easy water changes methods?

[an411]

I was wondering what some of the methods that are used to make water changes easier?

Also are water changes suppose to be taken out of the sump ort the main tank? Does it matter?

 

[MalHavoc]

doesn't matter where you take the water out of. For me, I had a T-valve on my return pump that I would open to drain some water into a bucket. I had a small pump in my water change bucket to put the water back. Took all of ten minutes and I didn't even get my hands wet.

 

[an411]

Yeah that is what I think that I need to do I have a t valve that I use to put water into a refuge section in my sump I might have to figure something out so I can put a hose on the end of there so I can pump it out that way into a bucket.

 

[tmz]

For me smaller amounts more frequently is easier. No need to drop the level of the tank or turn off equipment that would otherwise be exposed to air

 

[ahullsb]

I usually turn the pumps off, and suck 10 gallons out of my sump, then I add 10 gallons back into it, run the protein skimmer a little, and then turn all the pumps back on. This method helps me because I drop a powerhead in the sump and let all the detritus get suspended in the water, and then siphon away.