I've only ever had little freshwater tanks, so all I really ever needed for a water change was an empty milk jug. With my 55 gallon reef, I'm finding that very cumbersome. Surely there is a more efficient way to do this, but I'm not quite sure what I am looking for- something to pump the water into a bucket that I can turn on and off quickly, and likely can use to pump the new water from a bucket into the tank.
How do you change your water?
- Thread starter MuShu
- Start date
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
i have a large python siphon. water gets sucked through it and right down the drain. the mixing station is in the basement below the tank, and i have plumbing to pump the new saltwater up from below and in to the tank.
before i had plumbing in the floor, i would get a few buckets and use a siphon started by a python squeeze ball to drain the water from the tank in to the buckets, then i would dump them down the toilet.
the new water i mixed up in a tub cleverly hidden in a small freestanding cabinet that sat next to the tank. i would then use a small pump to move it in to the tank.
before i had plumbing in the floor, i would get a few buckets and use a siphon started by a python squeeze ball to drain the water from the tank in to the buckets, then i would dump them down the toilet.
the new water i mixed up in a tub cleverly hidden in a small freestanding cabinet that sat next to the tank. i would then use a small pump to move it in to the tank.
StrangeDejavu
Member
I change water the same way I do my planted tanks. I like to buy cheap pond pumps from eBay, most are $20 or less for a variety of different GPH, all they need is some rubber hose. Mix saltwater in one container and have another one for waste water. Drain the tank into the waste water can or bucket, then move the pump over to the clean water. Now pump the clean water back into the tank or sump. Keep an extension chord with a multioutlet on the end so you can turn the pump on and off with the flick of a switch.
D
Deleted member 336650
1. Mark the water line on the tank beforehand with tape
2. Siphon out into a 5gal bucket (usually do 10-15 gal)
3. Pump new SW in from a Brute can using my trusty Mag5 & 6ft of flex PVC
Done.
2. Siphon out into a 5gal bucket (usually do 10-15 gal)
3. Pump new SW in from a Brute can using my trusty Mag5 & 6ft of flex PVC
Done.
D
Deleted member 336650
Only took me 1 time doing a water change to figure I needed this as well. :hmm5:
hkgar
Active member
First and most important part is using a RO/DI system to make the water to which you will add the salt. You want 0 (zero) TDS water for the tank.
I now have a AWC system in the basement and it changes water (3.5 gallons) continuously. I start mixing water in a 10- 20 gallon container which had a mark on the side for the exact amount of water I wanted to change. I then siphoned out into another container - with a mark for the exact amount I wanted to change - the old water. I emptied that container then brought the new water up in five gallon buckets and emptied them into the container I used for the old water and pumped it into the sump, which was under my tank, with a macrojet 1200 pump.
I now have a AWC system in the basement and it changes water (3.5 gallons) continuously. I start mixing water in a 10- 20 gallon container which had a mark on the side for the exact amount of water I wanted to change. I then siphoned out into another container - with a mark for the exact amount I wanted to change - the old water. I emptied that container then brought the new water up in five gallon buckets and emptied them into the container I used for the old water and pumped it into the sump, which was under my tank, with a macrojet 1200 pump.
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I use a "buckethead" wet dry vac from home depot. It fits on any 5 gal bucket. I vacuum out my sump-nice and spotless, then refill with a pump and line from my mixing station. Works great -but each bucket only holds 4-5 gallons, and with a 40 gallon sump-it takes a few buckets to clean it out completely.
I do have a RO/DI system. I had read too much about the long-term benefits of using RO/DI water from the start, so even though it was a chunk of change I wasn't planning to spend at first, I'm glad I did.
Jon0807
New member
I use buckets and a small siphon. My tank is only 36 gallons so my water changes are only 6 gallons or so. I have the buckets marked off per gallon so I know how much I'm taking out and how much I have to put back in. To get the water back in, I have a large measuring cup that I pour the water in slowly from the bucket. Then when there's only about a gallon left, I'll just pour it out of the bucket itself.
hkgar
Active member
I tried one of those and it sucked the water up so fast it took too many empties to clean. I would rather siphon, plus each time it filled water from the hose would get all over the floor when taking the top off to empty it.
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
I use my return line pump to pump water directly to the drain, just used a ballvalve and T to divert it during water change day. I also use a panworld pump on my SW mixing container to mix the NSW and then another ballvalve to use that pump to pump NSW back to the tank. takes me all of 5 min to change 30 gal.
Chicagoreef2016
New member
Do you siphon out the sand each time you do a water change?
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
I dont, i have gobies and snails to clean the sand. I do blow off the rocks and run a filter sock for 24 hours though
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
I have a valve that comes off the closed loop that I can open and it empties into a trough drain I had put in the floor when the house was being built. I then turn another valve that comes from the 300g container with saltwater in it. No buckets or trash cans or any of that nonsense
