what do you guys use for your water changes?

[homer1475]

Sucking to start a siphon is so 80's! :lolspin:

I use a maxi jet in my sump, pump out water to a drain, drag hose from mixing station to the tank, use a 10$ remote to turn on the pump in my mixing station, and fill. Only way it could be easier is if I did automatic water changes.

It literally takes me 10 minutes to do a 10G WC and most of that time is waiting for the maxi jet to pump out the water.

 

[allendehl]

I use a 6ft long piece of 1/2" ID vinyl tubing..
And I still suck on it to get it started like a true long haired rebel.. woot!!
(knock on wood so I don't get sick next week..)

Hi there mcgyvr!
How do you avoid sucking up the sand along with the water? Do you keep it far enough? If so....don't you also use the water change to clean up your sand a bit?

 

[Papermonkeys]

I've used normal Aqueon style siphon on my fresh water for years, recently got a python I could hook up to my bathroom sink nearest to my tank and literally changed my will to want to do water changes overnight. No longer have to lug the heavy buckets of water to where ever I needed to dump them. While yes it does wast some water while in siphon mode, I just balance that out by showering less in the week (haha kidding.. or am I?)

Although I just setup a SW tank in my living room and the nearest tap is my kitchen sink, and it unfortunately has a moen faucet, and I haven't had the will to figure out and adapter to get it to work with the python yet. So it's back to siphon and bucket, although I didn't know about the gravity trick to kick off the siphon until recently, I've always sucked that great water out to start the siphon haha.

 

[schnebbles]

I just use a freshwater one I had. I don't dig the taste of salt water, but hey...I get it sometimes.

 

[ericarenee]

To do water changes.

1. Turn on Saltwater tank Circulation pump..
2. Turn Valve on Return pump to pump water outside instead of to the Display .
3. Turn off Valve on 2 when sump is at its lowest level.
4 turn valve on Mixing tank manifold to sent water to sump.
5. when water is back to normal running level in system turn valve on on number 4 off.
6. Refill salt water mixing tank with RO/DI Water from RO/ Di storage tank number 2.
7. Add 1 bag of salt to saltwater tank and set timer for 2 hours.
8 turn valve on RO/DI Input to make more ro/di water in RO/di tank .. (for top off water tank filling)

9. 1O Minute later go back up stairs and enjoy the tank..

To Clean the sand which i do once or twice a year (very rare ) I have a Drain line behind my tank but lower then its height.. I use a siphon hose into that drain that goes outside . again no moving water by hand or bucket...

unfortunatly i still have to clean my protein skimmer, wave pumps and glass by hand..
Grrr

Good Luck with what ever you choose.. More pipe more valve more automation= More time to enjoy the tank

 

[billdogg]

I've used normal Aqueon style siphon on my fresh water for years, recently got a python I could hook up to my bathroom sink nearest to my tank and literally changed my will to want to do water changes overnight. No longer have to lug the heavy buckets of water to where ever I needed to dump them. While yes it does wast some water while in siphon mode, I just balance that out by showering less in the week (haha kidding.. or am I?)

Although I just setup a SW tank in my living room and the nearest tap is my kitchen sink, and it unfortunately has a moen faucet, and I haven't had the will to figure out and adapter to get it to work with the python yet. So it's back to siphon and bucket, although I didn't know about the gravity trick to kick off the siphon until recently, I've always sucked that great water out to start the siphon haha.

FWIW - The makers of the Python Siphon sell extension hoses:spin1:

You can also just go to HD/Lowes, buy a length of vinyl tubing and a couple plastic garden hose repair ends and make a custom extension. I can stretch mine to about 75' if I need to. If it's going to be 100% waste water, you can even use a standard garden hose. I would not use the garden hose to return water to the tank!

 

[Papermonkeys]

I looked into getting extensions but it would literally be like 100ft to reach the same sink I use for my fresh water change. I'm hoping that I can just eventually figure out an adapter that will work for my kitchen sink, or having my machinist buddy make me one haha.

 

[jonto]

Hey guys,
This is my set up. No siphons or buckets required. I can go
both directions from tank, storage, and newly mixed salt water.

 

[BarIzoN]

I just cam from Lowes with some Vinyl tubing for unload / load water from my tank...

However, this hose smells like burned plastic, so strong odor.

Is that safe to use the regular transparent 1/2" vinyl hose for water changes?

- BarIzoN -

 

[homer1475]

I just cam from Lowes with some Vinyl tubing for unload / load water from my tank...

However, this hose smells like burned plastic, so strong odor.

Is that safe to use the regular transparent 1/2" vinyl hose for water changes?

- BarIzoN -

Exactly what I use. The smell will dissipate after a while. It's just from the manufacturing process and being in a closed box for god knows how long.

 

[BarIzoN]

Exactly what I use. The smell will dissipate after a while. It's just from the manufacturing process and being in a closed box for god knows how long.

Phew!! [emoji3][emoji3]

I just finished my water change and then realized if there's something wrong I'd be screwed!!

Great news then!!

I have a PX40 pump I bought to my mixing station, but it doesn't have enough head to load directly to my tank from my basement...

I might upgrade the pump for a bigger one and thinking on the plumbing from my wall to the basement...

Anyways... Thank you much for the good news!! [emoji106]

- BarIzoN -


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Frogmanx82]

I use a hose and suck but keep my mouth above the waterline so I can control the flow out. Also stick a smaller diameter piece wedged into the siphon end. Really increases the suction and gives more time to move the hose around.