Making my water changes easier

[packer43064]

It takes me forever to do water changes, and all I have right now is a 56,55,29,20. It shouldn't be taking me 2+ hours easily to do water changes. Not that I don't have the time or anything, it's just the time wasted while doing water changes.

Problem:It takes with the python a good 10 min if not more to do a 50% water change on a 56.Hell I could be watching half an episode of Simpsonwith that time. I just bought a 125 two days ago and just thinking that 67.5 gallons a week(50%) for a water change if not more is going to be dreadful. I think the faucet has like no suction,the house is like 80+yrs old if not easily more. Also having 110 feet of tubing doesn't help either.

Answer:Well I was thinking this would work. Buy a trash can, Let's say 50 gallons. Buy some plastic tubing (30 feet or less really) and make three gravel vacs basically to drain the water into the trash can. Have all three tanks draining(125,56,55 tanks) into the trash can. Then have a pump(IDK know how many gph yet) that will drain out the window. 4 maybe 4.5 feet of head to clear the window would be sufficient. With the shorter tubing it will go alot faster, plus won't waste water like using the Python.

Anybody see a fatal flaw to this or anything. I would then fill with the Python(it's fast filling just slow getting the water out).

 

[zennzzo]

It takes me forever to do water changes, and all I have right now is a 56,55,29,20. It shouldn't be taking me 2+ hours easily to do water changes. Not that I don't have the time or anything, it's just the time wasted while doing water changes.

Problem:It takes with the python a good 10 min if not more to do a 50% water change on a 56.Hell I could be watching half an episode of Simpsonwith that time. I just bought a 125 two days ago and just thinking that 67.5 gallons a week(50%) for a water change if not more is going to be dreadful. I think the faucet has like no suction,the house is like 80+yrs old if not easily more. Also having 110 feet of tubing doesn't help either.

Answer:Well I was thinking this would work. Buy a trash can, Let's say 50 gallons. Buy some plastic tubing (30 feet or less really) and make three gravel vacs basically to drain the water into the trash can. Have all three tanks draining(125,56,55 tanks) into the trash can. Then have a pump(IDK know how many gph yet) that will drain out the window. 4 maybe 4.5 feet of head to clear the window would be sufficient. With the shorter tubing it will go alot faster, plus won't waste water like using the Python.

Anybody see a fatal flaw to this or anything. I would then fill with the Python(it's fast filling just slow getting the water out).

you know how easy it is to space out one tank draining or filling?! Imagine have 3 at once going...

 

[MississippiNative]

Seems like it should work, just be sure to get a pump that can keep up with the siphons. I'd say look into a sump pump for a basement type installation, hardware store should have them, as an added plus, most come with a float switch so they automatically turn on and off with the water level so as to not run dry, just be careful not to use this pump with water going into the aquarium, wouldn't trust the plastics in them to not leech chemicals into the water.

 

[Pharaoh]

It takes me forever to do water changes, and all I have right now is a 56,55,29,20. It shouldn't be taking me 2+ hours easily to do water changes. Not that I don't have the time or anything, it's just the time wasted while doing water changes.

Problem:It takes with the python a good 10 min if not more to do a 50% water change on a 56.Hell I could be watching half an episode of Simpsonwith that time. I just bought a 125 two days ago and just thinking that 67.5 gallons a week(50%) for a water change if not more is going to be dreadful. I think the faucet has like no suction,the house is like 80+yrs old if not easily more. Also having 110 feet of tubing doesn't help either.

Answer:Well I was thinking this would work. Buy a trash can, Let's say 50 gallons. Buy some plastic tubing (30 feet or less really) and make three gravel vacs basically to drain the water into the trash can. Have all three tanks draining(125,56,55 tanks) into the trash can. Then have a pump(IDK know how many gph yet) that will drain out the window. 4 maybe 4.5 feet of head to clear the window would be sufficient. With the shorter tubing it will go alot faster, plus won't waste water like using the Python.

Anybody see a fatal flaw to this or anything. I would then fill with the Python(it's fast filling just slow getting the water out).

That is about how long it took me. It might have taken longer if I didn't have two pythons going. One to drain & one to fill. Just make sure that you tubing on the outside of the tank goes as low as possible. This will generate more siphon and allow you to drain faster.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Just run the python hose out the door or window-don't hook it to your faucet. It takes waaaaayyyy too long to drain if you hook it to your faucet. Once you've got all the tanks drained, then just hook the python up to the sink and fill. That'd be a lot simpler IMO.

 

[Kerbchek]

Just run the python hose out the door or window-don't hook it to your faucet. It takes waaaaayyyy too long to drain if you hook it to your faucet. Once you've got all the tanks drained, then just hook the python up to the sink and fill. That'd be a lot simpler IMO.

I can do 50% water changes on almost 20 tanks in just over an hour... providing I choose not to clean any sponge filters that day... one python, not hooked to the faucet, draining to the floor drain - with the big end of the python it's easy to get a siphon by just scooping it in the tank a few times... then I have a hose hooked to the faucet with some PVC contraption I put together that allows it to hang on the edge of the tank filling... just don't let the phone or the doorbell ring, I'm not sure how many times I've flooded a tank or allowed one to drain almost to the sand before realizing I'd been spacing it off...

Using the python though, hooked to the faucet works great for my upstairs tanks where I want no water to get on the carpet, etc... there's a difference between the living room and the fishroom I guess...

 

[invisyblegypsey]

Just run the python hose out the door or window-don't hook it to your faucet. It takes waaaaayyyy too long to drain if you hook it to your faucet. Once you've got all the tanks drained, then just hook the python up to the sink and fill. That'd be a lot simpler IMO.

^^ right and it wastes water.
if your in that big of a hurry git a magdrive pump and pump it out.
i my self love to take the time for water changes.it lets me look at every thing in the tanks. move things around if needed and make sure i have all the crap out of the tanks.
if fish keeping is keeping you from TV. why do you have a tank?

 

[coolkeith]

I put an overflow on my sump that goes to a floor drain. To do water changes I don't remove water, I just add water, and the excess water leaves through the overflow.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

I put an overflow on my sump that goes to a floor drain. To do water changes I don't remove water, I just add water, and the excess water leaves through the overflow.

Show off lol!
(Actually that's a wonderful idea).

 

[packer43064]

^^ right and it wastes water.
if your in that big of a hurry git a magdrive pump and pump it out.
i my self love to take the time for water changes.it lets me look at every thing in the tanks. move things around if needed and make sure i have all the crap out of the tanks.
if fish keeping is keeping you from TV. why do you have a tank?

I love to take my time too. When taking out the water in the 55 I can: gravel vacs the other 3 tanks, move the deco around if I want, and clean algae if there is any on the other three tanks. It was a joke about watching the Simpsons. I don't have to clarify that I love my fish. I would think getting a 125 would be clear enough, sorry if being rude, but it seems like you were being a bit harsh. I'm just trying to think of a way to speed it up that's all.

Thanks everyone else for the answers, I appreciate it.