Water Changes - How To?!

[twiki]

OK 200L tank is all set up and running and I'm about to start cycling. One thing concerned me though, how to change 50L easily.

I'm running an external filter so can I:

1) Stop filter
2) Syphon out water with gravel cleaner into bucket (as many times as needed)
3) Fill bucket with decholrinated water
3) Take off inlet pipe from filter
4) Attach another inlet pipe to filter and place other end in bucket of new water
5) Suck through water manually using the priming pump so inlet pipe is full of water
6) Turn on filter and get the filter impeller to suck the fresh water into the filter and out into the tank
7) Turn off filter just before all the water is stucked up so it doesn't suck up air
8) Reconnect the normal inlet pipe, prime and restart filter as usual

This would save me lots of runs back and forth to the tap if it works?!

If no - any other suggestions for easily putting water back into a large tank?

 

[Bobtastic]

I have a smaller tank than you (110L) and i currently just syphon water out into my "dirty water bucket" (10L) and pour that down the kitchen sink, repeat as many times as required. I think fill up my "clean water bucket" (also 10L) dechlorinate and pour slowly back into the tank.

You can also get something called a "Python" which you can connect to you kitchen sinks mixer tap. You can use the flow of water from the tap to "suck" the water out of your tank (can be attached to a gravel cleaner so I believe), it can be then "switched" to allow you to put water back into the tank straight from the tap. You would have to set the water temp b4 hand and also add the appropriate amount of dechlorinator to the tank too.

I'm gonna look into one of these myself as we're planning to get a 240L tank atm. I think you can either buy them or make them.

 

[arobinson1984]

I live in the Uk and have just bought a proper python on ebay. After shipping costs from USA it worked out at about £60 so not cheap, but for me personally it will be worth it because I'm fed up with the buckets all the time.

Have a read of the link below regarding making your own DIY python

DIY Python

Andy

 

[Bobtastic]

I may have to get myself down to B&Q and try out my handy man skills!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

get a hose pipe and run water straight back in from the tap, you can add dechlor straight to the tank and if just run the water back in slowly so that you don't have to match temps as the heater will start warming it up as you add it in.

i wouldn't muck around with your filter like that, if you don't time it just right your gonna have the filter running on empty and risk burning out the motors.

 

[Craster]

I live in the Uk and have just bought a proper python on ebay. After shipping costs from USA it worked out at about £60 so not cheap, but for me personally it will be worth it because I'm fed up with the buckets all the time.

Have a read of the link below regarding making your own DIY python

DIY Python

Andy

I made my own using Hozelock parts and it came to about £20.

 

[River Dog]

Have to agree 100% with Miss Wiggle, I change 200 gallons a week and I do it exactly as described by Miss Wiggle. Filters are far too expensive to run the risk. Imagine saving yourself 10 mins of time, only to find you have run the filter dry and then having to fork out £100+ for a new one.

 

[waterdrop]

I use the actual Python product but don't use the "sucker valve" so as to not waste water. What I liked about their products are all the accessories to allow you to customize, specifically the various brass adaptors that you can get to fit all sorts of bathroom faucet makes and models. If you have a faucet that's not too far away with a standard garden hose type threading then this customization is not necessary and it'll be much easier to do a DIY setup as the others describe.

~~waterdrop~~