Water Changing Question

Home_Depot · 12/25/2007, 10:20 AM

How does everyone do there water changes?? Now that I got the 125 I am trying to upgrade and make this hobby fun and easy not a chore so on that note I would like to figure out a way to do easy water changes..I have an external pump so is there anyway I could use a "T" and a ball valve??

Thanks

James983 · 12/25/2007, 10:46 AM

I have a 150. I do 15 gal a week. Mix 15 gal fresh saltwter in large rubbermaid trash can. I put a heater and powerhead in and let it mix a day or so. I fine tune the salinity accordingly. Then I simply siphon off 3 5 gal buckets from display and pump the water in from the trash can with a mag pump. The whole thing takes 15-20 mins.

llorence · 12/25/2007, 11:03 AM

I keep 15-20 gal of salt water ready to go at all times (proper temp, salinity, etc) in a 20 gal container that is plumbed directly to my sump. I try to do a water change once per week. When ready, all I have to do is siphon out about 15 gal into 5 gal buckets. I usually siphon from my sump and use it as an opportunity to siphon out "junk" from the bottom. When done siphoning, all I have to do is open the faucet to the hose from my mixing container (20 gal trash can) to my sump. It refills my sump and I'm done other than pouring my old water down the drain. I can do a water change in about 5-10 minutes if that's all I'm doing.

Curtie44 · 12/25/2007, 11:22 AM

I am doing a similar process to those above. I have a 34 gallon brute trash can on wheels in the closet next to the fish room. It's always full of ro water (for daily top off). I have the can marked for 20 gallons on the side (my normal water change amount). When water change day comes I mix up 20 gallons of salt water. I get out a second brute trash can, siphon out 20 gallons from the tank into it then wheel the freshly made salt water can into the fish room and pump it in with a PH. It usually takes about 45mins-1 hour mostly because it takes so long to siphon the water out and for the PH to pump the fresh salt water back in the tank.

supervdl · 12/25/2007, 11:31 AM

I have two 40 gal rubbermaid "brute" trash cans, one for ro water and the other for new saltwater. I mixed it and let it sit for about a week with a pump for circulation and a heater to get it to about tank temperature. Then I use the same pump to pump out about 35 gal of water from my reef tank into the sink - I have a marker on the side of the tank to know when to stop pumping water out of the tank. Then I go to my garage and pum the water from the trash can into the tank until I reach the same waterlevel (use a veggie clip to mark). Done in about 20 minutes. I have a mag 9.5 as a pump - pretty strong but I have also quite some distance between the garage and the tank. The pum depends on the distance/height you have to push the water. Hope this helps.

bearpeidog · 12/25/2007, 11:32 AM

I use a dedicated pump for water changes. I put a mixing container in the basement, plumbed PVC through the floor into the sump under, which is under the tank. Connected a MAG12 to move the water from the basement to the sump.

I then use a small pump to remove water from the sump into 5 gallon buckets, which I dump down the sink. I thought about pumping this directly into the septic lines but am too afraid of backups....don't want to chance that...

When I'm ready to refill, I use a remote control to turn on the
basement pump and the sump refills from the mixing container. Done!

I would think you would have to think through using your external pump as I believe pumps can push water more efficiently as opposed to pulling water. Could be wrong but seems like my grey matter is telling me that is the case!

Merry Xmas!

Home_Depot · 12/25/2007, 04:55 PM

Thanks for the relys I had been doing the bucket thing but wanted to try something else.

Matt Rise · 12/25/2007, 06:56 PM

Rubbermaid trash can for mixing and storing. Mag 7 pumps it up to the tank....easy as pie....

reefCrawler · 12/25/2007, 09:10 PM

I have a 150G, now I change 5G each 3~4 days, old water will go to 40G QT tank.

datablitz · 12/26/2007, 06:37 AM

i have a tee and a valve on my return pump that is hooked into the drain in my house, so thats how i take water out, and the intake pf the pump has a tee and a valve that hooks up to a 44g brute that i mix water in. i have a valve on my sump too so i can shut off the sump and just pull water from the trashcan so it fills the tank faster

