Did someone say water change?

[TheWolfman]

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

 

[Tony A.]

Nice set up

 

[TheWolfman]

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.

 

[TheWolfman]

Ok a little update A little experimenting with diy overflows I’ve come up with something I trust and have been using to remove excess water from my system. I also setup a drip system that I’ve been running now for 2 weeks. Enjoy

 

[xraycer]

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!

 

[PYRU]

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

 

[FishNCash]

You got a lot of patience hauling bucket 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.

 

[TheWolfman]

You got a lot of patience hauling bucket 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.

 

[Tony A.]

The easyer the water change the more inclined you will do them.
Like your system..

 

[TheWolfman]

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.