Do people use siphons or pumps for water changes

[jw1977]

I'm trying to get everything I need for my first water change. What do people use for to get water out of the tank? Hose, Siphon, python, pump? Do you use the same to put the water back in?

 

[kynekke]

I use and LOVE my Python. I don't syphon up sand though, just use it for water transport.

 

[nel621]

I use a hose and 5g bucket to siphon the water out.I also have 2 5g containers that hold my mixed water.I siphon 10g out and add the new water to my wet/dry with a water jug.not thr best solution but it works for me.Nothing mechanical,all manual.

 

[waterlogged]

gravel vac and bucket

 

[grennan]

shop vac if cleaning out my wet/dry
gravel vac and 5 gal buckets if taking out of tank (without disturbing sandbed)

 

[uberlink]

I use a siphon to draw water out of the tank, and I just drop my ATO pump into a bucket of saltwater to replace it directly into my sump. Quick and easy.

 

[jw1977]

I'm still a little confused. Can you use a python to somehow put your mixed water back in the tank?

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by jw1977
I'm still a little confused. Can you use a python to somehow put your mixed water back in the tank?
It has a fitting that fits directly only a faucet, but you don't want to do that, since you have to mix the salt into the water ect.

 

[dogstar]

simular to uberlink, I have a 40 ft. hose on a spare pump. I put the pump into the tank and syphon out the old water to the bathtub. I dont pump it, the water syphons thru the pump with out any problem. I then remove the pump from the tank and place it in the rubbermaid and pump the new water into the display. Easy.

 

[miaheatlvr]

I use a syphon and gently suck up and crud on the sand bed, I take out only 5g at a time, so I know how much to put back in.

 

[srfisher17]

Just a little helper. I measure the distance from the top of each tank the 1st time I do changes, then put a little piece of tape at that spot when doing future changes and I never have to measure again. I use a big diameter hose and siphon into the tub, sometimes using a vac. I keep make-up water mixing in a big garbage can on wheels; the mixing pump has a piece of hose attached and I just wheel it out and fill the tanks. I'm working on a real neat, almost work-free system...but it still needs work!

 

[metweezer]

I use a Mag Drive 9.5 water pump (950 GPH). It connects to my Python. During cleaning and water changes I connect the Python to my faucet turn on the water and my Python cleans and drains. To add new water I remove the faucet attachment and connect the python to my Mag Drive. Drop it in my new water trashcan and that's it.
Steve

 

[dinogeorge]

I change a lot of water because of the sizes of my tanks, but here is what I do. I have two 40 gallon Rubbermaid trashcans on wheels. One has fresh seawater in it and then other is empty. I use a gravel cleaner, (my tanks are fish only so yes I clean my gravel) and drain the water into the empty trash can. I take out the same amount of water as I have in my full one. Then I use a submersible pump to pump the water into my tank.
I roll the can with the old water into the bathroom and drop the pump into it. Then pump the water into the tub. When I mix a new batch of water in my other can, I leave the pump in it and let it mix my water.

 

[jw1977]

If you're only doing a 5 gallon water change, is a pump worth it?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by jw1977
If you're only doing a 5 gallon water change, is a pump worth it?
Depends on how much water you can lift up in a bucket to pour in. I personally use siphon to take 5g water out of my 55g and pour in 1-2 gallons at a time when doing water changes. I will, though, be using a pump and hose for my 180 when it's all setup.