Automatic Water Changing Systems

[BCherdingthefish]

Hi all! Long time no talk. Not sure if anyone here remembers me.

When chronic illness really took over my life several years ago, keeping up with the care of my tanks, especially the 100 gallon, became difficult. As I continued to get sicker, I ended up tearing down all but my 20-gallon, minimal-maintenance RC shrimp tank.

I am living with 6 chronic illnesses, all of which cannot be cured, some of which cannot even be treated. My aquariums were always a huge source of joy for me, and I was so heartbroken when I realized I could no longer provide the level of care that they needed. I used to shut off all the lights in my house, pull up a chair, and just watch the fish. They really brought me much-needed feelings of relaxation, calmness, and happiness. These were two of my favorite setups over the years.

100 gallon planted community display

This is easily my all-time absolute favorite setup. 100 gallon Eartheater display. They were about 8" and so breathtaking when I sold them.

I miss fishkeeping so much. But I can't keep up with the water changes, that's the hardest part for me.
Recently, I've been really struggling with my health. I find myself longing more and more for the joy and peacefulness that fishkeeping brought me. I still have the 100 gallon, I have not been able to bring myself to sell it.

I know some people here have amazing fully- or semi-automatic water changing systems. No dragging hoses, tubes, or buckets around. Can you guys show & explain them to me? How much did they cost? How much time do you spend on tank maintenance now that you have them? What did setting them up require in both time & $$? Any and all information you can give me would be very much appreciated!

 

[Woefulrelic]

They aren't terribly hard to set up. You have to either cut into the water line or t off of a sink or something, depending on what you are setting up for. It's certainly possible to completely remove the need for manual water changes, and you won't have to top off either. That said, for that to happen on a 100 gallon tank you would have to drip 5-10 gallons of water a day. If your on city water you will have to run it through a carbon block or something more serious for chloramine (I have well water so not an expert). The water itself may be a considerable cost if your in CA, I have no idea what the water situation is there anymore. The hardware to plumb water in is generally pretty easy, depending on distance from water and stuff. The most reliable way to set up the water out would be an elbow in a sump that overflows as water is added, and then runs down hill outside of the house. Certain things can limit this, so without knowing your situation it gets a bit harder. If it would get you back into the hobby it is certainly something to consider.

 

[duanes]

I had a semi-auto water change system, until I recently moved.
And because all my tanks are on sumps, a 30% water change and fill on any one of the 3 banks of tanks would take maybe 10 minutes, with minimal effort.
Each bank a little over 300 gallons
When I open the (red) valve below, instead of all water flowing by gravity to the sump, about 40% would flow instead, outside to the garden.


when a sufficient amount of old water had been been sent outside, I close the red valve.
Then turn on the tap, and there was PVC was set up, to send water to any of the 3 banks of tanks, in total about 1000 gallons.

The PVC and gang valve probably ran about $100, and I ran the plumbing myself (one of the reasons it ain't so pretty)

 

[ragin_cajun]

I have an auto water changer with a continuous constant drip of 40 gallons per day on a 540 gallon tank, 125 gallon sump. I haven't siphoned water outta that tank since November--other than a few gallons to gravel vac solids off the substrate. I have city water with chloramine in it, I use a carbon block filter from thefilterguys.biz.

http://thefilterguys.biz/chloramine_filters.htm This link shows a dual stage filter, but call them and ask them if you need a 3 stage filter. 3 stage is what I have.

I change the 3 filter cartridges out every 2 1/2 months, and that's $40. No idea what the water costs--don't care.

I use the elbow in the sump method that duanes describes.

I gotta say, duanes method is easier and cheaper. You just drain of the water you want to change with the turn of a valve, and then refill. That way, you can add the right amount of Prime right then. So, you don't need a chlorine filter. It's just a touch more work than my system, just turn some valves. But you don't need to change the filter cartridges, which is a little bit more work actually. And you don't need to buy the filter, either.

 

[celebrist]

I am really looking forward to my remodel when I can put in an auto drip system, the wife vetoed my hoses across the ceiling design, go figure

 

[duanes]

Yes, the PVC across the ceilings and floors wouldn't have worked, had I not been divorced.

 

[axs377]

I'm just partial, but I think a drip is a better option for more sensitive fish, as the water parameters tend to stay more constant. I have a 40gal/drip, water runs through a filter from the filter guys into my sump, so cold water isn't going directly into the tank. My sump/ wet dry is drilled at the max water level I want it and plumbed so extra water drains out. Every 3-4 weeks I wipe down the inside of the tank and do a quick gravel vac, no need to refill; it does it automatically. Also no need for prime or any water conditioner. I do however have to replace the filter media every few months.

 

[axs377]

Forgot to add the cost to set up was around $250, and $40 every 3-4 months for new filter media.

 

[Abby Ru]

I'm on well water and do a drip feed of multiple gallons a day (depends the tank). And the water just drains over into an overflow. It's that simple