LOOKING FOR TIPS ON WATER CHANGES
- Thread starter KABB44423
- Start date
Python at my moms house, and at my dads I use a 5 gallon bucket on my 29 and 10, and I run the gravel vac out the door for my 120 then fill it up with a garden hose.
I use a drip system now but before I used a small marker pen on the plastic corner to indicate how far to drain. Since I had so many tanks, I used to take out the same amount of water volume since most tanks were about the same sizes. ie 100L from each tank ... so when it was time to refill I could add the same neutraliser dose (one capful for example) to every tank and use multiple hoses to fill. I made a small PVC U tube with tap so I didnt have to hold the refilling hoses.
Python's are nice, but they are a waste of water.
For all my tanks I drain water with a PVC U tube with fish guard, and vinyl hose out the door, or in the tub. On the end of the tube I have a garden thread ball valve. I use a drill pump to pull the water out of the tanks, as this is MUCH faster than waiting for gravity. When refilling, for smaller tanks (less than 100 gallons), I hook up the same tube up to the sink faucet, and add dechlor. For larger and taller tanks, I use a trash can full of water, and 5 gallon buckets that get dechlorinated before dumping. I fill the buckets in the tub (tub faucets pump more water than sink faucets) and dump them into the trash can. I have a 1/4 horsepower pump in the trash can which pumps 1050 gph.
For all my tanks I drain water with a PVC U tube with fish guard, and vinyl hose out the door, or in the tub. On the end of the tube I have a garden thread ball valve. I use a drill pump to pull the water out of the tanks, as this is MUCH faster than waiting for gravity. When refilling, for smaller tanks (less than 100 gallons), I hook up the same tube up to the sink faucet, and add dechlor. For larger and taller tanks, I use a trash can full of water, and 5 gallon buckets that get dechlorinated before dumping. I fill the buckets in the tub (tub faucets pump more water than sink faucets) and dump them into the trash can. I have a 1/4 horsepower pump in the trash can which pumps 1050 gph.
This is the setup I use for my 120gal. The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes if I do a 50% w/c.
The pump is a Lowes fountain pump left over from a project from a couple of years ago. It hangs on the side of the tank by a bent stainless steel strap.
The hose ( I chose yellow so everyone in the house knows it's for the fish) is run to a washing machine drain (or sink or whatever)
While the tank is emptying the large cooler is filling in the nearby bathtub. I throw Prime, medicine and even ice on hot days, whatever the need in there.
When the tank is down to the level I want I move the pump to the cooler, hook the hose end on the tank and fill it up.
Done.
The cooler works great because any leftover water can be let out the spigot. I will find something lighter because the cooler is cumbersome and heavy. I didnt want to use the bathtub because of possible soap contamination.
You can tell we havent remodeled the laundryroom and the bathroom yet but we
're working on it
The pump is a Lowes fountain pump left over from a project from a couple of years ago. It hangs on the side of the tank by a bent stainless steel strap.
The hose ( I chose yellow so everyone in the house knows it's for the fish) is run to a washing machine drain (or sink or whatever)
While the tank is emptying the large cooler is filling in the nearby bathtub. I throw Prime, medicine and even ice on hot days, whatever the need in there.
When the tank is down to the level I want I move the pump to the cooler, hook the hose end on the tank and fill it up.
Done.
The cooler works great because any leftover water can be let out the spigot. I will find something lighter because the cooler is cumbersome and heavy. I didnt want to use the bathtub because of possible soap contamination.
You can tell we havent remodeled the laundryroom and the bathroom yet but we
're working on it
the most important tip I can give is to make sure you do them every week.
no exceptions!
many of my fish are over 9 years old, with the oldest being 15 and counting.
I credit this sucess from water changes every week.
water quality is (obviously) the main killer of fish.
doing regular water changes (along with not overfeeding) ensures that this will not be a problem.
then, with some good fortune (as far as disease and injury go) your fish will live for a long long time.
no exceptions!
many of my fish are over 9 years old, with the oldest being 15 and counting.
I credit this sucess from water changes every week.
water quality is (obviously) the main killer of fish.
doing regular water changes (along with not overfeeding) ensures that this will not be a problem.
then, with some good fortune (as far as disease and injury go) your fish will live for a long long time.