how do you do water changes with a sump?

[XRAYZ]

i am sure there are several methods...
post how you do it

the new tank that i am setting up will have dual drains and dual returns. i was thinking about turning one of my return pumps off while i disconnected the other from the return line and drain the sump. once finished refill the sump with the water hose.

am eager to hear other methods.

 

[cougar579]

Turn off your pumps let the water spill over into the sump. Get your gravel vacumn and start cleaning away. Pull out the desired water. Put it back in, start your pumps. Easy as 1,2,3!

 

[CHOMPERS]

How I do it:
1. drip system
2. second pump in main sump to pump water to waste
3. syphon water out of tank to refill turtle tank after cleaning it. My drip system makes up the water.

 

[Dr Joe]

How I do it:
1. drip system
2. second pump in main sump to pump water to waste
3. syphon water out of tank to refill turtle tank after cleaning it. My drip system makes up the water.

EEUUUWW...your turtle has to live in yucky fish water???

'course it only takes it a few seconds to make it its own...

Actually a good idea, especially if using a drip system.

I've been looking for a good reason to rip a turtle out of nature and stick it in one of my kiddy pools so I can look at it. Now I know what I'm doing next weekend. (check my lite)

Dr Joe

.

 

[JardiniBoy]

There is a hole in my overflow compartment especially for water changes. It drains the display tank's water, but is not visible in the display. All I have to do is turn off the pump, connect the hose and open the tap..

 

[tsnipe]

hmmmm, I am glad you asked this question as I too have a w/d sump and when I turn it off the overflow rises the sump which I can easily change that water by sucking it up???? but when you clean your sand with a siphon it also includes water which lowers the main tank and that is where you put in new water for a water change sooooo, my confusion lies when the main tank water is lowered by cleaning do I add the new water to the main tank or do I turn my sump on and add the water to the sump???????

 

[boisblancboy]

With overflows and a sump, when the pump is turned off and you are syphoning out of the tank the water level of course is going to go down in the tank. So all you do is fill the tank back up until the water starts running back into your sump. If you are draining water from the tank while the pump is running the water level in the sump is going to drop.

 

[rayman45]

i made a step by step topic somewhere ill find it

 

[rayman45]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11428

 

[tsnipe]

Thanks rayman but I have a saltwater tank and when I do my water changes I also want to clean my sand up a bit so I can see suctioning some water out prior to that since my tank is so big but then I will still need to clean the sand so I can stir up and pull that eeky water out too, then I have to do the manual bucket thing with salt to add back to the tank, wow what a job but it's my hobby soooo I will happily do it no matter how hard or long it's gonna be or takes me.