So, my first water change was a real pain 
I have a sink that is roughly 12' from where my tank is, but I wasn't able to use it at the time for water changes because the drain was going way too slow, and I didn't have the right adapter for the sink head.
My sister was kind enough to let me borrow her Python. To drain, I had juuuuust enough hose to get from the tank in the basement, and wind out to the garage (which is on the same level).
I only had one sink in the house that would work for filling, even though I have about 7 different adapters from various waterbed kits I've bought and received over the years. That one sink that would work was, of course, upstairs
So I was sprinting up and down a flight of stairs, watching the water level carefully, and trying to adjust the temp on the fly, hoping the hose wasn't spraying my substrate everywhere, or worse, had fallen out of the tank and was watering my carpet! Everything worked out fine, but it was truly no picnic.
During that first water change, I was taking mental notes the entire time. A change was needed. So, I thought about it for about a week off and on, and devised a plan.
DIY Water Change Simplifier
(Click the pics for larger versions)
I wanted something that would:
1. Utilize the powerhead that I had to push water out of the tank for draining (thanks to my sister for the hookup on the cheap powerhead and the idea for using it instead of a siphon system)
2. hide within the tank, so that the most you see is a few hoses (which are black, so they blend in with the painted background)
3. Single point hookup for draining and filling
4. Recreate a Python for cleaning
So I fixed the sink that was in the basement, where the tank was. Everything is draining properly, the water flows correctly now, and I found the proper head for it so that I can use my adapters. Now it was time to buy the rest of what I would need.
Everything I bought, not counting the blue thing which I already had and the black square I cut out which is parts that I didn't use:
In the photo is:
-Vinyl Tubing, 5/8"ODx1/2"ID, 20' clear and 10' black
-Plastic hanger strap for mounting
-Screw clamps
-A Python-like hookup that I got out of a waterbed fill/drain kit
-quick disconnects
-1/2"barb x 3/4" male connection
-plastic Y with shutoffs for both side (found this in the lawn and garden section, with the quick disconnects for hoses)
-1/2" barb elbows
-powerhead
-fluval sponge filter (for the intake of the powerhead, to keep the crap out of it)
My Python:
I put a quick disconnect directly off the blue piece so that when I am ready to fill, I can run water through the blue part with the hose detached, to get my temp correct. Then, without touching my water settings, I can quickly pop on the hose and switch it over to fill. This allows me to match my tank temp without the siphon action pulling more tank water out while I am busy trying to adjust the temperature.
Halfway there. The left hose is for draining and will attach to the pump. The right hose is for filling, and will angle onto a rock to disperse water. Don't worry, all connections are water tight, both in the electrical hookups, and the plumbing hookups:
Everything attached:
A closer look. I have the airline hooked up and pinched off because it makes the pump push harder:
All that you see inside the tank:
I took out the right side lightbulb to get a shot of how it sits when the glass top is on, with the hood and everything assembled:
And of course, a video. The HOB's on the front and the goldfish are temporary. This will soon be an axolotl tank, with sponge filters:
[YT]v1q1Kj6IeG4[/YT]
This has definitely made my water changes so much easier, it only took me 1 day to do, and when I put another tank in the room, I can take what I learned from this project and improve my next setup.
Thoughts?
I have a sink that is roughly 12' from where my tank is, but I wasn't able to use it at the time for water changes because the drain was going way too slow, and I didn't have the right adapter for the sink head.
My sister was kind enough to let me borrow her Python. To drain, I had juuuuust enough hose to get from the tank in the basement, and wind out to the garage (which is on the same level).
I only had one sink in the house that would work for filling, even though I have about 7 different adapters from various waterbed kits I've bought and received over the years. That one sink that would work was, of course, upstairs
So I was sprinting up and down a flight of stairs, watching the water level carefully, and trying to adjust the temp on the fly, hoping the hose wasn't spraying my substrate everywhere, or worse, had fallen out of the tank and was watering my carpet! Everything worked out fine, but it was truly no picnic.
During that first water change, I was taking mental notes the entire time. A change was needed. So, I thought about it for about a week off and on, and devised a plan.
DIY Water Change Simplifier
(Click the pics for larger versions)
I wanted something that would:
1. Utilize the powerhead that I had to push water out of the tank for draining (thanks to my sister for the hookup on the cheap powerhead and the idea for using it instead of a siphon system)
2. hide within the tank, so that the most you see is a few hoses (which are black, so they blend in with the painted background)
3. Single point hookup for draining and filling
4. Recreate a Python for cleaning
So I fixed the sink that was in the basement, where the tank was. Everything is draining properly, the water flows correctly now, and I found the proper head for it so that I can use my adapters. Now it was time to buy the rest of what I would need.
Everything I bought, not counting the blue thing which I already had and the black square I cut out which is parts that I didn't use:
In the photo is:
-Vinyl Tubing, 5/8"ODx1/2"ID, 20' clear and 10' black
-Plastic hanger strap for mounting
-Screw clamps
-A Python-like hookup that I got out of a waterbed fill/drain kit
-quick disconnects
-1/2"barb x 3/4" male connection
-plastic Y with shutoffs for both side (found this in the lawn and garden section, with the quick disconnects for hoses)
-1/2" barb elbows
-powerhead
-fluval sponge filter (for the intake of the powerhead, to keep the crap out of it)
My Python:
I put a quick disconnect directly off the blue piece so that when I am ready to fill, I can run water through the blue part with the hose detached, to get my temp correct. Then, without touching my water settings, I can quickly pop on the hose and switch it over to fill. This allows me to match my tank temp without the siphon action pulling more tank water out while I am busy trying to adjust the temperature.
Halfway there. The left hose is for draining and will attach to the pump. The right hose is for filling, and will angle onto a rock to disperse water. Don't worry, all connections are water tight, both in the electrical hookups, and the plumbing hookups:
Everything attached:
A closer look. I have the airline hooked up and pinched off because it makes the pump push harder:
All that you see inside the tank:
I took out the right side lightbulb to get a shot of how it sits when the glass top is on, with the hood and everything assembled:
And of course, a video. The HOB's on the front and the goldfish are temporary. This will soon be an axolotl tank, with sponge filters:
[YT]v1q1Kj6IeG4[/YT]
This has definitely made my water changes so much easier, it only took me 1 day to do, and when I put another tank in the room, I can take what I learned from this project and improve my next setup.
Thoughts?
Realistically though, when I look at the very first picture with the parts sitting there, and I add up the prices for everything (figuring $6 for the blue thing, and the $6.50 I paid for the powerhead on clearance), I calculated $60 for the whole project.