Automated Water Change Question - Beginner Question

[glovanator]

OK, I've been doing bucket changes for a long time. I'm ready to invest in semi-automating my water changes.

I want to turn on a valve to add water into my tank. (not needing to carry buckets) Then have it overflow out of my hang on the back overflow (which I'm going to add) into a drain.

My question: Do I need to 1/2 way empty the tank to do a 50% water change? Then turn my valve to put in new water? Or people that hook up their tanks on an irrigation system, do they just add new water to an already full tank and let it go out the overflow into a drain to dilute the water? So that tank never really gets partially emptied with water it's always full.

I want to be lazy and just add water and let the overflow do all the work but I'm not familiar with how efficient the dilution of ammonia would be.

 

[dogofwar]

My whole fish room has a drip system with PVC overflows. Basically water drips in and overflows down a drain. Works like a charm and no buckets.

OK, I've been doing bucket changes for a long time. I'm ready to invest in semi-automating my water changes.

I want to turn on a valve to add water into my tank. (not needing to carry buckets) Then have it overflow out of my hang on the back overflow (which I'm going to add) into a drain.

My question: Do I need to 1/2 way empty the tank to do a 50% water change? Then turn my valve to put in new water? Or people that hook up their tanks on an irrigation system, do they just add new water to an already full tank and let it go out the overflow into a drain to dilute the water? So that tank never really gets partially emptied with water it's always full.

I want to be lazy and just add water and let the overflow do all the work but I'm not familiar with how efficient the dilution of ammonia would be.

 

[glovanator]

Yeah but don't drip systems get clogged (I have hard water). But yeah my strategy is basically a drip system. Told you it was a Beginner question! Thanks!

 

[anitstuk123]

I have an idea that isn't really a "semi automatic" , however it is easier to change water. Getting a multiuse syphon is sooo useful because you just need to hook it up to your tap and it works. It's a good investment!

 

[pacu mom]

I want to be lazy and just add water and let the overflow do all the work but I'm not familiar with how efficient the dilution of ammonia would be.

Hopefully, your tank is cycled and there is no ammonia present. Most of us do water changes to keep nitrates low in the tank. Is there no need to vacuum substrate or sand? What you propose to do would work, however, you would probably use more water to achieve a predetermined lower nitrate level than if you dumped water and added water.

 

[Crazylegs78]

Here's a link to an effective water change calculator. It tells you how much water to drip in to your tank in order to achieve 50% water changes. For example, water dripped into a 100gal tank at 0.5 gal/hr results in a 56% water change every week.

Effective Water Change Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the effective water change amount of several combined smaller water changes.

www.hamzasreef.com

A recirculating vacuum is a fairly easy DIY with a pump, water-tight container, and some poly fiber material. This would allow you to clean the substrate without removing more water.

 

[duanes]

I open a valve (normally closed) to my sump, when open it sends old water outside.

It sends old water to the garden.
When done draining, and closed,
A line from the tap sends new water from te tap to the tanks )sumps).

By opening a valve on the manifold, I can send water to 1, 2, 3 or more tanks at once.
I put a float a valve on the end of each line, so as not to overflow any of the 3 or more taks at once (in case I forget).

There are many float valves commercially available, I get mine from farm supple stores (made for horse troughs)

The red ball stops water from coming in when the sump is full.
I can change a few hundred gallons in a matter of minutes.