how i do water changes

[rayman45]

I use a pump from home depo about 300-400GHP

i have this hooked up to a python hose

Then I put it in my tank. I leave it at the level I want the tank to empty the tank to.(In this case I was doing a small water change)

Then it is hooke up to my bathroom sink.

After im all hooked up, I have to flip the switch on my power strip so the pump on my wet/dry so my W/D pump does not burn out.

Now im all ready to plug in the water change pump. i have a nice flow with not alot of noise to my sink


After my tank has emptied . i get ready to put the water back in.
I use a python hose attacked to a return elbow.

Now i detach the pump from the sink and attack the return line

I hook it on my tank and then turn on my sink to about half power and same tank temp

you should get a nice flow back into the tank


when the tank is filled and my w/d starts getting filled, I turn off my sink and turn my power strip back on..
and i just did a water change.. takes me about 30 mins to do a 30-40% on my 180

this was how i do just water changes, no gravel vac.

feel free to comment on this

-zach

 

[unknownuza13]

Hey Zack, The system looks like it works well.. I got a question though.. I don't understand what the pump does. I mean the python is good because it does everything for you emptying and filling the tank up. I guess that pump empties the water faster out of the tank??? I just open the valve on the python and turn the sink on then once the siphon starts I turn the sink off and let it empty by way of the natural siphon action as to not waste any water.

 

[shekes]

I do almost the same.
I use an external pump though.
The first third of the water of each tank I siphon out through the gravel into a 10g bucket and pump it then to the bathtub. The other to thirds I pump directly out of the tank.
For the 13 tanks it takes a whole day of hard work.

 

[rayman45]

i use a pump because turning on my sink and running water is noisy and wastes alot of water when takeing out 45-90 of water then adding it back in... on smaller tanks i dont use the pump... it also does it faster.. my pump is only 300-400 gph it was about 50$. it was for my pond. If i knew i was gunna use it for Water changes i would of got a bigger one

every other week i clean my gravel/wet dry. when i do that i run a siphon with the sink.

 

[Pangong_ilong]

Hey Zack, The system looks like it works well.. I got a question though.. I don't understand what the pump does. I mean the python is good because it does everything for you emptying and filling the tank up. I guess that pump empties the water faster out of the tank??? I just open the valve on the python and turn the sink on then once the siphon starts I turn the sink off and let it empty by way of the natural siphon action as to not waste any water.

That's how i do it too. As soon as the python starts syphoning, i turn off my water.

 

[shekes]

Hey Zack, The system looks like it works well.. I got a question though.. I don't understand what the pump does. I mean the python is good because it does everything for you emptying and filling the tank up. I guess that pump empties the water faster out of the tank??? I just open the valve on the python and turn the sink on then once the siphon starts I turn the sink off and let it empty by way of the natural siphon action as to not waste any water.

Personally, I never even considered using a python.

Python wastes huge amounts of water.
As a matter of fact I find it quite amazing that most MFKers use it. Fishkeeping is related to nature-loving, caring about environment, etc etc etc. How does the python fit in?

 

[Cyclop3000]

Aye, don't like the python either. I also use a pump. I use lawn hoses to pump out, then use the same hoses on sink to put water back in. No waste of water, since I have a well this is pretty important !

 

[rayman45]

thats why i use a pump...

i only used the pytho because i saw one for sale for 10$ used 3 times local

 

[unknownuza13]

Personally, I never even considered using a python.

Python wastes huge amounts of water.
As a matter of fact I find it quite amazing that most MFKers use it. Fishkeeping is related to nature-loving, caring about environment, etc etc etc. How does the python fit in?

Well I don't know how the python wastes any more water than a pump... As soon as the sink starts the siphon action I turn it off so I waste about 1/3 gallon of water.. Then filling the tank back up it uses the same amount of water as your pump unless you have a special pump that creates its own water... The only advantage I can see is that it pumps the water out faster...

 

[turtall]

I use a 50' python to siphon the water outside to our trees, lawn, potted plants. Or even to top off our pond. When the tank level is where I want it I simply throw a couple coils in the hose to trap the water in it, move it to the next tank, then let out the coils to start the water flowing out the end. This creates enough vacuum to start the siphoning process all over again. To start the initial process, though, I have to risk having a neighbor or passerby see me sucking on a 50' python.