200 gallon....water changes.

lietz06

lietz06

Member
What would be the easiest way to do water changes on a 200 gallon. The tank is set up close to a window so I can syphon the water out through the window. But what would be the easiest way to get the mixed up saltwater into the tank? The 200 is an established tank-set up for about 1 1/2...so how often would I need to do water changes & how much. I usually did 10% every 1 1/2-2 weeks on my 55. Thanks:)
 
burpuffer

burpuffer

Member
Originally Posted by lietz06
http:///forum/post/2997647
What would be the easiest way to do water changes on a 200 gallon. The tank is set up close to a window so I can syphon the water out through the window. But what would be the easiest way to get the mixed up saltwater into the tank? The 200 is an established tank-set up for about 1 1/2...so how often would I need to do water changes & how much. I usually did 10% every 1 1/2-2 weeks on my 55. Thanks:)
I had a 125 gallon tank and did about 10 gallon water changes every week and that worked pretty well so i would do 15 gallon water change a week. And as far as getting it back in the tank do you have a sump??
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I have a 225g...I use a 35g trash can, make my water in it, I have a mag700 pump, got a hose to fit on it, and then pump the water back in to the tank ..
That is also what I use to drain the water out
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2997689
I have a 225g...I use a 35g trash can, make my water in it, I have a mag700 pump, got a hose to fit on it, and then pump the water back in to the tank ..
That is also what I use to drain the water out
I'll trade you my amazing state of the art nano reef for you stupid puny little 200 gallon and cortez ray.

You're lucky. It would be cool to just dump saltwater out the window. Lugging it out for removal is a pita. For me, I turn off the return for my sump, remove the water, put the water in, wait for it to come to temperature, and turn the return pump back on. It saves me from having to buy extra heaters to heat the water change water.
 
V

vince-1961

Guest
When I added a closed loop to my 250gallon total system (225g tank plus half-full 65g sump), I built in a valve operated drainage system which dumps the water on thge ground outside. All I do is turn the valve until the water level is low enough.
I then pump the prepared and heated water from 30 gallon trash can to DT. Turn the sumpo back on when the water level is high enough to drain back to sump.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2997689
I have a 225g...I use a 35g trash can, make my water in it, I have a mag700 pump, got a hose to fit on it, and then pump the water back in to the tank ..
That is also what I use to drain the water out
+1
that is what I do...
Tip: Save some of the old water in a 5g bucket, or 2 for a tank that size. Just in case you don't have enough premixed and come up short, I found it is a little hard to gauge how much water is removed the first couple of times. When you are sure you don't need the extra water then toss it out.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/2997735
+1
that is what I do...
Tip: Save some of the old water in a 5g bucket, or 2 for a tank that size. Just in case you don't have enough premixed and come up short, I found it is a little hard to gauge how much water is removed the first couple of times. When you are sure you don't need the extra water then toss it out.
I actually marked the tank so I know where to drain to...I also always keep 4-5 gallons of ro/di water available for top-off's, so if I were to run short I would use that, and just turn on the RO/DI water maker thingy
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2997689
I have a 225g...I use a 35g trash can, make my water in it, I have a mag700 pump, got a hose to fit on it, and then pump the water back in to the tank ..
That is also what I use to drain the water out
.....and if you get a trash can on wheels, you can us a PH to do the mixing, wheel it up to the tank, and use the same PH to fill the tank. Siphoning out the window is great, if the water goes to the right place. As to how much/ often; there are millions of opinions and I'll leave that alone; I'm really changing my mind in this area.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2997739
.....and if you get a trash can on wheels, you can us a PH to do the mixing, wheel it up to the tank, and use the same PH to fill the tank. Siphoning out the window is great, if the water goes to the right place. As to how much/ often; there are millions of opinions and I'll leave that alone; I'm really changing my mind in this area.
+1....My trash can has wheels, and my laundry room is next to the "fish room" lol...so I made sure I have enough hose to run to my drain for emptying, and then toss the magpump into the trash can...place the hose in the tank AND within a few minutes DONE
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2997737
I actually marked the tank so I know where to drain to...I also always keep 4-5 gallons of ro/di water available for top-off's, so if I were to run short I would use that, and just turn on the RO/DI water maker thingy

