Ok guys, I've had a ton of requests to show this thing over the past six months or so, so here it is. This thing is incredibly cheap and easy to build, my total investment was a hair over $40, and its worth its weight in gold. I'm not even going to include blueprints as to how to do it because its that simple. All piping in this is 3/4" ID sch. 40 pvc. I'm sharing this to give you an idea how to make your own that will suit your needs.
What you'll need:
Three ball valves
A 90* T junction
Some sort of piping to connect this contraption to the filter outlet. I used flexible PVC.
Worm clamps
A brass PVC to garden hose adaptor thingy
Some PVC glue and/or brass male/male connectors. I used brass male/male connectors to put all of the pieces together, but if I had it to do over again, I'd use glue.
A sink to garden hose adapter thingamabob
Pic 1- This is how the cheatin' easy water changer is most of the time. The in-line ball valves are open and the drain is closed. You can see fairly well the PVC to garden hose adaptor thingy. One end has the same threading as the PCV on the ball valve, the other is the same as a garden hose so you can attach a hose.
Pic 2- The first thing you need to do is attach the hose. I made my own hose out of clear 3/4" ID hosing so I can see what's going on in the hose. After you attach it to the drain, put the other end of the hose where ever you pump water, I put it in the sink in winter and out the window in summer.
Pic 3- Once you have the hose where you want the water to go, FIRST open the drain ball valve and THEN close the outlet ball valve. This will drain your water.
Pic 4- The faucet to garden hose adapter thingamajig.
Pic 5- Once your tank is drained to the point that you're happy, shut off your filter. Then walk over to the sink and attach the hose to the faucet.
Pic 6- After you attach the hose to the faucet, go back to the tank and shut the ball valve between the drain and the filter and open the ball valve between the drain and the outlet. This will allow the water from your faucet to enter the tank through the filter's outlet. Once that is open, go turn on your faucet, add your chemicals, and wait for your tank to fill!
What you'll need:
Three ball valves
A 90* T junction
Some sort of piping to connect this contraption to the filter outlet. I used flexible PVC.
Worm clamps
A brass PVC to garden hose adaptor thingy
Some PVC glue and/or brass male/male connectors. I used brass male/male connectors to put all of the pieces together, but if I had it to do over again, I'd use glue.
A sink to garden hose adapter thingamabob
Pic 1- This is how the cheatin' easy water changer is most of the time. The in-line ball valves are open and the drain is closed. You can see fairly well the PVC to garden hose adaptor thingy. One end has the same threading as the PCV on the ball valve, the other is the same as a garden hose so you can attach a hose.
Pic 2- The first thing you need to do is attach the hose. I made my own hose out of clear 3/4" ID hosing so I can see what's going on in the hose. After you attach it to the drain, put the other end of the hose where ever you pump water, I put it in the sink in winter and out the window in summer.
Pic 3- Once you have the hose where you want the water to go, FIRST open the drain ball valve and THEN close the outlet ball valve. This will drain your water.
Pic 4- The faucet to garden hose adapter thingamajig.
Pic 5- Once your tank is drained to the point that you're happy, shut off your filter. Then walk over to the sink and attach the hose to the faucet.
Pic 6- After you attach the hose to the faucet, go back to the tank and shut the ball valve between the drain and the filter and open the ball valve between the drain and the outlet. This will allow the water from your faucet to enter the tank through the filter's outlet. Once that is open, go turn on your faucet, add your chemicals, and wait for your tank to fill!
