How do you change your water?

So what type of items do you use when changing water? Multiple choices allowed.

  • Python or other brand

    Votes: 54 75.0%
  • sump pump

    Votes: 5 6.9%
  • submersible pump

    Votes: 15 20.8%
  • bucket

    Votes: 29 40.3%
  • garden hose

    Votes: 10 13.9%
  • paper cup

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • only drinking water safe hose

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • drilled tanks and just turn valve

    Votes: 3 4.2%
  • Automatic system.

    Votes: 4 5.6%

  • Total voters
    72

George

CCA Charter Member and person in charge of the we
My sump pump is in my fishroom and the PVC along the bottom of my racks has T's that allow me to siphon multple tanks into it at a time. Part of my yard is real green all year.

I have 9 rubbermaid brute barrels on two levels in and around my fishroom. Fill water is pumped from 7 of these via a hose into the tanks one tank at a time. 2 barrels are just to collect R/O. Four barrels are R/O waste and 3 are a mix of R/O and tap. It takes three days for me to do all the water changes because of the R/O. The third day is just the 270 and 180 gallons and the 270 is somewhat automated. Actual work time is about 5 hours for all 45 tanks. I will soon have 6 more but they will be fairly small.

No water goes into my tanks that hasn't aged to perfection. Tank refill water is like a fine wine and must be very bitter straight from the fawcet.:lol: Just joking. I'm a fanatic. I have been this way for about thirty years. Tap water does not go into my tanks until it has been aged and inspected. All of it goes through the R/O carbon block so the need for chemicals is nada.

George
 

Andrewtfw

Global Moderators
I use a python-type hose/siphon head to drain and clean all of my tanks. For the two planted tanks, I have a 4-stage RO/DI unit that fills a 50g trash can. I then use a mag18 pump to return water to the tanks.
 

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
My sump pump is in my fishroom and the PVC along the bottom of my racks has T's that allow me to siphon multple tanks into it at a time. Part of my yard is real green all year.

I have 9 rubbermaid brute barrels on two levels in and around my fishroom. Fill water is pumped from 7 of these via a hose into the tanks one tank at a time. 2 barrels are just to collect R/O. Four barrels are R/O waste and 3 are a mix of R/O and tap. It takes three days for me to do all the water changes because of the R/O. The third day is just the 270 and 180 gallons and the 270 is somewhat automated. Actual work time is about 5 hours for all 45 tanks. I will soon have 6 more but they will be fairly small.

No water goes into my tanks that hasn't aged to perfection. Tank refill water is like a fine wine and must be very bitter straight from the fawcet.:lol: Just joking. I'm a fanatic. I have been this way for about thirty years. Tap water does not go into my tanks until it has been aged and inspected. All of it goes through the R/O carbon block so the need for chemicals is nada.

George

George - I would not believe you if I didn't see your setup.... and what a fantastic setup it is. :happy0144:
 

Lively

Members
:eek: I'm guilty of the floor....

I still haven't got the python I want/need! Two of my tanks are near windows, I syphon out the window and use 5 gallon jugs to refill. Otherwise, I syphon into buckets (water plants then the rest ends up down the drain)

I'd guess it takes me 5 hours a week to get it all done.
 

Jumbie

Members
I started doing water changes 2 days ago and I am still not finished lol. It takes me so long because I need to wait for my RO DI unit to produce my water. I have 9 tanks that need RO water, and the biggest tank out of the 9 is 110g. I do a 70% water change on all my tanks so the 110g take about 3-4 hours alone. I use to do weekly changes and I try to sick with that schedule but sometime I get lazy and wait about 2 weeks.
 

b_ron007

Members
I siphon/vacuum my 240 gallon with end of hose going out my sliding door to the backyard, then fill through the sump with sink or hose from outside.

I do the same for my 90 gallon tank, except no sump on the 90.

maybe and hour or soo.
 

dogofwar

CCA Members
All this talk of buckets and RO water and pythons is making my back hurt.

I'm in the process of re-setting up my auto water change system.

If someone can scan a copy of the biotope with my DIY instructions in it, I'll bring some pieces and show folks how at the next meeting.

It's really easy - even if you don't have drilled tanks. If I can do it, anyone can!

Matt
 
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