Water change system to connect tanks to??

[aussieman57]

Sorry, got an error message and couldn't complete that last post. Here's the manifold/pump assembly, showing the four incoming lines and two outgoing ones. One of those feeds in the drain pipe from my basement floor sump, which is used throughout the warm months and pondexhausts the water into a pasture adjacent to my yard. The other feeds an exterior faucet that lets me use the water for gardening, topping up my pond, etc. It also lets me use a hose to carry the exhaust water to that pasture during the frozen winter months, when the buried drain line is not usable. That means taking a hose outside and laying it out immediately before a water change, and then picking it up, draining it, coiling it up and bringing it back inside immediately afterwards. PITA, the only thing I really hate about my system.


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Here's the connection between the exhaust from the pump/manifold and the floor sump drain pipe.


This individual system has been working well for a bit over ten years in this home. The design itself is one I have been using for about 30 years with complete satisfaction. If it wasn't for the cold weather water handling problem, it would be perfect for me. It would be great in a warmer climate, or for anybody on a municipal sewer system that doesn't need to worry about getting rid of the water and can just send it down the drain.

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Very nice John you've given me some ideas. Thanks for taking the time to do that. Love the "Gilligans Island Method Quote". Almost spit out my coffee.

 

[Crazylegs78]

Here's what I did when I first built my fish room...

I built a siphon out of 1.5" PVC and connected it to a long shop vac hose. I ran the siphon drain hose wherever I need to, and used different length PVC pipes for different depth tanks. Because of this, every time i did a water change the tanks were siphoned to the same level. I marked this level on my tanks with blue tape. I then installed a thermo mixing valve from HASS manufacturing that controls tap water temp, flow rate, and has a timer function. I measured how long it took to fill each tank from the blue tape mark, then use the timer function on the HASS valve to fill tanks after a water change. Semi-automated and fairly fail safe.

Here you can see the PVC siphon and the HASS mixing station installed by the sink.


Here you can see the blue tape on the side of my top tank.


If you only have a few tanks, this is a great way to go. I have acquired more tanks and am now installing a drip system. Hope this gives you ideas.

 

[aussieman57]

Thanks Crazylegs. I called Aqueon the other day and they did confirm that they are using a lot of tempered glass on all parts of tanks due to a shortage in glass. This means you may get a tank that is all tempered glass, or 2 panes, 3 panes tempered glass. So I called Jehmco and they also confirmed the above issue. So I am going to grab one of their safety siphons (Safety Siphon powerhead drain w/296 gph powerhead)...
https://www.jehmco.com/html/safety_siphon_aquarium_drain.html
I know I could build one but these are so cheap why bother. I can just move it from tank to tank to drain connected to my Python Hose and then fill tanks. May take a little longer but it is a good solution when you can't get tanks that can be drilled.