How do you all do Water Changes?

[FJB]

City uses both chlorine and chloramine, in amounts varying rather unpredictably. In winter, water contains much gas. Two sources of city water changing seasonally.
Tanks in both basement and 1st floor of house; source of tap water in basement; disposal of waste water from aquaria onto garden areas via sump pump and hose. Water changes generally once a week, 60-80%.

I fill 2 60gal plastic drums (in basement) using mixing valve for desired temperature. I have to refill drums twice, soon to be 3 times. Add Prime to drums. A powerhead circulates water to degas and mix Prime completely.
For each tank, stop filtration (on/off switches), do all plant trimming & removal and any needed changes. Use siphon (not python) to vacuum debris from bottom, one tank at a time into a Brute trash can on wheels; refill tanks using a submersible pump and long hose from plastic drums and while filling up, rinse all filter media and prefilters in used aquarium water. At same time, waste water delivered to gardens. Next tank-->

I have a python hose which I use to deliver water, but do not use to create vacuum because this wastes water without need. I know one can turn the faucet off after vacuum starts, but waste still occurs and the pressure I get with my own hand-held hose is better.
I use my plastic drums, because after accidents with city water with off smells, gas, etc., I will never trust them again. This gives me a second chance of noticing things, and degassing.

 

[DMD123]

I have a few different water change methods. The one is when I want the tank really clean I do a gravel vac. My taller tanks can be done by gravity feed and I reuse the tank water on my lawn and flowerbeds. When I am lazy and just want a water volume change I simply attach my handy home made drain tube that is set for the exact depth so I can walk away and it wont drain too low.


When gravity feed is not an option due to shortage of time I break out my homemade water pump


I shoot for one gravel vac water change and one water volume water change per week. I dose tanks with Seachem Safe.

My lower fishroom tanks do require the Python water change valve or pump because gravity feed dont cut it with these. That would be the two 65B and the 30 gallon in the center. The upper tanks gravity feed out just perfectly to a utility sink across the room or out the garage door on to the lawn.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Turn off the filters
Blow all the crap out from the rocks with a powerhead
Vaccuum/siphon out a window.
Try to suck up the crap I blew out of the rocks and has settled around the tank
Read messageboards, reddit, facebook whatever
Wait until 50ish% is drained.
Read messageboards, reddit, facebook whateve
Turn filters back on
Refill from kitchen tap.
Read messageboards, reddit, facebook whateve
Hopefully not get distracted and overflow the tank
Done.

 

[LBDave]

Clean glass. Thoroughly clean substrate with python end and high pressure hose assisted by transfer pump. Pump out water and detritus from sumps. Change out filter floss and socks with ones that have been cleaned with bleach and dechlorinized. Rinse out sump sponges every 3-4 weeks with treated water. Refill tanks with water with equivalent temp or 1 degree less. Dose Safe at beginning and half way through. I use twice the recommended dose overall. Water changes are 70-80% overall.

 

[duanes]

Not being critical....but I find it interesting....all the gravel vacuuming from almost everyone.
And granted, i may be a little lax in the aethsetic department.
My concern is nitrate (and since mine are undetectable maybe I'm more lackadaisical than most)
I have not, or felt the need to vacuum, in over 6 months.
Maybe its my under stocking in the main tank (only 7 fish in 180 gallons, none larger than 8")
Maybe my paltry feeding schedule (once per day, 3rd day off (with no feeding)).
Maybe the plethora of plants.
Even the 125 gal sump/refugium, no need to vacuum, with its 50 to 100 shrimp and plants.
The only mechanical I use is a square of Matter (Porret Foam, and it is the last stage before water is pumped from the sump to tank
The sump below, very little debris

The sump scavangers do a great job of breaking stuff down into stuff the plants take up.


The Porrett to the right/middle, pump tp the left with its PVC hidden by bamboo.

 

[LBDave]

Not being critical....but I find it interesting....all the gravel vacuuming from almost everyone.
And granted, i may be a little lax in the aethsetic department.
My concern is nitrate (and since mine are undetectable maybe I'm more lackadaisical than most)
I have not, or felt the need to vacuum, in over 6 months.
Maybe its my under stocking (only 7 fish in 180 gallons, none larger than 8")
Maybe my paltry feeding schedule (once per day, 3rd day off (with no feeding)).
Maybe the plethora of plants.
Even the sump/refugium, no need to vacuum, with its 50 to 100 shrimp and plants.
The only mechanical I use is a square of matter, and it is the last stage before water is pumped from the sump to tank
The sump below, very little debris
View attachment 1470397
The sump scavangers do a great job of breaking stuff down into stuff the plants take up.
View attachment 1470398

Oscars and bass = poopers. Thus thorough maid service.

 

[LBDave]

Oscars and bass = poopers. Thus thorough maid service.

My tanks are no bigger than a "culvert" compared to the fish's natural setting (where did I hear this?). So a good cleaning would seem appropriate.

 

[SuperNinja]

Siphon the big poops out in the morning and auto water change system doing 10% daily and 30-40% twice a week. Super easy to do once its all automated

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

Siphon the big poops out in the morning and auto water change system doing 10% daily and 30-40% twice a week. Super easy to do once its all automated

wait what's an auto water change system?

 

[duanes]

wait what's an auto water change system?

When I lived in the states I had a semi auto system.
I would turn a valve, and instead of sending water to the sump, it would be sent outside to my lawn or veggie garden.
When done, to fill I would turn that valve back, and turn on the tap and tanks would fill.
Because almost all tanks were connected, it would take me about 15 minutes to change water on almost all 20 tanks in the fish room.
My system is similar here, water drips to the garden over night (about 50 gallons)
In the morning I turn on a pump, or the hose, and re-fill/replace that 50 gallons.
There are many ways to do this, those are just the ways I liked.