The Ease Of Water Changes?

[Rorie]

Currently when doing my water changes, i need to slide in my pump, hooked up to garden hose which goes through to my toilet. This is so much easier than using buckets, but i would like to simplify this further, as threading the tubing and power cables through my glass braces is getting to much work .

I was thinking - could i cut a hole in the glass of my aquarium? say 50% of the way down my aquarium. Then, when i want to do a water change, i could just plug in my tubing to this hole (obviously it would need to have some connector on it) and let the force of the water above, force the water out. Or alternatively i could have my pump in my aquarium but feeding straight to this hole. Then i could just switch it on.

Has anybody done anything like this before? Any suggestions or advice?

 

[StandbySetting]

It's a valid idea and is possible, however drilling glass requires skill and special drill bits, there is no reason why it wouldn't work, but a fail safe would be a good idea incase the valve fails or something.

 

[Rorie]

It's a valid idea and is possible, however drilling glass requires skill and special drill bits, there is no reason why it wouldn't work, but a fail safe would be a good idea incase the valve fails or something.

Valve failure would mean a VERY wet floor haha. I think 50% of the way down would be ok to save my fish - as i would do a 50% water change anyway - but still, thats a lot of water that could cause hell! I'd need a VERY reliable connection to make it work!

 

[micko]

Oooh. Great idea. I'd to be to scared to try it myself though and I've drill a few bits of glass.

 

[ian]

why not just undo the tap on your external filter and let the water out that way. By far the quickest and easiest way.

 

[Rorie]

why not just undo the tap on your external filter and let the water out that way. By far the quickest and easiest way.

Hmm, good idea. I guess despite the intake being at the bottom of the tank, the pressure should still take it up and over. Do you mean keep the filter on or what? It seems kinda messy though - the water would be flowing out the pipe while disconnecting etc?

Maybe you can explain though haha

 

[cocomonkey24k]

I personally leave my filter running Fluval 305. I hang the hose pipe out of the window and then connect the other end to the water out pipe that way the water is forced out using the filter and boy does it flow out quickly lol

 

[Tolak]

Why drain then fill when you can drain while you fill?

Setting up & testing the seal; http/img266.imageshack.us/img266/4512/tanks0011we9.jpg http/img266.imageshack.us/img266/9730/tanks0021qg0.jpg http/img406.imageshack.us/img406/7827/tanks0042mw5.jpg

Test run; http/img249.imageshack.us/img249/633/tanks0031ca9.jpg

One size larger; http/img361.imageshack.us/img361/6756/116080071ek2.jpg

Just fill, time out the water flow, and add dechlor; http/img57.imageshack.us/img57/273/116080091bx0.jpg

I'm in the process of running fill lines atm, nothing more than PVC runs above the tanks with holes. Multiple tank water changes while I'm doing other things.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Drilling glass takes no skill what so ever, it does take a dimond cutter and a electric drill. If you youtube it you can see how easy it is and hints like keeping the drill bit cool with water let the drill do ALL the work etc. I keep posion dart frogs and its very popluar to put a tap/stopper to drain in the bottom of the tank as the frogs are not born swimmers but need the humidity of heated water. Word of warning alot of fish tanks use tempered glass which will shatter if drilled, check with the tank maker to see what glass the use before.

 

[Rorie]

Ok, the idea of smashed glass makes me back off a bit! It is a custom made tank i got from a guy about a year ago. I have no idea who made it other than being told it was a professional company. The glass is a good 10mm thick!

Though

Why drain then fill when you can drain while you fill?

reminds me of when i was in my LFS and the owner was showing me his set up. He has a 'trickle feed' where he has an airline dropping in 1 drip per second to a tank about 90L i guess. He said that because its such a small amount, he doesnt have to dechlorinate the water.

This drip feed set up obviously requires some sort of drainage... how would this work? and overflow? Anybody with experience of this? I am thinking i could hook up a airline quite easily and have constant turn over of water?

 

[Tizer]

Most of the empty and fill solutions are not very attractive for a tank that sits in your front room. I empty about 3 x 25L jerry cans of water from my 240 litre every weekend and while im at it i hoover up all the crap from the bottom, which is something i think you are forgetting about. Just draining it off from a drilled hole in the middle of the tank doesnt help keep the substrate clean so, at least for me, it would be a pointless thing to do.

 

[Monty-2010]

It's a good idea, i'd be too scared to do it.

Can't you just siphon it outside with the hose into a drain or onto the garden or something? if you did it straight onto the garden then you could kill two birds with one stone?

I use a long hose to siphon it straight outside. one end is a connector to the mixer tap the other is a bottle taped to it to act as a gravel vac

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Its question of RISK v REWARD.

RISK - one slight slip and glass is cracked. Bye bye tank, have to re-home fish, water everywhere.................................................etc

REWARD - you get to empty the water out a bit quicker and save a few calories through less effort!

Its a no brainer.

 

[Vin Swords]

i thought i have a problem.

 

[joeskandal]

just get ya mitts wet man!