FX6 Plumbing

[Reaper7535]

I had planned doing my water changes through the drain port of my FX6 until I realized how painfully slow that was. Now, I will do the draining through the output of the FX6. I ordered a extra Aquastop valve and need to get some tubing. Would pond tube be ok for this ? It will just slide over the Aqauastop valve and be ran inside to my watewater drain on washer when needed. I will change out about 50 gallons at a time.

As far as refilling, I am ordering a 65 Gallon container and running a spare Mag 9.5 from it to the tank for refills. I will also have a float valve in the container along with a heater and powerhead to keep the water circulated. Going to use a Avast ATO system on this to keep it top offed.

Is pond hose good long term if I'm going to keep it inside ?

 

[TheWolfman]

Why the need for all that extra equipment? I add tap water at temp strength to the tank and treat with prime.

 

[TheWolfman]

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/did-someone-say-water-change.702000/
This is how I do my water changes. You can use pvc and plumb in a t and shutoff valve to you canister output to drain you tank.

 

[Reaper7535]

Why the need for all that extra equipment? I add tap water at temp strength to the tank and treat with prime.

For me to drain via gravity and then fill from the tap, it literally takes me 3 hours to do about 60 galllons. My water pressure has a lot to be desired. Doing it the way I want to would be less than 30 minutes.

 

[deeda]

Using the FX6 output with an additional stop valve should work just fine depending on the distance and height of the wastewater drain pipe.

Pond hose should work, depending on the type of material but be sure it is a snug fit on the aquastop valve AND use a worm drive hose clamp to secure it snugly.

You also will need a way to secure the discharge end of the hose in the wastewater drain pipe so it doesn't come out.

Consider using a Brute trash can as your water storage container and also get the dolly so you can roll it up to the tank. You can store all your water change equipment and pump inside when you don't need it.

 

[Reaper7535]

Using the FX6 output with an additional stop valve should work just fine depending on the distance and height of the wastewater drain pipe.

Pond hose should work, depending on the type of material but be sure it is a snug fit on the aquastop valve AND use a worm drive hose clamp to secure it snugly.

You also will need a way to secure the discharge end of the hose in the wastewater drain pipe so it doesn't come out.

The distance horizontally would be about 10 feet and vertically, less than 4 feet. I would have less head height than I have right now under normal operation. Use, will definitely have a worm clamp on there and the hose will be a snug fit right into the wastewater line of the washer.

 

[Loco Lucas]

3 hours to do 60 gallons of water is crazy! Yikes!
I currently use 5 gallon buckets to drain, use a hose from the sink. Takes me about an hour to pull off 40 gallons and refill. The water we are on is great, we are on a private system. Once we build our own place, I will have a drip system for our big tanks with over flow. Drains and spigots where each tank will be set up. As for the original question, I have plumbed like that before, works great for just draining a tank. But I still run gravel in all my tanks so I use a gravel vacuum and clean the tank while doing water changes.

 

[Reaper7535]

3 hours to do 60 gallons of water is crazy! Yikes!
I currently use 5 gallon buckets to drain, use a hose from the sink. Takes me about an hour to pull off 40 gallons and refill. The water we are on is great, we are on a private system. Once we build our own place, I will have a drip system for our big tanks with over flow. Drains and spigots where each tank will be set up. As for the original question, I have plumbed like that before, works great for just draining a tank. But I still run gravel in all my tanks so I use a gravel vacuum and clean the tank while doing water changes.

Now, that is using the drain valve on the FX6. If I use just straight siphon via a 1" hose and I wanted to lug the bucket 12 times, it would be much faster. Now as far as refilling, I'm at the mercy of my pressure tank ( I'm on well ).

I use the Fluval gravel vac system, it returns the water to the system so I usually use it right before I do a drain and fill.

 

[Loco Lucas]

Yeah that must be hard. I can understand the storage tank. I have often wondered about a large house hot water tank used as a storage unit set on low.