How do you change your water?

[dlfn1]

did the fall 08 biotope ever get posted?
was just looking through old threads and i'd be interested in reading about automatic h20 changes.
if it has, could someone direct me to it, as i haven't been able to find it.
thanks
--dawn

 

[MarkK]

[FONT=Arial,helvetica]A Biased Guide to:
Water Temperature Control in Photographic Darkrooms

http://www.hassmfg.com/biased_guide.pl/1276487488-2612
[/FONT]

 

[dogofwar]

Any tips from folks on doing a good job of siphoning tanks that are near the ground?

Those tanks are always the hardest to clean in my fishroom...

Matt

 

[MonteSS]

I tried a Python and did not like the plastic fittings that strip and leak, or the fact that you need to leave the water running.

I use this quick disconnect fitting and a garden hose and it works much better for me.

http://www.compactappliance.com/ADA...onnect-Faucet-Adapter/ADAPTER,default,pd.html#

....Bill

 

[Tony]

Any tips from folks on doing a good job of siphoning tanks that are near the ground?

Those tanks are always the hardest to clean in my fishroom...

Matt

Matt,

I use one of these:

http://www.jehmco.com/html/safety_siphon_aquarium_drain.html

Mine is the model that flows 296 gph. I use it for everything on my bottom shelf as well as on the 180. Saves a lot of water and time imo. If you can fit the next size up in your smallest tanks, I'd get that one instead.... I didn't because two of the tanks on my bottom row are 20H with the short side facing out.

You could always make your own, but I checked out the pricing and it would cost about the same for the parts as what they sell them for. plus, some of the fittings are a bit weird and may take some hunting around to find.

You can always come over and check out the parts on mine if you'd like to build one yourself.

The drawback with this thing is the inability to vacuum. Every few weeks, I give the bottom row tanks a good vacuuming using a conventional tube and hose into a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Jumbie]

I made something that looked just like the picture Tony posted and it worked great for all my bottom tanks. Later down the line I had even made an attachment so I could use the device on my larger/deeper tanks.

I had accidently stepped on it a few months back and broke it, so I had to go back to using the python method. Never realized how much water I waist when I use this method. I plan on making a new and improved on shortly.

 

[mrkillie]

I'm scanning it now, but my scanner puts each page into its own PDF. Anyone know how to stich multiple PDFs into a single document?

If someone can scan the pages and send them to me, I have Adobe Acrobat and can put them all together in one file (for each issue, of course).

Joel