Episode II of "The Lazy Reefkeeper" series (The 2-minute water change)

"So, Skireef, you don't get much ice buildup on your driveway in the winder, eh??"

I haven't gone through the winter cycle with this system but it IS salt water. I have always dumped the salt water on the driveway in winter. It does melt some ice and snow and its track is totally on the side.

As far as "good water" is concerned, I feel it is insignificant. The added water is cooler than the regular tank water so it may sink and in a 300g+ system, it is probably a fraction of a percent.

btw, I turn off the return pumps when I feed the tank everyday so I am constantly testing the sump capacity, levels and siphons.

None of my home tanks are drilled so I have had many years of dealing with siphon overflows. The auto water change (and some others) use a legthened U tube and chinese soup containers. I know I could spend money and make it look better but cheap is part of the charm :).
 
It did but the PVC lesson was worth the read :)

I keep looking at that ledge trying to decide if that is the 90 gallon or not----pictures can be deceiving or at least don't always show depth well. Regardless it looks like a very clean system to me.
 
carpetride said:
It did but the PVC lesson was worth the read :)

I keep looking at that ledge trying to decide if that is the 90 gallon or not----pictures can be deceiving or at least don't always show depth well. Regardless it looks like a very clean system to me.
Click to expand...

whoops sorry,
the dimensions are 48x18x26 (90 gallon) and it was manufactured by ViaAqua. I used to have a 75 gallon acrylic that got scatched up within weeks of my purchase (a whole nother story that I'll spare you the details) so when I saw the glass tank with the radius corners ...I knew I had to have it. They are the only ones that I know of that manufacture a bent-corner glass tank.
I'm not sure if they are even in the aquarium business anymore...I tried to find their website but was redirected to a snowboarding/skiiing/sporting equipment manufacturer. I wonder if they sold off their interests to Aquatraders (formerly JEBBO) because the equipment is so similar. I have no idea...just speculating.
 
The last time I was in California all the LFS I visited had ViaAqua tanks. It was kind of weird because we don't get those at all on the east coast. Maybe they are out of business and the LFS just had a lot of inventory.
 
For those of you on a budget.

unattended water changer.

auto changer1.jpg

Bucket with siphon, pump and pump saver.

auto changer2.jpg

siphon w/soup container on one side, the other side can be adjusted up or down to desired level.

auto changer3.jpg

bigger picture....on the right is the auto top off...toilet ball connected to a swich, very pricy!!!
 
hey skireef whats the styrofoam covering the tanks for???
looks like you put alot of work in your system but i think if you hard plumb your system it would be neater not to pass judgment on your system because mine looked like world war one befor i hard plumbed pvc realy helps clean things up and its cheep jmo.
 
woowoodengy,
The styrofoam is there to reduce evaporation. I built this "sump room" (wife calls it the panic room) to contain everything...well almost. The floor can handle 4" of water before leaking out to the main basement. The humidity in the room is relatively high with a temp between 77 to 79degrees. It is insulated to contain sound since the master bedroom is upstairs from this. Over time I will probably use more PVC but I do a lot of trial and error before I attempt a permanent solution. The reef room upstairs looks quite a bit better.
 
"Blessed are the Tinkerers of the World...For they are the Inventers, the Givers, the Improvers of quality of life!!!" LRK
:beer:

Now, go tell your wife to put on a pot of coffee....it's gonna be a long night! :reading:
 
ok reef meister2
you have encouraged me to build an auto water change system for those of us who don't have a sump room and live in an apartment. I am getting ready to do a water change now but hate to wait for the water to fill up from the ro/di into the rubermade container that sits in the bathroom while filling and mixing.

the water change part is very quick but the prep time is what kills it. I know that without a sump room or garadge it will be difficult but here i go.

I have some ideas but will save that for my episode (thanks reefMeister) i will put links here to my outcome good or bad.

I plan to desinge something that will look good in a living room or anywhere in your homes.

ok i am off to put my mind to work and test my skills see you in about a year or so lol kidding i should be done soon but i welcome all tips, tricks, pics, i dont want to hijack this thread so if you have any advice you can go here

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4835150#post4835150
 
How does that little tank like sitting on the dryer. Do you find the female fish like to press against the glass when it is running ;)



Karl (i probably shouldn't take credit for this post, though)
 
Karl K said:
How does that little tank like sitting on the dryer. Do you find the female fish like to press against the glass when it is running ;)



Karl (i probably shouldn't take credit for this post, though)
Click to expand...


Karl, you dirty-minded young man..............I like your style. :D



That's just a little frag tank I have setup temporarily for growing out frags or caring for sick corals. I just haven't found a good "out-of-the-way" spot for it yet. I had an old prizm skimmer running on it for awhile 'till I broke it while cleaning it. I think those skimmers have a bad rap....they are perfect for little 10 gallon tanks or similar use. It kept my water clean as well as adding additional flow to the tank and oxygenating the water.

If you look real close, you can see that I have a Prizm Pro wedged into the far right side of my sump and dumping into my refugium. I happened to have 4" extra space leftover and an old extra Prizm Pro laying around (same width), and so it slid in rather nicely. It helps with additional water-turnover in my refugium without adding any real turbulence to disturb the macros.

Now....uh....how did the subject get changed from horny fish to prizm skimmers :confused:
 
You've inspired me to look back and find the water system drawings I did a few months ago. Since I'm moving this week, I don't have time to implement it. I'm also upgrading to a 210g RR in a few months, so why not do it then??

Anyways, I modified the system slightly to include your saltwater mixing funnel.

I forgot to add what the colors are in the drawing.

Yellow - City Water
Orange - RO/DI Water
Pink - prepared salt water
Blue - Tank water (pumped)
Green - Tank water (gravity)

I'm sure everyone will be able to figure out that there are two ways to change water with this system. Tell them to me. :cool: :p

Think of it as a laziness test:rollface:

85445Water_management.JPG


BTW, Let me know if you have any suggestions

Karl
 
well i am a little confuesed why you have lines going from ro/di resevior and new saltwater mix tank to the drain
 
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