Water Changes on a Pre Drilled Reef Ready Tank

[Joel_155]

Hey All,
So I'm getting to the final planning stages on my tank build and I have a question about water changes on my 100 Gallon Pre Drilled Reef Ready tank. Since its reef ready I'm assuming that I would be limited to the water in the sump as the total volume of my water change. Am I correct here?

I was initially planning on tapping the drain manifold and using that to drain water out and then just slowly add water back into the sump with the return pump on. I then realized that would work as once the water level in the tank drops below the slots on the returns the flow to the sump would stop. So that means that I would have to drain water from the sump with the return pump off and then add the newly mixed salt water back into the sump.

Am I over thinking this? It can be a bad habit of mine. As always I appreciate any help provided. Thanks!

Joel

[danschargers21]

Thats the way I always do it. Turn off my return pump and close my ball valve from the drain. Pump my water out of the sump... then put my new water in the sump, then turn everything back on.

[scarface70706]

i just turn off my pump and take water from the main display. even if its rr it doesnt mean you cant take it from up top. been doing this since day one.

[twilmot]

I turn off all the pumps and let the sump fill up. Then I take water from the main display. Then I turn the pumps back on and put the water in the sump back into the display. Once the sump is empty I fill the sump back up with new water. I Repeat turning the sump on and off until my water level is back up where it was before.

[jeff@zina.com]

Originally Posted by Joel_155

Am I over thinking this?

Yep. If you want to change more than will fit in the sump, you can't use the overflow as a source. Beyond that, a siphon in the DT works fine.

Jeff

[redneckgearhead]

I do most of my water changes in the DT, It lets me siphon all the detritus out of the nooks and cracks in the rock (even with great flow some will still make it in there) as well as cleaning the substrate if needed.

[HowieB]

I blow off the rocks with a turkey baster and then remove 15-20 gallons from my display tank every other week. I do this with all pumps off. I once removed the water from the sump without realizing that the ATO needs to be shut off too. The sump filled up with fresh water before I could add back the saltwater.

[scarface70706]

Originally Posted by HowieB

I blow off the rocks with a turkey baster and then remove 15-20 gallons from my display tank every other week. I do this with all pumps off. I once removed the water from the sump without realizing that the ATO needs to be shut off too. The sump filled up with fresh water before I could add back the saltwater.

LOL aw man that sucks. hey you learn something new every day right? i almost did that and the second i heard my ATO click on i pulled the cord out of the wall lol

[Joel_155]

I would siphon out of the DT but with the layout of my condo thats not really an option. I'd have to move a trash can full of water down stairs which just isn't an option. I plan on running a small hole through the wall to the garage and just running tubing thought it.

I think the best bet for my planned setup would be just add a bulk head to the sump. That way I could completely drain the sump through the bulkhead while the pumps are off and then just refill it with salt water.

[Lorenz725]

OOOO Thanks for telling me about the ATO I just hooked mine up and I am doing a water change tomorrow I know I would have forgot and I have a feeling I still will!