Water Change-outs..

[JStrider]

Re: Water Change-outs..

good question...

only having a few 30 gallon tanks I just do the 5 gallon bucket brigade.

I do have a python, but it seems so wasteful.

its good to see how different people do the water changes on the bigger tanks.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Water Change-outs..

Python attached to kitchen sink to siphon out "poo corner" and gravel vac the tanks with gravel.  Then I hook up Aqua Clear 902 powerhead with 35' of 1" ID hose and drain 50-75% weekly in the tank to the kitchen sink.

Then re-fill using my slow-as-christmas kitchen sink.

I have so little waterpressure, I have to use both hot and cold for siphon on the python to work.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Water Change-outs..

Here's my method....

Unplug heaters, powerheads and HOB filters if applicable.
Stick python in tank and turn on sink
Clean the sand then wait for the tank to drain - 15 minutes to ~ 1 hour depending on the tank
Sit down and watch tv/get on HFB/clean algae off glass/something to kill time
Panic hearing water hitting the floor as the sink is overflowing
Run to sink and turn off faucet
Run to utility room and grab stack of towels to soak up all the water on the floor
Cuss...A LOT
Turn faucet back on....lower pressure
Wait for tank to finish draining down to about 40% left in tank
Reverse flow and refill tank adding Stress Coat or Amquel+
Plug in heaters, powerheads and HOB filters if applicable
Change out of wet clothes and put pile of wet towels in the washing machine
Ponder AGAIN the idea of building one of the siphon tubes that fshfrk uses. :)

[jetchanic]

Re: Water Change-outs..

fshfrk should post up the details of his home made siphon.  He said that it works really well and I don't think that he has to use any water pressure to suck out the water.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Water Change-outs..

I have pics of it...they are posted with some of the GHAC meeting pics, but I think I'll post them in a thread by themselves if fshfrk doesn't mind.

[JStrider]

Re: Water Change-outs..

fshfrk should post up the details of his home made siphon.  He said that it works really well and I don't think that he has to use any water pressure to suck out the water.

he doesnt have to use the tap to suck out the water.

its just a regular siphon that hangs on the tank, just over the highpoint, it has a nozzle with a ball valve that he uses lungpower to get the siphon primed then closes the valve on the nozzle and opens the valve on the rest of the siphon and away it goes...

[fshfrk]

Re: Water Change-outs..

mrs geek post the pics most people could use it.  thanks john

[fshfrk]

Re: Water Change-outs..

airportjunkie and i also made 3/4 inch versions for smaller tanks.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Water Change-outs..

mrs geek post the pics most people could use it.  thanks john

Posted here...

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7017

[jetchanic]

Re: Water Change-outs..

Thanks john for letting the geek post up the pics

[Delock]

Re: Water Change-outs..

are pythons really that good?

[CichlidFan]

Re: Water Change-outs..

It's only down side is having to keep it rolled up neatly and storage space. Otherwise...YES

[JStrider]

Re: Water Change-outs..

It's only down side is having to keep it rolled up neatly and storage space. Otherwise...YES

and that it wastes a bunch of water in some cases because it has to have the faucet running to pull the water out.

[fishlady]

Re: Water Change-outs..

yeah but the water that's wasted is nothing compared to the back problems that you could have toting all that water in buckets..... 8O

[CichlidFan]

Re: Water Change-outs..

If you wanted, you could take the python outdoors and roll it up by hand "chasing" the water out of the hose manually.

CF