sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
Ok. So what is the easiest most efficient way to do a water change? Without going to the LFS and buying water that gives you crazy algae blooms and raises your nitrates to toxic levels!
I really dislike doing water changes....
- Thread starter sal-t-dawg
- Start date
MVlk
New member
I recently bought my RO/DI unit from purewaterclub.com and have it feeding to a large trash can for storage. Weekly I pump 20 gallons into a mixing bin and add 3lbs of salt. This has made my life so much easier. My wife loves the fact I do not have an excuse to go to the LFS every week now!
My tank will soon be moved to be in wall within my fish room and the water changes should be even easier. I may be able to add an ATO and automate it like some in the club have.
My tank will soon be moved to be in wall within my fish room and the water changes should be even easier. I may be able to add an ATO and automate it like some in the club have.
sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
I dont have an ro/di unit yet. At this point the water change is going to take me all day. I have 25 gallons of water (5, 5 gallon jugs) a powerhead for mixing, two heaters and one five gallon bucket. I am putting the water, powerhead, salt and two heaters in the bucket and mixing until the water reaches 75 degrees. This is going to be a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng day!
james3370
Premium Member
i'm automating mine somewhat on the new build.....on the return it will come out of the pump & right at the top ot the sump is a t-fitting w/ the leg pointing forward. in the leg is a union that will normally be plugged. above the t is a ball valve.
for a water change, i will turn the return pump off (on the dj strip), close the ball valve, & change the other side of the union to a pvc pipe. then when i turn the return pump on, it will drain the return chamber of the sump (roughly 10% of tank volume).
then i fill the return chamber w/ new water & reverse the procedure. don't get much easier than that
for a water change, i will turn the return pump off (on the dj strip), close the ball valve, & change the other side of the union to a pvc pipe. then when i turn the return pump on, it will drain the return chamber of the sump (roughly 10% of tank volume).
then i fill the return chamber w/ new water & reverse the procedure. don't get much easier than that
MVlk
New member
Well, you can easily cut the time a bit by running to the store and getting a 30+ gallon Rubbermaid container. that way you can mix your batch all at once. Working with the 5 gallon buckets sucks.
With the larger bin, you can better insure the quality of the mix by having the water all pre heated to the same temp. Once you do a change or two from the bin, you can also record the water level in the bin to salt measurement and make it pretty much a no-brainier.
With the larger bin, you can better insure the quality of the mix by having the water all pre heated to the same temp. Once you do a change or two from the bin, you can also record the water level in the bin to salt measurement and make it pretty much a no-brainier.
waynesworld
Premium Member
You can get a 55 gallon barrel from Nashville barrel for $15 and a RODI for around 70 and have 55 gallons made up all the time and use it for ato then when you want to do water changes all you have to do is add some salt to water and pump it in from the main drum.
james3370
Premium Member
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james3370
Premium Member
waynesworld
Premium Member
Fairview tn west of nashville 30 miles
sandalscout
New member
Last week it was a molasses barrell and a macadamia nut barrel. Keep in mind what you have to clean out and if there could be harmful residue
Oh god, you know how long it would take me to eat a barrel of macadamia nuts?!?!?!?!
a GREAT price though, Kroger sells these little glass jars of them for like $6. hahahahahahahaha (I kid!)
waynesworld
Premium Member
I got 2 75 gal vanilla barrels yesterday along with 5 275 gal totes that was something used to make bread. you want food grade but you can not tell them you are using them for drinking water or for food because EPA and insurance issues. It is around 50 min from downtown Nashville.
