Small steps towards greater efficiency

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

So far, mine are:

-Putting the mouth of my Python at the right end of my tank, instead of the usual left, when draining the first 473 liter at water replacements. This allows better access to the lawn to use the waste water.
-Putting the mouth of my Python in my Aqueon filter instead of my Aquaclear when refilling the first 473 liter at water replacements. Its wider output allows a greater surface area for water to splash down and degass, and ultimately more efficient degassing.
-Putting the mouth of my 2nd Python down the floor drain instead of angling the whole Python upward to drain into the sink when draining my 2nd 473 liter at water replacements. Due to gravity, putting the mouth down the floor drain makes for a much faster drain.
-Rinsing all my filter sponges at once in a bucket, instead of one by one. Same result with less time.
-Draining most of the water from my quarantine tank into a bin, hauling the bin a short way into the backyard, and dumping it out there instead of doing it bucket by bucket. A bit less time and effort overall.

Let's hear yours! I know esoxlucius drilled a hole in his wall to give his Python easier garden access, for example.

 

[tetroid]

-Draining most of the water from my quarantine tank into a bin, hauling the bin a short way into the backyard, and dumping it out there instead of doing it bucket by bucket. A bit less time and effort overall.

I did that for years. Most of my tanks are in the basement - gravity isn't too helpful there. Eventually I bought an electric pump and now I just attach the pump to my python, plug it in, and watch the water drain into the backyard.

 

[GolemGolem]

I'm at 4 tanks atm, which is normal-ish for me, but only one of them is heated, which is new. Saves some money, and I'm always worried I'm going to cook another tank with a broken heater anyway.
No garden this year, but work said I could take a couple of empty 50gal drums, so for next year I'm thinking It would be pretty easy to set those halfway between my tanks and garden. . .

 

[esoxlucius]

Yes, water changes on my 360g are so much easier now I drilled that hole in the wall for better access to the outside drain. It saves dragging my syphon hose all through the house.

But the best one, which was thrown upon me just recently, was to downsize my tanks for energy saving reasons. Since I downsized a few weeks ago careful monitoring of my smart meter is telling me i'm saving around £750 per year!!

Best thing is, I don't miss having those other tanks one bit, I'm happy with just my 360 now.

 

[spitz006]

I had a shower thought recently about hooking up airline tubing to the tanks to start them on a slow drain over the course of a couple hours, then come back and just worry about filling and not have to worry about draining first before filling. But I haven't implemented it yet.