Frick-n-Frags · 12/26/2007, 06:50 AM

he coolest setup would be a continuous overflow setup. if you have the large capacity reservoir and the sump plumbed to a drain, like an emergency overflow drain etc, you can trickle the new water into the pump intake and let the sump overflow into the drain. even though it sounds extremely wasteful, the mathematical truth is you take around a 10-15% loss max

ie, a waterchange starting with 25% of the system volume will overflow out about 22% old water (and yes 3% new water)

you can trickle a massive change in, over many hours as easily as a tiny change. i personally cannot think of an easier or lazier way to swap out any given amount desired (this is what my 100gal aggie tub is used for)

to up the % a bit, you can siphon garbage and whatever and take the sump down to chopping bubbles first, then start adding the water. now if your sump is 10-20 gallons down, you can redo the calc but with that much less water starting out, which you can see, makes your replacement water amount a larger % of the original.

datablitz · 12/26/2007, 07:23 AM

it would be more effective to remove water and then add water than to add water to dilute the water in the tank and overflow it. also that would mess with your topoff and evap

walkerbrody · 12/26/2007, 09:57 AM

My return has a t connector with a ball valve on each side, one goes to my sump the other goes to a 15 gal container that overflows back into the sump. To do a water change I close the valve to the 15 gal container, excluding it from the system and pump out the water. Pump in ro water and add the salt. I have a powerhead in the 15gal container and let stir for 24 hrs, then open the valve in the return and the 15 gal container returns to the system. It takes about 5 minutes to do a 10 gal or so water change.

Home_Depot · 12/26/2007, 07:29 PM

Hey I want to do a Kalk reactor do you have any pics of yours and how you did it??

Quote:

Originally posted by walkerbrody
My return has a t connector with a ball valve on each side, one goes to my sump the other goes to a 15 gal container that overflows back into the sump. To do a water change I close the valve to the 15 gal container, excluding it from the system and pump out the water. Pump in ro water and add the salt. I have a powerhead in the 15gal container and let stir for 24 hrs, then open the valve in the return and the 15 gal container returns to the system. It takes about 5 minutes to do a 10 gal or so water change.

mr_anderson · 12/26/2007, 07:57 PM

I have a dual over flow AGA 120. on my overflows I have it linked to one output going into my fuge. I have a ball valve that i connect a hose for water change. when I do water changes, I use my auto top off as a return sensor. basically turn the ball valve on my overflows to waste container, then put my maxijet 1200 on my auto top off in a container with new water to return the water. as the water is overflowed out, the auto top off kicks on and pumps new water in. it takes less than 10mins to change out 10 gallons every week.

12/25/2007, 10:20 AM	#1
Home_Depot Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bemidji,MN Posts: 414	Water Changing Question How does everyone do there water changes?? Now that I got the 125 I am trying to upgrade and make this hobby fun and easy not a chore so on that note I would like to figure out a way to do easy water changes..I have an external pump so is there anyway I could use a "T" and a ball valve?? Thanks

12/25/2007, 11:22 AM	#4
Curtie44 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BFE Posts: 99	I am doing a similar process to those above. I have a 34 gallon brute trash can on wheels in the closet next to the fish room. It's always full of ro water (for daily top off). I have the can marked for 20 gallons on the side (my normal water change amount). When water change day comes I mix up 20 gallons of salt water. I get out a second brute trash can, siphon out 20 gallons from the tank into it then wheel the freshly made salt water can into the fish room and pump it in with a PH. It usually takes about 45mins-1 hour mostly because it takes so long to siphon the water out and for the PH to pump the fresh salt water back in the tank. __________________ 120G AGA Reef SWC 250 Xtreme Reeflo Barracuda 100 Gal rubbermaid Basement sump Korallin Ca Reactor Current Tank Info: 120 Gal reef

12/25/2007, 11:31 AM	#5
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	I have two 40 gal rubbermaid "brute" trash cans, one for ro water and the other for new saltwater. I mixed it and let it sit for about a week with a pump for circulation and a heater to get it to about tank temperature. Then I use the same pump to pump out about 35 gal of water from my reef tank into the sink - I have a marker on the side of the tank to know when to stop pumping water out of the tank. Then I go to my garage and pum the water from the trash can into the tank until I reach the same waterlevel (use a veggie clip to mark). Done in about 20 minutes. I have a mag 9.5 as a pump - pretty strong but I have also quite some distance between the garage and the tank. The pum depends on the distance/height you have to push the water. Hope this helps. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

