with the prepared water using a small 1 or 2 liter jug.

 

[Uberhoust]

A wet-dry vac isn't worth crud for water changes, you're right, but it is GREAT for doing the final drain/clean out when tearing down an aquarium to start over

For aquariums no, but a large wet dry ie 10 gallons or more does a good job with small inground ponds. You can get a valve on the barrel that is easy to open when filled to quickly drain them once full, additionally because the hose is about 3" in diameter and the fish never go through an impeller, accidental capture of a fish in the vacuum stands a much better chance of surviving the episode. You can also use them to start a large siphon on a above ground pond, which is the reason you don't want to use them indoors.

 

[PewPewChris]

Will the Python connect to any style bathroom/kitchen faucet?

 

[Byron]

Will the Python connect to any style bathroom/kitchen faucet?

You need a faucet that has threads either inside (some have little screw-in filters that can be unscrewed from these threads) or outside like a laundry sink tap (the older type anyway) or an outside hose bib (tap) with external threads. The Python comes with an adapter so you can use any of these, but there has to be a set of threads on the faucet.