What are Plumbing Recommendations to make water changes simple?

[RussC]

I'd like to plumb my tank to help make water changes easy. I've seen different configurations, but I'd like to get specifics from all the creative minds out there? I plan to use the Red Sea Reefer xl 425 set up. Should I consider hard plumbing it and adding a second valve to connect a hose to? What do you suggest? Pictures would be great, too.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

The easiest thing to do would probably be just have a hard plumbed line from your SW mix tank to your display that you can turn on the pump. For draining tank water, you can either plumb something up, or maybe just put a line to a drain, and use a flexible hose to siphon to the drain hole. I currently use the hauling buckets method, both for draining and filling. I'd hard plumb as I suggested, but not sure how long I intend to leave my tank where it is.

Others may have more creative ideas than me though.

 

[BigDave]

When I plumbed my tank I T-d off the main pump with a ball valve.

I then hook a pump in a salt-water storage tank to the top-off pump's outlet.

As I drain water out of the tank with the ball-valve, the top-off turns on the new salt-water pump and adds water back to the tank.

I add the new salt-water to the display as I pull old water from the sump. I figure I may get some cross-over of new water out the drain, but it should be insignificant.

If I could hard-plumb my new salt-water to the tank I would have done that as well.

 

[hkgar]

I have an Apex controller with the DOS module. The DOS does auto water changes for me. Couldn't be easier, just have to mix up a batch of salt water once a week.

 

[dfm34]

I have an Apex controller with the DOS module. The DOS does auto water changes for me. Couldn't be easier, just have to mix up a batch of salt water once a week.

I use a spectrapure dosing pump for auto water changes. One end of the pump is connected to a 65 gallon bin in another room and the drain line connects to my house sump. I change out 1.5 gallons a day on my 180 and refill the changing bin about once every 6 weeks. Very easy


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[cincyjim]

I have an Apex controller with the DOS module. The DOS does auto water changes for me. Couldn't be easier, just have to mix up a batch of salt water once a week.

This is how mine is done as well. I change 2 gallons a day on the tank.

 

[RedStangGA]

This is how mine is done as well. I change 2 gallons a day on the tank.

+2. Used it on my 60 and will use it on my 220. Just need to keep a reservoir filled and at the right salinity. Check it weekly for parameters because I've noticed that ALK can drop over time.

But, the DOS was fantastic.

 

[RussC]

I have an Apex controller with the DOS module. The DOS does auto water changes for me. Couldn't be easier, just have to mix up a batch of salt water once a week.

What is the DOS Module that does these auto water changes?

 

[hkgar]

Here is the Apex DOS

Basically one pump removes the old water and the other adds the new water. It is easily programmed to do it evenly over the day.

 

[RussC]

Woaa! Now that is a super cool idea. My plan is to get those dosing pumps. But I was going to use them for dosing. But for more common folk, how would I plumb my system? When you say T off the pipe from the return pump, that's just to push water from the sump to dispose of then I just add the new water back tot he sump? Do I understand correctly?

 

[hkgar]

For just dosing I would suggest the BRS 1.1 dosing pump. I use one for carbon dosing. The would also work for Alk and Ca - I have used them for that but use a Ca reactor now with higher demand.

Here is a link to program generator them for dosing with Apex: https://www.reeftronics.net/adpg/dosingcalc.php

 

[hkgar]

Russ, Off topic but

I lost a 40 gallon tank to Hurricane Charlie when I lived in Matlacha FL.

 

[RussC]

For just dosing I would suggest the BRS 1.1 dosing pump. I use one for carbon dosing. The would also work for Alk and Ca - I have used them for that but use a Ca reactor now with higher demand.

Here is a link to program generator them for dosing with Apex: https://www.reeftronics.net/adpg/dosingcalc.php

So these will work with the APEX? I see myself dosing Calcium and Alk. I'd need two and then I could plug both in to the APex and program it to work? What about reservoirs for these pumps? Suggestions? Wow, this might be a great idea.

 

[RussC]

Russ, Off topic but

I lost a 40 gallon tank to Hurricane Charlie when I lived in Matlacha FL.

Yea, feel your pain.

 

[hkgar]

So these will work with the APEX? I see myself dosing Calcium and Alk. I'd need two and then I could plug both in to the APex and program it to work? What about reservoirs for these pumps? Suggestions? Wow, this might be a great idea.

Yup plug them into Apex and program the outlet to control them on and off using the link I provided.

When I was dosing Ca and Alk I just used 1 gallon jugs (milk) to serve as the reservoirs. (I actually used 1 gallon vinegar jugs).

 

[RussC]

Hagar, the BRS dosing pumps are a great suggestion. I could get two pumps, a timer, Cal and Alk and a tube holder for less than the Neptune dose pumps. Tell me this. If I did t put the dose pumps on their own timer and plugged them into the apex, could I monitor them via wifi?

 

[RussC]

Here is the Apex DOS

Basically one pump removes the old water and the other adds the new water. It is easily programmed to do it evenly over the day.

When you use the apex dosing pumps for a water change, it's gradual right? So I'm a sense you are mixing in new water. That will naturally withdraw some of that if all this is occurring at the same time, right? But I can see how this would keep the tank level. And it would also pre t any sudden temp change and allow the fish to acclimate well to the change. Sure takes the lanornoutmodnot. How long does it take?

 

[hkgar]

The BRS pumps are only 1.1 ml per minute, long time to change 1 gallon and they are not all 1.1. The two I had one was 1.2 and the other 2.0. No problem when you no what they pump.

I take the water out of the tank where it enters the sump and add it where they return pump is. There is certainty some mixing of old and new but you can adjust for that by increasing the gallons per day.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

Go with the DOS for water changes and the BRS dosing pumps for Alk / Cal / Mg.

As for being gradual, mine changes 250ml/min. It's programmed to do 725ml water changes 12 hours apart. You can make it as quick or as gradual as you see fit.

A picture of the interface might help. It's completely configurable, so you can do whatever you want.

Everything is plumbed into 2 x 65g storage tanks in the basement. About once every month, I get an text from the Apex saying it's time to mix salt water. A few minutes and 3 valve turns later, the salt tank is re-filled and then mixes for 24 hours. During that time the water changes are suspended.

Once the salinity is checked, the water change schedule is turned back on and I go for another month.

The second mixing tank is RO/DI for my ATO.

Once you go to an Automatic Water Change system, you'll never go back. If I only had room for a Theiling roller mat.......

 

[RussC]

Go with the DOS for water changes and the BRS dosing pumps for Alk / Cal / Mg.

As for being gradual, mine changes 250ml/min. It's programmed to do 725ml water changes 12 hours apart. You can make it as quick or as gradual as you see fit.

A picture of the interface might help. It's completely configurable, so you can do whatever you want.

Everything is plumbed into 2 x 65g storage tanks in the basement. About once every month, I get an text from the Apex saying it's time to mix salt water. A few minutes and 3 valve turns later, the salt tank is re-filled and then mixes for 24 hours. During that time the water changes are suspended.

Once the salinity is checked, the water change schedule is turned back on and I go for another month.

The second mixing tank is RO/DI for my ATO.

Once you go to an Automatic Water Change system, you'll never go back. If I only had room for a Theiling roller mat.......

OMG! That is friggin an amazing setup!