Large tank water changes?

[njparton]

I'm thinking of upgrading to a new 400L+ tank in the not too disant future and migrating to keeping discus...

How do fellow members with this size of tank manage their weekly (or more frequent - discus keepers ) water changes?

Currently, I change 25% of the water in my 140L tank weekly, and it's a careful 1/2 hour process. I replace the water taken out with a gravel cleaner syphon using RO water and a 1L kitchen jug. Doing it this way, it's pretty impossible not to cause some turbulence in the tank and hence stress to the fish.

How do others cope with tanks 3-4 times as big!?

I may invest in a python, but from what I've read, although it will help with removing water, refilling isn't a possibility (from a water container filled with RO water)?

 

[Nidge]

I have a 300 litre tank, I use a large waste bin (50 litre capacity).
I syphon out using a gravel vacuum into the bin twice and then refill again with the same bin again, It takes me about twenty minutes to do it that way.
Sometimes i dont use the gravel vac insteed i use a much larger hose which syphons the water out really quickly, That way it takes about ten minutes.

 

[CFC]

If you are using R/O water for water changes on a large tank i suggest installing the unit up stairs or in the loft (if you have one) and running a hose from the R/O water storage unit to the tank via a hole drilled in the ceiling with a tap that can be turned on/off at the tank end using syphon suction to deliver water from the storage tank to the aquarium.
Refilling 100 litres with a 1L jug will take a very long time.

 

[rvm]

I use a 100 litre water butt and a pond pump for my tank, 100 litres is about 20% so I syphon using a gravel vac into the butt, them use the pond pump and hose to pump the water down the sink. then put water into the butt, dechlorinate and pump it back into the tank. easy as that!!!

 

[lucky62]

I'm thinking of upgrading to a new 400L+ tank in the not too disant future and migrating to keeping discus...

How do fellow members with this size of tank manage their weekly (or more frequent - discus keepers ) water changes?

Currently, I change 25% of the water in my 140L tank weekly, and it's a careful 1/2 hour process. I replace the water taken out with a gravel cleaner syphon using RO water and a 1L kitchen jug. Doing it this way, it's pretty impossible not to cause some turbulence in the tank and hence stress to the fish.

How do others cope with tanks 3-4 times as big!?

I may invest in a python, but from what I've read, although it will help with removing water, refilling isn't a possibility (from a water container filled with RO water)?

You could use the python from your R.O container by hooking it up to a submersible or an in line pump of some kind pump .

 

[njparton]

I have a 300 litre tank, I use a large waste bin (50 litre capacity).
I syphon out using a gravel vacuum into the bin twice and then refill again with the same bin again, It takes me about twenty minutes to do it that way.
Sometimes i dont use the gravel vac insteed i use a much larger hose which syphons the water out really quickly, That way it takes about ten minutes.

But how do you refill?

 

[njparton]

Refilling 100 litres with a 1L jug will take a very long time.

And create a hell of a mess!

 

[njparton]

I use a 100 litre water butt and a pond pump for my tank, 100 litres is about 20% so I syphon using a gravel vac into the butt, them use the pond pump and hose to pump the water down the sink. then put water into the butt, dechlorinate and pump it back into the tank. easy as that!!!

You could use the python from your R.O container by hooking it up to a submersible or an in line pump of some kind pump .

I have a powerhead that was only used for 6 months - I guess I could use that to refill... just need to find some kind of tubing to fit around the outlet.

 

[lucky62]

[]

You could use the python from your R.O container by hooking it up to a submersible or an in line pump of some kind pump .

I have a power head that was only used for 6 months - I guess I could use that to refill... just need to find some kind of tubing to fit around the outlet.

I have quick disconnects , the kind made for garden hoses , on both my python and a diatom vortex filter .

I did the opposite of what you're trying to do , I drained my tank with the vortex , and let the water go outside the house . I filled the tank from the faucet , luckily my water comes out near perfect for my fish , a little dechlorinator just before the refill .


I should add while the method worked well , I now clean and fill from the faucet mostly .


If the power head out let is round it may fit inside the pythons' vinyl tubing .

 

[njparton]

Does anyone in the UK know where I can get a cheap inline pump from?

I'm looking for one that will allow me to connect a hosepipe to either end.

It only needs to be capable of lifting a head of about 2m and provide a flow rate of about 200-300 l/h.

I looked at pond pumps etc at my LFS, but the connectors are not suitable and most were of the submersible type.

I was looking at this:

http/www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p...82&r=2163&g=122

is it suitable I wonder?

 

[Shizat]

I suck on one side of the garden hose and empty the water out the window and then just hook it up to the faucet and place it in the tank with a bottle of conditioner in hand.

 

[njparton]

I suck on one side of the garden hose and empty the water out the window and then just hook it up to the faucet and place it in the tank with a bottle of conditioner in hand.

Yeah, but I fill up with RO water stored in a large container and not straight from the mains supply.

 

[Nidge]

But how do you refill?

Sorry it took me so long to reply )
I simply fill the bin back up with fresh water and tip it into the tank

 

[njparton]

But how do you refill?

Sorry it took me so long to reply )
I simply fill the bin back up with fresh water and tip it into the tank

You must be strong!

 

[Nidge]

Ye it is quite heavy but i eat my wetabix