Piped Water System

[mhancock]

After spending a couple of hours with hoses today, I was wondering about the possibility of plumbing in pipes to take clean water to the tank and old water away.
 
Has anyone done this or seen it done?
 
We may move house soon which could give opportunity to do it.  I am thinking of putting a tap switch on the output from the external filter to get rid of water and save extra pipes in the tank.  Getting new water in would be fiddly as to getting the temperature right - maybe have another tank with a heater to get temperature right before pumping into aquarium.
 
Another approach I have considered is to allow 5-10% of water to replace every day or every other day.  Very slowly so that water temp in the tank can adjust and so that there is never enough chlorine to cause a problem for the filter bacteria.  Maybe with timer valves or something.

 

[FreshwaterAfishianado]

I have never tried this but I have seen huge tanks with automatic water change systems. I believe they use water reservoirs to pre-heat and treat water but I'm not sure.

 

[sputnick]

I don't have any personal experience with this either but Joey on youtube has great instructional DIY videos and LOTS of them to boot. here is the video about automatic water changers I do believe. Try giving this a go and see if this can answer some of you questions.
 
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrJ3eAE4qQE

 

[DrRob]

It does indeed happen with the bigger tanks. Often on constant replacement with an overflow system.
 
I have a pipe to drain half plumbed into my system. Just need to sort some plumbing under the sink out and I'll be able to pump direct to drain from the filter, which will take a few minutes out of water changes and remove the need to carry buckets of old tank water around.

 

[Tim_UK]

I am planning on doing this or very similar with my new tank - I have bought a tiny pump and some float switches - I hope to connect these up this week.
 
There is a write up of my project here:
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/420962-my-aquarium-housingcabinet-project/
 
once the water changer is connected I will add some photos etc.

 

[GAB99]

I did something similar, I have a marine tank so my dad and I installed an automatic top off system, its actually really easy because the room next to the tank has an exposed ceiling (basement) so the pipes were exposed and we didnt have to do much.

and if you want to do 5-10% a day you wouodnt even need actual pipes, airline tubing would work just as well, leaves smaller holes, and is much easier to fix up if you ever have to sell the house. For storage tanks brand new and washed tupperware containers are large and inexpensive.

course if you never plan on moving by all means go hard core and high tech!!!! Though in my opinion water changes are all part of the fun most of the time haha