Water Changes
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kfisc
Well-known member
Lots of variations- I like to use a long siphon hose to get the detritus out of the DT by hand. I have a Rubbermaid garbage can that pumps the make-up water into the sump. But it's a relatively small-scale system, easy for me to reach; larger tanks would be really difficult to imagine without pumps for water changes.
When I do a wc I first scrape the glass and then blow off the rocks with a baster. Then I also use a siphon hose to remove all that I can until the water level drops to the amount or level that I want to replace. If you only have fish and LR you can also use a powerhead to blow off the rocks. But since I have coral I use the turkey baster method.
I am in the process of adding a fuge to my sump. I had bioballs in the sump, which I am getting rid of and replacing with LR. Also adding Chaeto and pods to my new fuge once I get it all plumbed in. I don't siphon out the sump very often. Usually just when I notice a buildup in the bottom.
I do my water mixing in large totes in the garage and have been just using a large bucket to fill the tank back up. I am thinking about doing an ATO setup as well as adding my fuge. My tank is a 72 bowfront.
I am in the process of adding a fuge to my sump. I had bioballs in the sump, which I am getting rid of and replacing with LR. Also adding Chaeto and pods to my new fuge once I get it all plumbed in. I don't siphon out the sump very often. Usually just when I notice a buildup in the bottom.
I do my water mixing in large totes in the garage and have been just using a large bucket to fill the tank back up. I am thinking about doing an ATO setup as well as adding my fuge. My tank is a 72 bowfront.
firewill65
New member
bump....im curious about large tank changes as well
mike5051
New member
I've got a 75g DT, and I change 15 gallons every other week. I've got a 20 gallon sump and I do the entire change there, unless I need to siphon algae/detritus from the DT. Either way, the water is always added in the sump and then pumped to the DT, it keeps things calmer in there.
Gill_bucket
New member
I hardly ever change my water (deep sand bed.) when I do change water I use a siphon to get water from my DT to a 20 Brutt trash can, which is on wheels. Then I syphon the water into the toilet, I know I know. 
LOL To get the water back into the tank I turn an empty 8 gallon bucket (kent salt mix) upside down and put the Brutt on top. With the trash can elevated I fill it with water and mix in my salt. Then I can use the syphon to get the new water into the sump. I have to turn my return on and off to keep the sump from overflowing, but it gets the job done.
After wrighting all that I now think we both should buy a mag 12. LOL
LOL To get the water back into the tank I turn an empty 8 gallon bucket (kent salt mix) upside down and put the Brutt on top. With the trash can elevated I fill it with water and mix in my salt. Then I can use the syphon to get the new water into the sump. I have to turn my return on and off to keep the sump from overflowing, but it gets the job done. After wrighting all that I now think we both should buy a mag 12. LOL
Depends on what you consider large . . . but I do 40 gallons at a time by removing exactly that amount from my basement sump. I mix up new salt water for 20 minutes and then readd to the sump. I have a 250 gallon fresh water storage vat which pumps water to my 40 gallon container.
Gill_bucket
New member
P.S. I have a 125.
The same concept would work no matter tank size. Since I do 40 gallons, that is about 340 lbs of lifting so I use a pump going both ways.
topping off evaporated water is not same as changing water. water gets harder and harder if u just keep topping off RO water. anyways i take a small powerhead and blow the rocks and somewhat sand bed then siphon the detritus out as much as i can, i do 25 gal changes every week. most comes out of DT with detritus to a level where my corals are barely out of water then rest our of sump. fresh saltwater goes back into the sump.
jenjen
New member
I do water changes from the DT, because with a below-tank sump the DT is much easier to access.
I turn off the skimmer & return pump, use a siphon hose to remove water from the DT into a brute can, then pump from the brute to the drain. I use the same pump to pump the new water into the DT, then turn everything back on.
I turn off the skimmer & return pump, use a siphon hose to remove water from the DT into a brute can, then pump from the brute to the drain. I use the same pump to pump the new water into the DT, then turn everything back on.
jenjen
New member
Any sort of return pump will work. When I replaced the return pump on my tank, the old pump became the water mover. You don't need an expensive pump, because it's not running all the time like the return pump in your system is. Any inexpensive utility pump will work. Some powerheads also have the ability to pump water, but they are usually slow. Just attach a long hose to the pump output and submerge the pump in the water you want to move.
redneckgearhead
Active member
I siphon out of the DT, cleaning anything that needs it and into a couple of 5 gallon buckets. Then I use the water as a weed killer. works great along fence lines and along the house.
Then put my 5 gallon buckets of water on a small step ladder and siphon into the sump. takes less than 30 minutes usually.
Then put my 5 gallon buckets of water on a small step ladder and siphon into the sump. takes less than 30 minutes usually.
Palting
New member
I change out about 10%-15% a week. That's 20 gallons a week. I have a drain on the wall beside the tank, simillar to a clothes washer drain. I've put a mark on the side of my DT where 20 gallons would drain down to. Then, it's as simple as shutting everything off and starting a siphon going fromn the DT and sticking the tube into the drain. I will occasionally also vacuum the substrate.
RODI and salt go into a 22 gal mixing bin. I use an older submersible return pump with a 6 foot tube inside the bin so that it mixes and aerates for several hours. Then I just pull the tubing out of the bin and direct the ouput into the sump. No sweat
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If you put the pump into the water that you want to change wouldn't the pump siphon out your sand from the DT if you were to try to clean the sand? In using a python cleaner in the past, any substrate would tumble in the vac area and fall back down. How would you clean the sand in this case?
i do waterchanges everytime the ocean isnt rough for me to wade thigh deep.
i do 10 gal watechanges on a 40B.
i got a wet/dry vacuum from craigslist for $10, i use the wet/dry to vacuum water from my dt, then pour the 5 gallon buckets to the DT to replace the water.
there was this week in february when the ocean was just clear and no waves for 2 weeks straight, i did waterchanges everyday of 10 gals during that stretch. i live 5mins form the ocean.
i do 10 gal watechanges on a 40B.
i got a wet/dry vacuum from craigslist for $10, i use the wet/dry to vacuum water from my dt, then pour the 5 gallon buckets to the DT to replace the water.
there was this week in february when the ocean was just clear and no waves for 2 weeks straight, i did waterchanges everyday of 10 gals during that stretch. i live 5mins form the ocean.