LOL I wish I had a RO/DI water maker thingy
I bring my water in the house in 5g jugs
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2997746
+1....My trash can has wheels, and my laundry room is next to the "fish room" lol...so I made sure I have enough hose to run to my drain for emptying, and then toss the magpump into the trash can...place the hose in the tank AND within a few minutes DONE
Good. Basic human nature says that the easier something is, the more it gets done.
I am not convinced, nor is Bob Fenner, that everyone needs RO/DI water. I depends mainly on your local water supply. Lots of excellent hobbiests insist everyone needs it and I respect that opinion; I just don't happen to agree with it. I've been lucky, having lived in areas with tank-safe water for 30+ years. I know what's in my local water supply and have never had a problem that I thought was related to my not using RO/DI. I almost installed it when I set up my new reef; but its doing fine on my tap water. I sure have seen some water company water content reports from areas where I would sure go with RO/DI; however.
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2997782
Good. Basic human nature says that the easier something is, the more it gets done.
I am not convinced, nor is Bob Fenner, that everyone needs RO/DI water. I depends mainly on your local water supply. Lots of excellent hobbiests insist everyone needs it and I respect that opinion; I just don't happen to agree with it. I've been lucky, having lived in areas with tank-safe water for 30+ years. I know what's in my local water supply and have never had a problem that I thought was related to my not using RO/DI. I almost installed it when I set up my new reef; but its doing fine on my tap water. I sure have seen some water company water content reports from areas where I would sure go with RO/DI; however.
RO/DI is safe plain and simple...whereas with tap water, you're rolling the dice. Not to say that people who use tap are wrong. I haven't seen very many awesome tanks that use tap water, but I'm sure it can be done provided your tap water is good.
For me 400 ppt is just a tad too much. I like 0 a lot better.
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
I use to have a 50gallon trash can set up in the laundry room of my apartment with a 900gph pump to drain and fill the tank(210), but now that I moved in with some roommates in a house I have to figure it all out again.
 
J

jojo727

Guest
since my tank is in a wall i have the whole room behind it as a "fish room" so i have (2) 35g containers that sit 3' from the back of the tank. the first container(ro/di tub) sits about 2' off the ground and has a float valve near the top that keeps the ro water high. it also has a drain with a valve on it which leads to the second container(SW mix tub) so i can fill the second tub halfway then add the salt and let it mix using a 800gph pump.
to drain the system i have a 600gph in the sump that pushes the water through a pipe that goes through a wall to a pipe that drains AWAY FROM the house so not to cause foundation or pest problems. then there's another 600gph pump in the SW tub that pumps the new water into the sump. all this takes about 2 minutes and is done with ease since every pump in my system is wired to switches. i'll try to post pictures tomorrow.
 
lietz06

lietz06

Member
Thank you so much for all of the replies. It will help me greatly. To answer someones question-no I don't have a sump. I'll def have to do the trashcan with the pump thing. Thank you guys sooo much!
 
culp

culp

Active Member
i do a 10 gallon water change each week on my 55 gallon tank.
first i have my RODI unit in the basement. so i use a blue 5 gallon bucket to carry a max of 3 1/2 gallons of water up the stairs at a time and put the water into a black 15 gallon tub. i throw a heater and a power head than add 3 pounds of salt and walk away and come back and drain out 10 gallons of water the next day out of the tank and than i use a spare rio 3100 pump to pump the 10 new gallons of water into the tank and i flush the old water down the toilet. all together it takes 30 minutes of my time of work and a day of waiting for the salt to mix.
 
ilovemytank

ilovemytank

Member
I'll expand a tad on the responses you have. I used one of the 50 gallon trash cans on wheels before and one day the axel broke and I came home to a mess. I now pump the water outside. I have a ro/di unit that makes water into a 65 gallon recyling trash can. You know the huge ones that you can wheel to the end of the street. You could run into it with a car and not hurt it. I keep about 40-50 gallons of made water. I have a mag 7 circulating the water and a heater in there. I bought a hose sliced one end off and put a connector 5/8" on the hose to 1/2 inch. I then have a 2" 1/2 inch hose connecting it to the mag 7. I only have a 1/2" adapter on my mag 7, I think if you buy one they come with a 5/8" fitting and you might not need this little conversion. I never move the water suppy even though its on wheels and I can. Good like this will make it easy.
 
culp

culp

Active Member

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2997737
I actually marked the tank so I know where to drain to...I also always keep 4-5 gallons of ro/di water available for top-off's, so if I were to run short I would use that, and just turn on the RO/DI water maker thingy

i see that you are using scientific terms there.
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
Originally Posted by Ilovemytank
http:///forum/post/2999008
I'll expand a tad on the responses you have. I used one of the 50 gallon trash cans on wheels before and one day the axel broke and I came home to a mess. I now pump the water outside. I have a ro/di unit that makes water into a 65 gallon recyling trash can. You know the huge ones that you can wheel to the end of the street. You could run into it with a car and not hurt it. I keep about 40-50 gallons of made water. I have a mag 7 circulating the water and a heater in there. I bought a hose sliced one end off and put a connector 5/8" on the hose to 1/2 inch. I then have a 2" 1/2 inch hose connecting it to the mag 7. I only have a 1/2" adapter on my mag 7, I think if you buy one they come with a 5/8" fitting and you might not need this little conversion. I never move the water suppy even though its on wheels and I can. Good like this will make it easy.
I too had the trash can spill the water everywhere. no longer filled it up afterwards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top