How Many Tanks Is Too Many and Become a Chore?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I 'am down to my 90 gallon with some predatory haps. Love this tank it is in the living room. The big fossie stares out at us all day long. Takes me less than a 1/2 for a w/c. I found that with one tank I enjoy the hobby more. That is just me though. I used to hate practicing guitar until I could PLAY "Over the hills and far away" by Zeppelien now I love the guitar. Do what works for you.
 
12 Volt Man;3414721; said:
LOL

FishNCash

can you post exactly what you are doing for your water changes?

perhaps there are some steps that can be eliminated and or streamlined

eg. if you are aging water unnecessarily etc. that can save lots of time.
jschall;3414396; said:
I don't think the Slap Chop and Magic Bullet were made for chopping meat or fish. Wouldn't you think the meat might turn into a protein shake? I wonder if anyone actually try chopping meat or fish with one of those yet.

Here is what I do for waterchange. I have location 1 and location 2 where my tanks are.

For location1, I put connect three 20ft hoses into a coupler to extend the hose into a 60ft hose. I masked the connection with masking tape to prevent any leaks. I know this is very ghetto way of doing it but it works.:D I run a long hose from the tank outside to drain the water into the lawn. I preferred to recycle precious water than wasting it into the drain. See picture below. The hose is a 1/2" clear plastic hose purcahse from HomeDepot at $6 for 20ft. Once the 100g of water finished draining from the 150g tank I moved the hose to the 75g tank to drain. Now, I run outside to put in the black garden hose to refill 100g of water. While it's refill I'm doing cleaning on the 75g tank. When the 150 is almost done filling I run outside to shut off the water. I run back inside to move the black garden hose to the 75g tank to fill about 40g for water. I remove the silicone hose for draining and roll it up. I run outside to turn on the water until it's done. Water change for location 1 is complete.
coupler-3-8-x-3-8.jpg



With location 2 the fish are a little more delicate for I have to fill 50g of water into a trash bin mixing with heated water to get the temp close to 80F. It takes about 30mins to drain 3 tanks in this location and the 30mins allow the Prime Water condition to break down the chlorine. I start with one 20ft house to drain 50g of water in one tank, drain 5g in another little tank, another 10g in the 3rd tank. I remove the drain hose and put it to storage. I go grab a sedra pump and slap 1/2 hose over the nipple to pump water from the 50g bin into the tank. The pump takes about 30 mins to fill all three tanks. I think what I am doing is pretty effcient since I don't do bucket system.
 
how accessible is a faucet for tapwater with hot and cold water?

most fishkeepers just use their python (or whatever system) to get the temp. right, add the dechlor and fill the tank. there is no need to premix/preheat the water in a vessel unless you are mixing saltwater, adjusting pH etc. this would save some time.

secondly, the water conditioner (no matter which one you use, in this case Prime) works almost instantly, you don't need to wait 30 minutes for it to take effect.
 
12 Volt Man;3418082; said:
how accessible is a faucet for tapwater with hot and cold water?

most fishkeepers just use their python (or whatever system) to get the temp. right, add the dechlor and fill the tank. there is no need to premix/preheat the water in a vessel unless you are mixing saltwater, adjusting pH etc. this would save some time.

secondly, the water conditioner (no matter which one you use, in this case Prime) works almost instantly, you don't need to wait 30 minutes for it to take effect.
The tank is near the kitchen but I cannot find a female adapter to fit the faucet from Home Depot. I have yet to try the python.
 
haha doing water changes is quite frustrating...
i have a 240, 110, 55, 40(this ones not mine but i do all the maintenance on it for them lol) 30, 30, 10
and sometimes it really gets you annoyed and such.. lol
 
Is it possible to install a T connector and valves on the return from a canister filter, and just use the canister to empty the water? seems like this would be the simplest solution. Then you just need a hose to fill it back up.

If theres too much head pressure for the canister filters pump, you can install an in line pump to do the work i would assume, wouldnt be hard to prime it either, just let the canister prime it for you.

seems like this would work for large tanks were pythons are not feasible.
 
FishNCash;3417861; said:
I don't think the Slap Chop and Magic Bullet were made for chopping meat or fish. Wouldn't you think the meat might turn into a protein shake? I wonder if anyone actually try chopping meat or fish with one of those yet.

Here is what I do for waterchange. I have location 1 and location 2 where my tanks are.

For location1, I put connect three 20ft hoses into a coupler to extend the hose into a 60ft hose. I masked the connection with masking tape to prevent any leaks. I know this is very ghetto way of doing it but it works.:D I run a long hose from the tank outside to drain the water into the lawn. I preferred to recycle precious water than wasting it into the drain. See picture below. The hose is a 1/2" clear plastic hose purcahse from HomeDepot at $6 for 20ft. Once the 100g of water finished draining from the 150g tank I moved the hose to the 75g tank to drain. Now, I run outside to put in the black garden hose to refill 100g of water. While it's refill I'm doing cleaning on the 75g tank. When the 150 is almost done filling I run outside to shut off the water. I run back inside to move the black garden hose to the 75g tank to fill about 40g for water. I remove the silicone hose for draining and roll it up. I run outside to turn on the water until it's done. Water change for location 1 is complete.
coupler-3-8-x-3-8.jpg



With location 2 the fish are a little more delicate for I have to fill 50g of water into a trash bin mixing with heated water to get the temp close to 80F. It takes about 30mins to drain 3 tanks in this location and the 30mins allow the Prime Water condition to break down the chlorine. I start with one 20ft house to drain 50g of water in one tank, drain 5g in another little tank, another 10g in the 3rd tank. I remove the drain hose and put it to storage. I go grab a sedra pump and slap 1/2 hose over the nipple to pump water from the 50g bin into the tank. The pump takes about 30 mins to fill all three tanks. I think what I am doing is pretty effcient since I don't do bucket system.


if you install some valves on the end of the hose, you wont have to run in and out of the house to shut off the water, may make the task a little less tedious.
 
5 is not bad at all, the most I have had is 7, currently 4 setup (I am moving) then will build the 1k & still have 5 or 6 others
 
one thing that is really important I think with multiple tanks is to multitask.

eg. while my 150g is draining by gravity (I use the python with tap running only as far as cleaning the gravel, after that, I shut the tap off and the tank drains the rest of the way by gravity) I water change my 65g tank.

by the time the 150 is drained, the 65 is down and up, and then its just fill time.

it cuts back on lots of time.

efficiency is key when doing water changes with multiple tanks.

makes it quick and easy.
 
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