Most Efficient Methods of Water Changes?

[lazluvtoo]

I am looking for some suggestions on the methods that you all have discovered in making water changes as pain-free as possible (less labor intensive).

I have a 90 gl reef and currently use buckets to do the changes. Lots of carrying the dirty water outside, etc. I have tried using a long siphon tube to direct the tank water outside.

OK..you're turn to tell me how you do ur changes!

TIA

 

[mthedude]

I do the same as you. Although I've been tempted to bring my mixing container to my tank. I bought a 40g trash can on wheels and I'd like to be able to just wheel it up to the tank and add the new water, but the water is very heavy once it's full and it would be akward to move this much water without spilling it all over the floor. I suppose an easier way would be to use that Python siphon tube and just drain it directly into my sink but that wouldn't solve the adding of new water since I don't use tap water.

 

[MCary]

I am now in the process of setting up a 240 gallon tank. I will be incorporating a little water change system that will be of a personal design. I have a green 45 gallon green plastic water tank. There are bulkhead on the top and bottom. There will be a recirculating loop attached to a pump simliar to a Kalk stirrer. This tank will be plumbed into my closed loop. 45 gallons of salt water will be made and allowed to mix via tha mixing loop for a couple days. Then valves will be opened allowing tank water to enter the green reservoir and exit out the top. Once the two tanks have been allowed to mix well I will close off the green tank from the display, open a valve and drain the green tank, fill it back up with water and salt. Ready for the next time.

Mike

 

[ambaratur]

I use a maxijet 1200 with 25" of tubing.

For a water change:

1) shut off main pump and skimmer
2) drop powerhead with tubing in sump
3) place end of tubing in bathtub or drain
4) turn on power head
5) wait for chaimber of sump to empty - then move to next chaimber only removing 1/2 of fuge water.
6) turn off powerhead when sump is empty and move it to mixing container
7) place other end of tube in sump
8) turn on powerhead until sump is full.
9) turn on main pump and skimmer
10) done.

I never have to carry water anywhere. You can use more tubing than 25' if needed - but that length reaches to everything I need in my house.

 

[DarthBaiter]

I use a faucet siphon device such as the lee's or pythons to drain the water out of my sump. I then bring up new water in buckets and use a MJ 600 to pump it into my sump.

 

[miztic]

I have a similar setup as ambaratur, I have a DJ center to turn various pumps on and off--
1. turn off skimmer and return pump
2. I have a permanent pump in my sump with a coil of tubing next to it, run tubing to the sink
3. pump out all the water from the sump
4. i have another permanent pump in my mixing container (used to be a 10gal tank, now its a 35G brute) with tubing running from it to my sump, hit the switch and fill the sump back up
5. turn on return pump
6. wait 30 mins so my skimmer doesn't go nuts and turn on skimmer

no leakage at all, makes water changes real easy ..

 

[xtrstangx]

Water change drains:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/nwreefer08/IMG_1434.jpg

Water barrel.. It is normally a recirculating Mag 9.5 to mix the salt, but with the change of 2 ball valves will pump water into the sump.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/nwreefer08/IMG_1437.jpg

I can change about 50g of water at a time with this method. I can either leave the return pump running and run a SMALL amount of water from the barrel in and use the top drain (the new water should displace the old, however is not 100% effective). Or I can shut off the return pump, let the sump fill to 95% capacity, open up the drains and let it drain out 50g.. then fill it up.

 

[DrBegalke]

I take the input from on my ATO/aqua lifter and place it in a 20g brute with the new water (normally tops off limewater)....

Then a take a second aqualifter pump and use that to drain the main tank.... about 6 hours later, all done. I put a valve on the output to dial it back just a little bit, to ensure it drains slower then the other aqualifter can fill it....

Pretty painless.