Did someone say water change?

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TheWolfman

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Sep 5, 2010
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Long island, NY
Hey guys I figured I would share my latest addition to my setup with my fellow Cichla members. After lugging buckets and draining tank water into my kitchen sink I came up with a solution to make my life a bit easier (and the wife a bit happier). I decided to run a drain to the back of my fish tank and install a ball valve to drain the tank for my water changes. If I need to vacuum my sand I can stick my syphon right into the vent pipe and go to town. When the tank is clean I can open the valve and drain the rest of the water half way. To put the water back in I made a in-line carbon filter that attaches to the sink that I can refill the tank back up with the correct temperature water. Enjoy :)3F78E100-74B0-472E-8C9A-D7C8D1487AA0.jpeg 5069869F-27DD-4BAA-915E-2B55DD88C3ED.jpeg636881BF-7F52-4137-80A1-A837113B37D0.jpeg BECC5481-379E-474C-9180-1B4D42D1E8F1.jpegD6025E4A-770F-445F-B347-F98187F3D754.jpeg
 
Nice set up
 
Thanks Tony I’ve been running this drain setup for a week now and I wish I did it sooner. Cleaning the sand is a breeze and the tank has never looked cleaner. I’m running 3/4 pvc for my tank drain that ties into a 1 1/2” out. It droppes the water level in the tank in a 3rd of the time it took my old drain to the sink method.
 
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toi2.jpg hose2.jpg My 75gal is only 5ft from the half bath/laundry room. I'd made this rig, and have been running it for the past 4 years. It empties into the toilet, and it refills via the washing machine plumbing. So, 60% wc, twice a week is a snap! toi.jpg
 
On my overflows like that I always use lifter pumps on the top 90 to ensure a siphon.

I use an old mag 350 for water removal and ran a hose through the floor to the sink in my kitchen to make things easier for the time being until I finish wiring part of the basement. I'm working on making it push button but i can't find a cost effective temp controller. I want to run pvc from my washing machine connection then branch off to all tanks. Draining is the biggest pain due to it being below grade so I have to use a workhorse pump to pump it out to the plants
 
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You got a lot of patience hauling bucket TheWolfman TheWolfman
I would have quit if I have to use buckets for waterchanges. LoL I love your new diy tools for waterchange. It looks very efficient and innovative.

I use a 5/8” garden hose to drain and refill using the same hose.
 
You got a lot of patience hauling bucket TheWolfman TheWolfman
I would have quit if I have to use buckets for waterchanges. LoL I love your new diy tools for waterchange. It looks very efficient and innovative.

I use a 5/8” garden hose to drain and refill using the same hose.

Nothing wrong with a good workout lol. I would only carry the buckets for the poop, the regular tank water was syphoned to the sink and I would use my refill hose to fill her back up so it wasn’t too bad. Now I just clean the poop twice a week and top off. The drip system has kept the water parameters on point.
 
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The easyer the water change the more inclined you will do them.
Like your system..
 
Well I figured I would update this thread. I just did my first water change in two weeks since running the drip. 20 ppm before the wc. I also made a little clip on the side of the tank planter that I have some pothos in to help cut down some nitrate between wc. I’m allmost ready to go bare bottom and really make it a maintenance free setup but I haven’t given up hope yet. E0DEF2A9-E75C-4C3E-AA50-1A055F79C933.jpeg94517AD2-72B2-4D7F-BE26-0982A0133249.jpeg
 
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