Drip system for water changes?

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spiff

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2007
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midwest
I'm putting the finishing touches on a 2000 gallon tank I built in my basement.. But a couple technical hurdles remain. First, water changes the normal way will be an expensive chore it seems...

Is it feasible to just simply have a constant drip system and an overflow on my sump? It would seem to me, with the drip correctly regulated, I wouldn't even have to worry about adding dechlorinator. Am I correct on this presumption, or am I overlooking something?

I also want to take advantage of a four ft drop to the sump by having a gravity fed tray-based system for a mechanical filter. I'm picturing 3 trays with a synthetic pillow in each serving as a mechanical and bio prefilter before the water even hits the sump. My question is, will this much exposure to air make is stink and get nasty?

I appreciate any help on this. If these topics was covered else where I oppologize as I looked thru the threads already. I'm still a novice in fishkeeping... i just got hooked on aquariums after I got my first tank 8 months ago.

Thanks again..

Rob
 
Oh yeah...its going to be a freshwater tank....
 
Fisrt of all, welcome to MFK!
Second post pics!
Third check the DIY forum, the thread you are looking for is in there somewhere
 
Find out if they use Chlorine in your tap water or Chloramine..

Chloramine system: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74275

Chlorine system:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27474&highlight=drip+DIY (posted already)

Chlorine one that uses a water aging barrel: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19920

Either way I'd be dripping a tank that big.. forget water changes on that thing. You should still gravel vac dirt out of the bottom though unless you have something that's gonna suck it up like a filter. Also might look at/search for Johnptc's tank and see what his setup was as his is a larger scale couple thousand gallon tank.

Your water should not "stink and get nasty" unless there's something wrong with it.
 
Is the chlorine (or chloramine) filter really needed though when adding such a miniscule amount at a time into such a large volume of water?

Or maybe putting an open pan under the drip, so the water gets some air time before dripping from this pan into the main tank..

I'm just trying to simplify things as much as possible... there has got to be a point at which dechlorinating (or dechloramining) is moot... (i hope)

Anyone have any feedback on this particular area?

The articles are great, BTW.
 
spiff;1455888; said:
Is the chlorine (or chloramine) filter really needed though when adding such a miniscule amount at a time into such a large volume of water?

Or maybe putting an open pan under the drip, so the water gets some air time before dripping from this pan into the main tank..

I'm just trying to simplify things as much as possible... there has got to be a point at which dechlorinating (or dechloramining) is moot... (i hope)

Anyone have any feedback on this particular area?

The articles are great, BTW.
Click to expand...
Set the tank up, fill it with dechlorinated water, run the drip for a week or 2 and see if you get any chlorine to register on a test kit. I doubt you will. I run the carbon just to be safe........and really it's cheap so why not lol.

Be sure to get pix of the entire process. We love projects like yours!
 
HEY! Novel idea! And simple. This is perfect as I was going to leave it full of water for a long time anyway before draining it again to start setting it up...

I'll try to get pictures... I'm still an old fogey who uses film....
 
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