Big Water Changes?

[electropunk06]

Hi just done my first 'big water change' only did 50L but i filled a bucket up stairs and syphoned the water into the tank, it didnt go as well as posable. i will want to do eaven bigger changes in the future, i might get the hang of this method but is there a better way of doing this?
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[MikeO]

I just use a bucket. Takes me about 20 mins to fill bucket by bucket for 280L ish including canister space. Its a 10 lite bucket I use

 

[electropunk06]

Hi yeah thats the simple way but im lazy and am trying to think of a way of doing it which involves effort
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[SlimboyFat]

I got a few 25 litre drums from a mate thats packed in with the aquarium. I prepare 2 a couple of days before the water change which allows the "tap safe" to take effect and the water temparature to raise so its not such a shock for the fish.

I then use a 3rd drum twice to enpty (this equates to 25%).

The drums are perfect for emptying but syphoning it back in seems a bit risky, balancing 25 litres on the corner of the tank.

My initial plan was to get a pump that would take the water from ground level up and over into the tank, but i'm not sure what would be the best to use. I thought about the drill powered pumps but the couple of sellers I have asked have both said thay are not powerfull enough. Mains operated are expensive and probably too powerfull. I did think about what ever is used for the extrenal filters but not having used an external filter I'm not sure what to look for.

Any ideas?

TIA

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

I have the same tank as yourself.
Use a large gravel syphon to remove water by attaching 16/22mm hose to gravel syphon hose so water flows outside.

Add dechlorinator to tank.
Put clean bowel in kitchen sink and put digital thermometer in bowl.
Run taps to desired temp.
Connect small submersible pump to tubing. Drop it in bowl and put other end in tank. Switch on pump.
Monitor thermometer.

Job done!

 

[Proxo]

i've got 2x 25L drums, i use 1 of them to remove the water from the tank (do it twice for 50L)
then fill both drums with tap water, add "tap safe" to the drums give em a little shake leave for 5min then i pour the water from the drum into a bucket and then into the tank!

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

I got a few 25 litre drums from a mate thats packed in with the aquarium. I prepare 2 a couple of days before the water change which allows the "tap safe" to take effect and the water temparature to raise so its not such a shock for the fish.

I then use a 3rd drum twice to enpty (this equates to 25%).

The drums are perfect for emptying but syphoning it back in seems a bit risky, balancing 25 litres on the corner of the tank.

My initial plan was to get a pump that would take the water from ground level up and over into the tank, but i'm not sure what would be the best to use. I thought about the drill powered pumps but the couple of sellers I have asked have both said thay are not powerfull enough. Mains operated are expensive and probably too powerfull. I did think about what ever is used for the extrenal filters but not having used an external filter I'm not sure what to look for.

Any ideas?

TIA

The drill powered ones are useless and do you really want to be operating a drill whilst messing with water?
Rechargeable ones dont have enough power.

I got an Eheim compact 1000, like this one:

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filters_pumps/air_pumps/air_pumps/13227

Has adjustable flow so you can slow it down if you want to sip your tea slowly when filling up the tank!

Got a 55L drum as back up.

 

[SlimboyFat]

Thanks for the reply...

Only problem with the submersibles is that the drum only has an hole a couple of inches wide so would need a pump with an inlet pipe. It would also have to be able to lift the water over 4 foot verticle (lets say 5 foot to be on the safe side )

TIA

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Did a lot of research myself.
Looked at caravan submersibles etc.

Then opted for bigger drum with wider opening.

The pump easily shifts water from sink at height of 2.5 ft to top of tank which is at 5ft and about 20ft away.