Need opinions on my water changing method

[WJC05]

Just started doing waterchanges this way and I just wondered what everyone thought about it. My tanks like most peoples are over-stocked and produce TONs of nitrates which means lots of waterchanges for me.

So I have put together a new method for changing.

I hook my python up to my water faucet like I would for a regular water change. I start filling the tank with water (temperature matching with a digital thermometer) I have a dedicated overflow going into an empty 40 gallon rubbermaid. Inside the rubbermaid is a BIG sump pump. As the water goes into the tank it overflows into the rubbermaid and the sump pump pumps it out the window and into the yard. I let this run while monitoring nitrate levels and I turn the water off once the nitrate levels go down to around 5ppm. Of course I add dechlorinator and stuff like that while the water is entering the tank.

Does anyone see any problems with doing water changes this way?

Just wanted some opinions and thoughts.. Thanks

 

[gomezladdams]

If youre changing more than 80% of the volume Id use a slow flow on the inlet to avoid shocking the fish with changing the water parameters too quickly

 

[WJC05]

which water parameters should I worry about changing too quickly? As long as the temp is the same? Would the nitrates falling too fast possibly stress the fish? I know they seem much happier this way than they do draining the tank water down and filling it back up again...

 

[WJC05]

any other opinions, thoughts, or possible problems?

 

[bigspizz]

Just do it real slow and your fine just raise the height of the output to match the flowrate of the input and away you go!

 

[Clyde]

When doing large water changes the difference in PH of your tap water to the tanks is something to be carefull of.

 

[qumqats]

What are you using to monitor the nitrAtes?
How do you know when to stop the water change?

 

[WJC05]

Im just using a regular nitrate test kit and monitoring the nitrates as they go down. Once I test the water and the nitrates are down to 5 ppm I stop the waterchange. Im doing this right now on 3 tanks with AWESOME results...