I wanted to bounce my plan off ya'll to see if anyone has any suggestions! Water changes on my 29g are no big deal because it's on a built in wet bar with a sink right next to it. My 60g is in my half of our front rooms (was originally intended as a connected formal living room and dining room, I think) on the rear wall of the kitchen. To get to a sink from there is a trek around through my husband's area and into the kitchen. I've been doing 50% WCs using 5g buckets (one for dirty water and one dedicated to clean) and it's not efficient. The workout would be great, but I have health issues and can't always deal with the after effects. And with our cats running around and not having a straight path, it's potentially dangerous, too. When it's time to upgrade, using 5g buckets will be even less efficient. I can't attach a python to the kitchen sink, and that is the only close faucet.
So, after much reading of posts here and elsewhere and watching water change videos, etc, I have a new plan. I picked up a 44g Rubbermaid Brute trash can and a wheeled dolly that attaches to the bottom. According to Rubbermaid and the listing on the Lowes website, it is food safe. I also have a pond pump ordered. The plan is to use my gravel vac to remove water and detritus into the can on the dolly, then wheel it to the front or back door and dump it. Refill from sink, condition using Prime (our MUD uses chloramine), check for temperature, then drop the pump in and use tubing to pump in the new water. For cleaning and storage, I thought that spritzing it down with bleach and a rinse in the shower would work. I plan to store it in the back room we use for a general catch all storage area, because the garage seemed like a bad idea. I also have an idea burbling around in the back of my head of maybe drilling a port into the bottom of the side wall of the can and installing a valve that I could use for easier draining... But that might be a pipe dream.
My questions for ya'll are: will using one vessel for both dirty water and clean water be alright? Will my idea for cleaning before storage be enough? Am I missing anything obvious that you might do differently or see as a better way?
I'd appreciate any input!
So, after much reading of posts here and elsewhere and watching water change videos, etc, I have a new plan. I picked up a 44g Rubbermaid Brute trash can and a wheeled dolly that attaches to the bottom. According to Rubbermaid and the listing on the Lowes website, it is food safe. I also have a pond pump ordered. The plan is to use my gravel vac to remove water and detritus into the can on the dolly, then wheel it to the front or back door and dump it. Refill from sink, condition using Prime (our MUD uses chloramine), check for temperature, then drop the pump in and use tubing to pump in the new water. For cleaning and storage, I thought that spritzing it down with bleach and a rinse in the shower would work. I plan to store it in the back room we use for a general catch all storage area, because the garage seemed like a bad idea. I also have an idea burbling around in the back of my head of maybe drilling a port into the bottom of the side wall of the can and installing a valve that I could use for easier draining... But that might be a pipe dream.
My questions for ya'll are: will using one vessel for both dirty water and clean water be alright? Will my idea for cleaning before storage be enough? Am I missing anything obvious that you might do differently or see as a better way?
I'd appreciate any input!
