Drain tank Mega fast

[wow_it_esploded]

I have a 75 gallon tank and, although it is nothing compared to some here, I want to speed up water changes. I cannot speed up filling as the water comes from the tap only as fast as it does, but draining could be improved quite a bit.

I have sand and normally just strain the areas with waste using a net that allows sand thorough and nothing else, so debris pickup is not something I am going for with this.

I was thinking about 1.5 inch hose (the really flexible kind, see picture) for this purpose. There is a window about 2.5 feet from my tank, but I would like 10-15 feet of hose (or more).

I saw in another thread that they used the sump draining hose from HomeDepot, does anyone know how much that cost? That is what I am looking for and it should drain the tank mighty fast (or faster that .5 inch python hose!). Also, how can I make some sort of strainer for the fish? Like, to keep them from being completely inhaled

Thanks

 

[syndicate]

1.5 inch is overboard as my 20mm drains almost 200 gals in about 15 mins also make sure you line is always heading downhill to make sure its going as fast as can be

 

[dmopar74]

whats up with the pic?

 

[nfored]

I use a 1 1/4 pvc drain for my 55 gallon and its super fast, but harder to prime. now I put 2 ball valves and a tee on the canister return line, and just divert the return from the tank to the outside. So the canister drains the system.

 

[wow_it_esploded]

Haha whoops... That was for a prank I was pulling on someone... Lets say photoshopping her head (the fat one) to a hippo... Soooooo...... I fixed it. I am suprised syndicate didn't catch that. I was talking about HOSE, not HOES

I found the hose at homedepot's site, so I know I can get it in store (checked my zip code). About 10 bucks, so I am good there.

Now I justn need a strainer... Something that I could put over it to protect the fish, incase they get a little curious

It is actually 1.25 inches... I drain approx. 85 gallons from this tank so 2 or 3 minutes should be plenty of time ! Right now it takes about 30 minutes to drain... Cutting down to under 10 will let me do more waterchanges (because the longer it takes, the less I wanna do them.

 

[ian brebner]

How much water are you trying to drain? And how often?

 

[wow_it_esploded]

I use a 1 1/4 pvc drain for my 55 gallon and its super fast, but harder to prime. now I put 2 ball valves and a tee on the canister return line, and just divert the return from the tank to the outside. So the canister drains the system.

350 GPH is not enough for me... That would put me at about 15 minutes, but I think this would be better...

 

[wow_it_esploded]

Agh! I keep missing posts when I respond!

About 85 gallons weekly to bi-weekly.

 

[alleykat0498]

I use a 1 1/4 pvc drain for my 55 gallon and its super fast, but harder to prime. now I put 2 ball valves and a tee on the canister return line, and just divert the return from the tank to the outside. So the canister drains the system.

I love this Idea. Us lazy americans....

 

[wow_it_esploded]

But that would only let me drain half the tank... When I do a water change I do 100% water changes.... Draining low enough to make the fish tilt slightly, refilling to half, and draining that low again. I mean, you are already there, so you might as well go for gold and reset your nitrates to 0ppm (or whatever your tap trates are)