Water change question
- Thread starter demodan
- Start date
fshhub
Active Member
cleaning the pump woudl be the only prob, and you would need a non metal drum, that was never used for anyting other than water
what i would do, is get one of those(unused) squeeze pumps. like people use for kerosene, and use the bucket or like my wife does, when i am not there, she uses a pitcher(which she keeps under the tank, so it does not get washed with soap ever), but we only do 5 to 7 gallons a week, so scooping with a 2 qt pitcher is not too much difficulty for her
HTH
what i would do, is get one of those(unused) squeeze pumps. like people use for kerosene, and use the bucket or like my wife does, when i am not there, she uses a pitcher(which she keeps under the tank, so it does not get washed with soap ever), but we only do 5 to 7 gallons a week, so scooping with a 2 qt pitcher is not too much difficulty for her
HTH
broomer5
Active Member
Sure demodan,
You can do anything you want to do !
When I partially filled my 75 gallon last month, I used a Cap1800 powerhead, with about 15 feet of clear tubing from the Depot, filled most of the 75 from a 50 gallon rubbermaid container of mixed saltwater that I had running for 2 days.
Didn't lift a bucket - and see no reason you couldn't so the same. Delivered 50 gallons of saltwater to a empty tank/with substrate, balance of the old saltwater from the ex-55 added to 75 and sump.
Moving 50+ gallons of saltwater around on a cart seems like additional work.
Do you have an area where you can mix-store-transfer saltwater from this area to your display tank via a pump and tubing ?
You can mix saltwater and keep it in a large container with heater and circulation, and pump from it to your tank for water changes.
I would not suggest keeping more than you would use in a normal water change on hand at any given moment, just mix up what you need, let it run in the container couple few days, hook up your dedicated "transfer" powerhead, run your temporary tubing to your display tank, and let'er go. You can use a siphon tube/hose to do the same for removing water from your display tank, and just run it to drain. I don't lift buckets anymore.
No problem.
To address fshubs comment on cleaning the pump, well .... just clean it after each use.
Works like a champ
You can do anything you want to do !
When I partially filled my 75 gallon last month, I used a Cap1800 powerhead, with about 15 feet of clear tubing from the Depot, filled most of the 75 from a 50 gallon rubbermaid container of mixed saltwater that I had running for 2 days.
Didn't lift a bucket - and see no reason you couldn't so the same. Delivered 50 gallons of saltwater to a empty tank/with substrate, balance of the old saltwater from the ex-55 added to 75 and sump.
Moving 50+ gallons of saltwater around on a cart seems like additional work.
Do you have an area where you can mix-store-transfer saltwater from this area to your display tank via a pump and tubing ?
You can mix saltwater and keep it in a large container with heater and circulation, and pump from it to your tank for water changes.
I would not suggest keeping more than you would use in a normal water change on hand at any given moment, just mix up what you need, let it run in the container couple few days, hook up your dedicated "transfer" powerhead, run your temporary tubing to your display tank, and let'er go. You can use a siphon tube/hose to do the same for removing water from your display tank, and just run it to drain. I don't lift buckets anymore.
No problem.
To address fshubs comment on cleaning the pump, well .... just clean it after each use.
Works like a champ
dpittman
Member
This is exactly how I do my water changes. I have a 240 gallon tank so even a 15% water change is alot of water. I have a rubbermaid garbage can on castor wheels I got at home depot. I put a big pump and heater in it so I can mix my saltwater. I have another one for draining dirty water. This way I know exactly how much water to put in. The pump circulates my premix and then I install a hose onto the pump to get it back into the tank. It's nice to have 'em on wheels to move em around.
It gets pricey to have those cans with wheels and extra pumps but can't imagine doing water changes without them!
It gets pricey to have those cans with wheels and extra pumps but can't imagine doing water changes without them!
spankr
Member
I have two 55g plastic drums in the laundry room in the basement. I went to home depot and bought a small pump that attaches to 3/4" clear plastic hose that I also bought at home depot. I siphon out the old water with a seperate hose, then pump the new water all the way from the basement to the tank upstairs(about 30' of hose) It is excellent! No mess and no work 
. I love it.
the whole setup cost me $50.
. I love it.the whole setup cost me $50.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
"No, honey, that isn't a reciept, I was nowhere near the fish store, and that flaco hawk must have been in the live rock."
lol. But I love it when creatures and fish appear in the tank. (there is tank fairy out there).
Anyway we do it by the gl. we save the water jugs, pour water into this gl container we have and 1/4 cup salt, then add to tank.
55gl a week would be a lot of water...So you're idea might be best rather then doing it 55 times. we only do 5-10.
lol. But I love it when creatures and fish appear in the tank. (there is tank fairy out there).
Anyway we do it by the gl. we save the water jugs, pour water into this gl container we have and 1/4 cup salt, then add to tank.
55gl a week would be a lot of water...So you're idea might be best rather then doing it 55 times. we only do 5-10.