Cleaning a tall aquarium

[Fphipps]

Good morning!

I have a friend who asked me to help them clean their aquarium. The tank is big, in a weird way. I do not know the exact dimensions but it is about 5-6ft long, 5ft tall and only about 18inches deep. Why he went with this size, I do not know. But he has it built into his wall that divides two rooms so its about 2ft off the ground. I'm only 5'6" -_-

I am struggling to figure a way to change his water. He wants me to mix the salt and use my RO/DI water. He mentioned the tank is somewhere around 120 gallons roughly. I figure I will change 25 gallons. When I change water I use buckets and mix the salt the night before. What I was thinking of doing was dragging the buckets over one time. When I take out the 25 gallons I will mark the spot on the tank and next time I will use the python hooked to the sink to take the water out and put it back in. I plan on filling one bucket with enough salt for 25 gallons to bring with me already mixed, so essentially a super salty bucket of water that i will slowly add to the sump as I am refilling the tank from the sink.

The tank has some scratches in it that get a lot of algae build up in the scratches. I was skimming about using sand paper to get the scratches out but I think I'll do some more research before I do anything like that.

Any tips will be appreciated!

 

[wantsalotta]

You will run into issues with precipitation before you get salt to mix to that high of levels.

 

[Fphipps]

Thank you for the response. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[wantsalotta]

A ladder!

I'd drain the water change water from the sump if I were you. And make your saltwater at home...5 buckets would get your 25 gallons.

if the tank is acrylic, it can be sanded and buffed. If it's glass, not as much. People have done it, but not as successful as with acrylic.

 

[dave.m]

Why do you have to mix it at home? I know some servicers do this and have a large water tank on the back of a truck. They use a pump to to send the water into the house. But that's an awful lot of expense unless you're doing a lot of it.

Why not get a couple of 25 or 50 gallon water containers, make a portable rack for your RO/DI unit, and mix the salt on-site. Time how long it takes to make the RO/DI water so you know when to come back to mix the salt. Keep the saltwater mix recirculating overnight and then come in the next day to do the water change. Use one container to accurately remove the specified amount of water to be changed, and the second container for your saltwater mix. If the water in the tank and the water in your temporary mix container are in very different locations you may need to add a heater.

I agree with wantsalotta to do the removal of old water and addition of replacement water in the sump. This gives the new saltwater a chance to mix with the remaining tank water.

Dave.M

 

[Bono]

With those dimensions that tank is probably 300 gallons or more so you might need to do a larger water change. I use a new Rubbermaid trash can with wheels to mix my salt. It probably holds 40 gallons and I can move it around the room to some degree.

 

[Socaltoaz]

Not sure if this is an option but www.genesisreefsystems.com I use it for my water changes and its automatic. Dang- I couldn't imagine lugging 5 gallon buckets around. I don't think ID ever do a water change.