Water Changes

[spdjnky]

HI Everyone
My name is Phil and I'm retired and new to SW aquariums.I need to get my tank journal going and post more because I could really use some advice on the best way to go about my set-up. I am in the middle of trying to set up my fish room in my attic over my garage. I have my saltwater mixing station set up there and it has 1/2 inch PVC running from there down and over to the sump on my 75 gallon aquarium so I can pump water down for water changes. I also have another 1/2 inch PVC line that I have hooked up my washing machine drywell that I built in the back yard I have a septic system for my bathroom in the front yard.
I have some things in my mind but to tell the truth I don't have a clue witch is best. I have not used the drain that I have set up yet because I am not sure witch way to go. I have done two water changes both different ways because I just don't know the best way to go about the plumbing. I take the water out from the display with a set up with a syphon for the right amount of gallons but hen I fill the sump and have to keep turning the return pump on and off to fill everything back up again. I am going to stop right here and hope you can under stand what I have
Phil

 

[zchauvin]

Water Changes

There are much simpler ways but perhaps would make you change everything you have. Using a DOS system or SpectraPure's liter meter you could program them to pump for x amount of time as x amount of fluid out of tank into your drain system and while pumping x amount of fluid for the same amount of time and this way allowing you to remove and replace the same amount of water either in small proportions daily or all at once. Setup correctly and you will not have to worry about fooling with your water fluctuations and other issues you are having.

Or just pump the sump down to the level that your return starts to make microbubbles and then re fill into the sump not the tank. No issues with that either.

You are simply trying to drain through gravity and pump back into tank from attic if understood?

 

[CuzzA]

Here's what I did on my current tank... Figure out how many gallons of water are in the largest section of your sump. Pick up a dedicated water change pump (Harbor Frieght $10-$20). Get a salt mixing container that holds at least the same amount as the water that will be pumped out of the sump. I say at least because you may want a larger container in the event you need to do a larger water change. Of course the fill on the container should be dictated by a float valve and float switch.

Now, tie that water change pump into your drain and turn off your return pump, pump the water out and half the battle is done. Put a ball valve on the output so when not in use, nothing makes its way back into the sump and it also prevents someone from inadvertently turning that pump on and draining your sump. Because the mixing container is above your tank, you can just use a ball valve and let gravity send the new water down to you sump. However, I wouldn't rely on gravity alone in case you accidently leave the ball valve open. So it would probably be best to use another cheap pump to pump the water up and over the rim of the mixing container. You could also put a float valve on the end of the run too, just for good measure in case for some reason the pipe somehow created a siphon or the pump was inadvertently turned on.

Put the pumps on switches or just plug them in as needed. Pretty simple. Takes me about 15 minutes each week to do a water change.

 

[spdjnky]

What I have done the first few water changes has been a pain and need to get better for sure. I have just made an album and am working on more pics and hope to have a water change on my QT tank that I set up last week with 15 gallons I took out of my display tank with syphon and made mistakes there. First I thought I should always remove the SW from the display tank ? And then I thought make one that I can hang on with different lengths for the right amount of gallons that I want to take out. Okay fine I can make all this and then somehow get it to the drain and if the syphon is going it will drain to a drywall system I set up for my washing machine so it does not go into my septic. The drywall is 2 55 gallon drums and a whole lot of stone around them. So after I figure the best way to take it out now I fill it back up. I have to go thru the house and into the garage and go up in the room I am building open up the valves and turn on the pump to fill the sump up. I have a 1/2 inch line running into the sump by the return that comes down from the main display where protein skimmer is. So now I have the water running and have a plastic boiler valve shutoff hooked up so I can control the water coming in at the same time I have to keep cycling the pump to fill the main display back up. So as u can see I have to do something better
This

 

[scooter31707]

Not trying to get off subject, but you sure 75 gallon with a sump, water, sand, and rock added will be ok on the 2nd level. I would be concerned about your floor supporting that weight.

 

[undbulsu]

Here is how I set mine up

Here is how I set mine up

I have a saltwater mixing station in the basement, Tank is on the first floor.

To remove water from the tank, I have a dedicated pump in the sump that is connected to my main house drain with Pex tubing. PVC would work as well. I turn on the pump via an apex controller.

I have measured where the water level in the sump is when the return is turned off, and where 15 gallons removed from the sump is located and marked those levels on the glass.

In the basement, my saltwater tank is connected via an external pump to the sump. It is controlled via a remote control socket.

At both ends of each I have valves that have to be turned open before any water flows as a safeguard.

So to do a water change,
1. Turn off return pump in tank
2. Open valves for discharge, Turn on pump, and remove 15 gallons. Turn off pump and close valves
3. Open valves for filling the tank. Turn on pump and fill sump to the level I have marked
4. Close the valves for refill
5. Start return pump again.

Make sure your discharge in the main tank is either above the water level or put a check valve on it to prevent a siphon when the return is turned off.

 

[spdjnky]

Thanks I have been hung up on taking the water from the main display because of having fresh water only and still learning. My saltwater mixing station and fish room will be on the second floor and my Aquarium is on the first floor I have some picks posted. Just don't know where I would do it that way with my sump.
And my water coming from upstairs even tho I have the pump the syphon is there.

 

[crocogator106]

not trying to get off subject, but you sure 75 gallon with a sump, water, sand, and rock added will be ok on the 2nd level. I would be concerned about your floor supporting that weight.

+1

 

[WaReefer458]

This is why I did my plumbing like so. I put a tee in with ball valves on both sides. I have a few feet of 3/4 hose I screw on and put into a 5 gal jug. Turn off the valve to the tank and open the water change valve. Fill up two 5 gal jugs and replace with 2 new jugs of fresh saltwater. Same amount comes out as goes back in. Also just a huge convenience factor. If I do more than 10 gal I have to siphon water from the display to the sump or my pumps start sucking air. Whole process takes about 5 min if the new water jugs are already filled. Less than 10 min to do a 20% water change and a fresh filter sock. It's a no brainer.