What is your cleaning/water change routine and how long does it take you?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I have a ro/di that fills 3 44gallons plumbed brute cans. (Ro/di because iowa has horrible water from ag runoff) I add baking soda every couple days with some seachem remineralizer. From there an apex runs very hour to deliver around 15% w/c daily via masterflex pump to my tanks. A sump bulkhead exits to the floor drain. Two custom tanks are on this system (120 and 180) and plumbed together.

I don't spend any time on the daily water exchange. Generally on the weekend I will siphon out any crud on the bottom if there is any but the masterflex fills tank back up so it's just a 5g bucket and dump it out.

So total maybe 5 min a week or less.
 
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150, 135, 75, 55 and 20 gallon tanks

All get weekly 50% changes using the python, vacuuming each time. Each tank has multiple filters so I alternate cleaning one filter on each tank each week, also do quick wipe down of glass. In total takes me about 3 hours for all. But yes, a lot of that time is drain and fill time.
 
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Right now I've got my 90 and 20 long up and running. Generally I do a 25-40% change on the 90 once a week and I do 2 25s on the 20. Unless I'm feeling lazy on the 20 then it's once a week... and maybe even 2 weeks.... feeder guppies are forgiving lol. Overall it takes an hour or so. Add an additional hour to fix and prune plants and hunt for fry. Every 2 or 3 months I rinse the filters to clear dead leaves and scrub the visible parts. I rarely replace media, only the inserts on the whisper 20i for the guppies. One pack has lasted 3 years with no ill effects! I use the knockoff python aqueon changer. Works good.

If I set the 10 up for fry or a quarantine it takes 10 mins to set up and tear down with bare minimum equipment no substrate and media from the 20.

It sucks though because it's getting too cold to use the aqueon changer to fill them back up. The stupid adapter won't fit on my crappy apartment sinks so it has to fit on the patio spigot. Good for draining into the bushes but the water is too cold now. Not looking forward to the 6 month deep clean on the 90. The stand makes the tank taller than me and only step stool I have is sketchy so I basically have to lift the buckets over my head. It's a strength training workout for sure.
 
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Frank Castle said:
you coulda got it for 50% off on Black Friday or just do what I did and got the 125g, 6 footer for another $20
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I saw that dude. I cant do another 6 foot tank right now. This added work load, no room, and plus my new chick is seeing this issue I have.. Dont wanna scare her off.
 
Frank Castle said:
I partially agree, but yes, she should try to embrace your passions and/or hobbies .....but you should also try to embrace hers as well
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Ha, i scored in that department lol. my gf loves fish
 
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110 and a 40 I do eighty to a hundred percent or close to a hundred every two weeks. Drain them out the window into the dooryard with a gravel vac scrub glass and filters then hook a garden hose directly onto the shower after removing the shower head to refill. takes about an hour slightly less.
 
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