brackish water changes

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2006
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east tennessee
Ok, how do you do waterchanges/water vacs. in a large brackish tank. i just changed over from a 55 brackish to a 125 and am thinking how this is going to work. With the 55, i take a 10 gal tub and get it set up and mixing while i start to vac. After im done with the vac, i have sucked out between 1/4 to 1/2 the water out. Now, i take the 10 gal tub and bring it to the tank, then with a gal. jug, start to bail it in. I repeat this till its full.
Now, what im thinking is there has to be a better way if im to do this with a 125. Im thinking of getting a 30 gal trash can and putting it next to the tank before i do the vac. Then fill it, add salt, mix with a paddle,start to vac. After im done, use my gal. jug and start to bail. Still sounds like a lot.
How do you all do it with a brackish tank 125. or larger...
 

TankBuster

" I feel violated "
MFK Member
Feb 19, 2006
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Glendora, Ca
I have a 100 gallon brackish. I use a 2- 32 gallon trash barrels from Lowes and I fill one barrel with water while adding my prime conditioner. Then after I filll it to where the inside handle molds are, I drop in a mag 12 turn it on then add my ph buffer then slowly pour n the salt. If you fill it like I do you will use a total of 8 cups of Instant Ocean to make 1.010 to 1.012 specific gravity of brackish water. I let the mag drive run for about a half hour, testing 3 times during that time, then I take my 1" o.d. hose and I use a pvc barb fittin, elbow and pvc pipe with a cap on the end, then I drill holes lik a spray bar. I set that in the tank and fire up the mag drive again.
 

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2006
124
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east tennessee
oh ok, so after i mix the salt, i could just use my canister and put the intake in the trash can and pump it into the tank? wouldn't that work?
 

TankBuster

" I feel violated "
MFK Member
Feb 19, 2006
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Glendora, Ca
Yes, I have done that with my XP3 in the past, just make sure it re-primes after. Also, you may get a bunch of crap blowing into the tank that was in your plumbing from jarring it loose, but it will work. I like the mag drive because it gets the job done faster and the puffer likes playing in the current it makes.
 

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2006
124
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east tennessee
i was looking at the pumps and was wondering. Do i have to have a mag 12? Could i go a little cheeper beings its just to mix the salt and pump it back in to the tank? Im not that pressed for time when doing water changes.
I was looking at this one for 1/2 the price as a 12?
Supreme Mag Drive 5
 
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