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

 

[millstreetzoo]

I have 3 - 32 gallon plastic brut trash cans on caster wheels. One is filled with salt water, one with rodi and the third is empty. Both water cans have powerheads and heaters so the water is all ready to go when I need it. I roll the empty can to the tank and remove the water. I then roll the salt water can to the tank and use a pump to fill the tank back up. I used to use buckets and carry it back and forth - that got old real quick.

 

[HDAlien]

I do not (YET ) do this, but have seen a local professional do this. 1) Provided you know how low to take the water level in the tank, use a 3/4 hp pool pump (Saltwater safe) with a self inflating hose, pump water out.

2) Put pump in new fresh saltwater container, pump water in. We filled my 220 gallon system this way for the first fill in <5 minutes. Since I use a 100 gallon Rubbermaid to mix my saltwater in, I will be able to do a 60-90 gallon change in under 10 minutes!

For the moment, I pump the water into 7 gallon jugs and dump it, then put a pump in my 100 gallon Rubbermaid and pump the water back in.

HDAlien

 

[FSOL]

One advice to give:

When you are emptying the dirty water from the tank, save some of it (maybe 10 gallons) in other containers in case you make a mistake and take out more than you need to. This way once you put in your new water and realize you are short of water, you can dump back some of the old saved water. I also use the old dirty water to clean sponges and any pads I use in the tank.

 

[Bebo77]

i have a 25 gallon water change chamber built into my sump controlled my a mag pump for dumping the old water and mixing the new water...

 

[Brenden]

I have a 300gal storage tank in the utility area of my garage that I keep mixed. I just open a valve to dump old water then pull the hose in and refill. 200 gal water change only takes about 15-20 minutes and is almost labor free. You just have to watch it.

 

[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.

I like this method because it is a gradual, continuous change.... Doing the math, 20 gallons in the Brute works out to about 17 gallons of new water in the tank. (i.e. because it is continuous, some of the water that was just put in gets sucked out.).... This works out to a 33% change on my 55 gallon tank....
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