water changing

[paulb]

I change 25% of my water every two weeks. Its easy to siphon out that much, but anyone know an easy way of puting fresh in. Siphoning requires raising heavy conatiner. Is there any easy way to pump the water (not to fast) into my tank. I end up scooping small cups in; not very efficient and messy.

cheers

 

[BobK]

Get one of those Python contraptions. You hook it up to your faucet. It has a two-way valve on it. You vacuum your gravel and syphon out the water. Then you flip the valve and turn on your faucet. The fresh water goes directly into your tank. You'll have to adjust the water temperature (by feel) and add dechlorinator to the tank before filling. I've never used one but members on this forum swear by it. I will probably purchase one shortly. It sounds the Python is really a "must have".

 

[Paul_MTS]

sython out....use the garden hose to re fill. then add buckets of hot water to get it up tp temp. I use Waterlife Haloex which gets rid of heavy metals in the water aswell.

 

[SarahBravo]

If you don't wanna go the python way there is a small pump thing (can you tell i'm technical??) that is powered by a household drill which will pump water out of your bucket and into a tank. Paul (The-wolf) is the guy to ask, I'm sure he sourced one for another member on here.

Sarah

 

[sammydee]

If you can somehow raise the bucket higher than the tank (with a chair or something) then you can siphone the water from the bucket straight into the tank. That's what I do *shrug*.

 

[Bignose]

I bought a little fountain pump from the hardware store for birdbaths and the like, it does like 4 gallons per minute. I paid approx. $30 for it, and have never regretted it. I like that it does not disturb everything unlike pouring in via buckets. In fact, I rubberbanded a rock to the end of the tube I bought with the pump and with the rock, the weight of the hood lid keeps the tube aimed into the tank, so I can go about doing other things (like test kits) while the tank is refilling.

 

[yvez9]

aren't you afraid the tank will overflow or the pump run dry?

 

[Bignose]

Well, I'm not completely ignorant of the tank , I'm usually still in the room when filling, or at the very least not away long enough for overfilling to become a concern. The pump running dry will not hurt it (for a few mins) and if you know how much is in the container with the pump, you know how much will be going into the tank.

 

[FrAnK3333]

I never thougt about a small pump, thats a good idea.

 

[Polardbear]

That is a neat idea! I may have to give that a try, I've got one of those pumps sitting around not doing anything. I just have to remember what box it's in...

 

[Mr Miagi]

If you can somehow raise the bucket higher than the tank (with a chair or something) then you can siphone the water from the bucket straight into the tank. That's what I do *shrug*.

Same as me! Works like a charm!

 

[SarahBravo]

Found the link.... and this is the drill-powered pump here that The-Wolf was talking about.

Sarah

 

[paulb]

Thanks for all these ideas. The drill driven pumps sounds a reasonably priced option. My drill has variable speed so I should be able to get just the right flow rate.

thanks again

PaulB