Do You Suck?

[Cal Amari]

Well I guess I haven't really timed it both ways, maybe it just feels like it's working faster when I hear the motor running, I also don't shut the return valve so as the water level drops the return splashing into the tank gives a lot of agutation, which in my head boosts oxygen levels which is good right before adding the dechlorinator.

Either way, I don't worry about the time, I usually use the drain and refill time to scrape algae, straighten up decor, etc or just sit and watch while listening to an audiobook or podcast.

 

[pacu mom]

Open and close valves here. Bare bottom tank with vertical mechanical uptakes just off the floor (poop sucker pipes) The current tank is plumbed so that water changes are done via the mechanical filtration plumbing. There is a pipe under the house that goes out to the back patio. By opening one valve, the tank drains via the poop sucker pipes. I have to watch and not get distracted. Once I was on a call and heard my husband stacking firewood in the living room. Fifteen minutes later upon completion of my call, I discovered that it was not firewood, but my poor fish flopping on a dry floor in their tank.. They were both bleeding, and one was alive but not responsive. 15 minutes later, when they both ate, I knew they were OK.

In the current equipment room there is a 55 gallon tank on a high shelf fed by a water line from a utility sink. There is a vertical uptake pipe in the 55 gallon holding tank.

Our mechanical filtration


The vertical pipe on the right is from the holding tank. Opening up the valve fills the main tank. Behind the vertical pipe is a pipe going downwards. This pipe goes under the house and out to the patio. Opening the valve drains the tank. Gravity flow to drain the main tank, and gravity flow to fill the tank. To fill, we open the valve from the holding tank, while it could gavity flow to the main tank, we turn the pump back on for our mechanical filtration, and the fill water is rapidly pumped into the main tank. Of course, with this system, there is no debris and no need to use a gravel vac in the tank.

Old video from 12 years ago showing the turbulent refill of the tank via the Reeflo Hammerhead pump with a Venturi return nozzle.

 

[Trouser Cough]

Interesting responses. Thanks for them all.

There are some strikingly talented posters in this group and it appears there may be a fairly simple WC aspect to resolve.

The Challenge:

No motor

Easy to connect a 3/4" garden hose

Easy to start the siphon.

Can be a bulb start or anything else. Bonus points for an Occam's Razor solution.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Interesting responses. Thanks for them all.

There are some strikingly talented posters in this group and it appears there may be a fairly simple WC aspect to resolve.

The Challenge:

No motor

Easy to connect a 3/4" garden hose

Easy to start the siphon.

Can be a bulb start or anything else. Bonus points for an Occam's Razor solution.

What I keep meaning to do is put a T in hose from my tank to a filter. SImple to just plug the hose in, throw it out flip the valve and wait. But still, I think that's more complicated than needed relative to "Put hose in take, suck and throw out a window."

 

[SpecialKay]

I use a detachable bulb pump python to water my plants and shrubs, although I do find it somewhat cumbersome to detach the bulb and pull the tubing all the way to my sink to do the fill up. It does take a while to drain and refill, but I workout at the same time so the time doesn't really matter.

I will say, however, coiling back up all the tubing to fit back into the fish supplies box is frustrating. I've been brainstorming some ideas for a collapsible, auto coiling hose, but it'll probably take some time.

 

[chopshop]

I do my water changes the boring way...20litres at a time, not sure what your water is like where you guys are but in the UK we need to treat the water before adding to the tank.
I just use a gravel cleaner on the hose, fill it up , turn it upside down and let it fill the pipe, the place it back in the water( the weight of the gravel cleaner keeps the hose in the tank)...syphon started.....incidentally I have another bucket with treated water pumping freshwater in my sump via powerhead, so I do both at the same time, kinda hands free

 

[https://www.cichlid-forum]

There are thousands upon thousands of WC's that have been done by the collective here and I'm guessing that one of you may have sorted it out. I've got a long history of starting WC's in one of two ways...

1 - I've got a homegrown U shaped PVC adapter I hang over the lip of the tank and connect a 3/4" (never a 5/8" as they're far slower) garden hose to it. I'll wander outside and give the other end of the hose a mighty suck, lay it down and let the WC commence, or

2 - I'll connect that same PVC adapter to the tank and connect the other end to a faucet, fill the hose until I hear a change in internal flow then disconnect the hose from the faucet, fold it a couple times to keep the water from drooling out and then waltz that end of the hose outside and lay it down for the WC to begin.

What I'd like is some way of starting that process w/ a 3/4" siphon bulb adapter or maybe magic of some kind. I would prefer to avoid yet another motor and pump and suck starting that siphon is just a bit gross. There's got to be a better way..

Got a cool setup? Talk to me.

It sounds like you’re looking for a more convenient way to start the siphon for your water changes (WC’s) in your aquarium. You’ve been using a homemade U-shaped PVC adapter and a 3/4" garden hose, but you’re interested in a method that doesn’t require sucking on the hose or using a motor and pump.

One possible solution could be a siphon starter or a siphon pump. These devices can help you start a siphon without having to suck on the hose or use a motor and pump.

For example, a hand pump is a super easy method which involves a rubber bulb that is plumbed inline with your siphon1. One end of the tube goes in the tank, the other end in the bucket. You start pumping the rubber bulb until the tube is filled with water and the siphon begins to flow.

Another method is using a ball valve or kinking the hose2. You can also fill the hose with water and plug it with your thumb2. These methods are demonstrated in a video by The Fish Doctor.

 

[Trouser Cough]

A few different methods have now been tried. The one that has almost zero investment cost and works well is as follows:

- Hook up the garden hose to the bathroom sink as if I were going to fill the tank.

- Turn on the hose until you hear the pressure change and shut the valve off

- Unscrew the hose from the faucet and kink the hose to keep it from leaking

- Walk that end out to wherever you want your tank to drain (shower basin, garden, etc.)

- Let it drain

When that's done reconnect the hose to the faucet and fill the tank.

It's a no suck event and it's free w/ very little add'l wizardry.

Don't forget: The longer the hose, the slower the drain. And use 3/4" hose if you have it as the 5/8" hose and smaller has a significantly slower flow rate.