12/26/2007, 06:50 AM	#11
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	he coolest setup would be a continuous overflow setup. if you have the large capacity reservoir and the sump plumbed to a drain, like an emergency overflow drain etc, you can trickle the new water into the pump intake and let the sump overflow into the drain. even though it sounds extremely wasteful, the mathematical truth is you take around a 10-15% loss max ie, a waterchange starting with 25% of the system volume will overflow out about 22% old water (and yes 3% new water) you can trickle a massive change in, over many hours as easily as a tiny change. i personally cannot think of an easier or lazier way to swap out any given amount desired (this is what my 100gal aggie tub is used for) to up the % a bit, you can siphon garbage and whatever and take the sump down to chopping bubbles first, then start adding the water. now if your sump is 10-20 gallons down, you can redo the calc but with that much less water starting out, which you can see, makes your replacement water amount a larger % of the original. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

12/26/2007, 09:57 AM	#13
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	My return has a t connector with a ball valve on each side, one goes to my sump the other goes to a 15 gal container that overflows back into the sump. To do a water change I close the valve to the 15 gal container, excluding it from the system and pump out the water. Pump in ro water and add the salt. I have a powerhead in the 15gal container and let stir for 24 hrs, then open the valve in the return and the 15 gal container returns to the system. It takes about 5 minutes to do a 10 gal or so water change. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

12/25/2007, 10:46 AM	#2
James983 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,223	I have a 150. I do 15 gal a week. Mix 15 gal fresh saltwter in large rubbermaid trash can. I put a heater and powerhead in and let it mix a day or so. I fine tune the salinity accordingly. Then I simply siphon off 3 5 gal buckets from display and pump the water in from the trash can with a mag pump. The whole thing takes 15-20 mins.

12/25/2007, 11:03 AM	#3
llorence Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Newark, Oh Posts: 72	I keep 15-20 gal of salt water ready to go at all times (proper temp, salinity, etc) in a 20 gal container that is plumbed directly to my sump. I try to do a water change once per week. When ready, all I have to do is siphon out about 15 gal into 5 gal buckets. I usually siphon from my sump and use it as an opportunity to siphon out "junk" from the bottom. When done siphoning, all I have to do is open the faucet to the hose from my mixing container (20 gal trash can) to my sump. It refills my sump and I'm done other than pouring my old water down the drain. I can do a water change in about 5-10 minutes if that's all I'm doing.

12/25/2007, 11:32 AM	#6
bearpeidog Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Milton, Vermont Posts: 560	I use a dedicated pump for water changes. I put a mixing container in the basement, plumbed PVC through the floor into the sump under, which is under the tank. Connected a MAG12 to move the water from the basement to the sump. I then use a small pump to remove water from the sump into 5 gallon buckets, which I dump down the sink. I thought about pumping this directly into the septic lines but am too afraid of backups....don't want to chance that... When I'm ready to refill, I use a remote control to turn on the basement pump and the sump refills from the mixing container. Done! I would think you would have to think through using your external pump as I believe pumps can push water more efficiently as opposed to pulling water. Could be wrong but seems like my grey matter is telling me that is the case! Merry Xmas!

12/25/2007, 04:55 PM	#7
Home_Depot Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bemidji,MN Posts: 414	Thanks for the relys I had been doing the bucket thing but wanted to try something else.

12/25/2007, 06:56 PM	#8
Matt Rise Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 453	Rubbermaid trash can for mixing and storing. Mag 7 pumps it up to the tank....easy as pie....

12/25/2007, 09:10 PM	#9
reefCrawler Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 498	I have a 150G, now I change 5G each 3~4 days, old water will go to 40G QT tank.

12/26/2007, 06:37 AM	#10
datablitz Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Blacklick, Ohio Posts: 347	i have a tee and a valve on my return pump that is hooked into the drain in my house, so thats how i take water out, and the intake pf the pump has a tee and a valve that hooks up to a 44g brute that i mix water in. i have a valve on my sump too so i can shut off the sump and just pull water from the trashcan so it fills the tank faster

12/26/2007, 07:23 AM	#12
datablitz Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Blacklick, Ohio Posts: 347	it would be more effective to remove water and then add water than to add water to dilute the water in the tank and overflow it. also that would mess with your topoff and evap

12/26/2007, 07:57 PM	#15
mr_anderson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 99	I have a dual over flow AGA 120. on my overflows I have it linked to one output going into my fuge. I have a ball valve that i connect a hose for water change. when I do water changes, I use my auto top off as a return sensor. basically turn the ball valve on my overflows to waste container, then put my maxijet 1200 on my auto top off in a container with new water to return the water. as the water is overflowed out, the auto top off kicks on and pumps new water in. it takes less than 10mins to change out 10 gallons every week.