Water Top Off

[sparty059]

Sorry, I was in a meeting so the post took 30 minutes longer to post... that comment was directed more towards Florida Joe and Robert Mathern.
However, yes, Meowzer you are correct. The only problem I can foresee is that my pipes are all PVC. They are also completely glued together which will make for a task to clean out. What best practice would you have to clean out tubes that are:
#1. About seven or eight feet in length (Again, all PVC).
and
#2. Get around the get around the four right angle pieces in my plumbing setup?

 

[meowzer]

I use this....only it is 48", not 6'

I think you could probably make one though....and use this as an idea

 

[monsinour]

A saltwater only snake from homerdepot.
What prize do I win?

 

[spanko]

Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off#post_3316549
Vanna, I wanna buy a vowel.............."O"

 

[sparty059]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316563
A saltwater only snake from homerdepot.
What prize do I win?
Is that really what it's called?

 

[monsinour]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparty059 http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316566
Is that really what it's called?
No, just buy a snake, probably a hand crank one if you are feeling frugal. Then affix some of those green scrubby pads to the "arms" of the snake. Stick the snake into one end of the PVC and crank and push the snake until you get to the other end of the pipe. Push the snake out an extra foot or so and stick it into a bucket of water. Clean off the scrubby parts and then do the whole thing in reverse as you get the snake out of the pvc.

 

[florida joe]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/doserwatertopofdiy/ss/diyautotopoff.htm
Quote:
it makes it close to impossible to go more than a few days without having to do water top offs. This is a true statement,
IMO going a few days with out topping off is going to be Extremely difficult without an auto top off due to the area of surface agitation

 

[florida joe]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316562
I use this....only it is 48", not 6'

I think you could probably make one though....and use this as an idea

even i will not comment but henry you know what i am thinking

 

[flower]

Meowzer, once a week is crazy..I have a clear hose from my Top off to the tank and its clean...the only build up is on the outside where it is exposed to the dust in the air.

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316604
Meowzer, once a week is crazy..I have a clear hose from my Top off to the tank and its clean...the only build up is on the outside where it is exposed to the dust in the air.
WHY is it crazy....it literally takes less than 1 minute to clean both tubes.....YOUR hose has RO water running thru it......mine has tank water.....

 

[sparty059]

So I came home this evening... I have a pretty big star fish... a true 5 star starfish that hitched on. I love looking at it. I have another brittle star that is on the side of my tank and my 7 point star fish in my refugium... boy do I live this hobby.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316608
WHY is it crazy....it literally takes less than 1 minute to clean both tubes.....YOUR hose has RO water running thru it......mine has tank water.....

Oh boy...well we were talking about top off in my defense concerning the original post..but I too will soon be running hose for tank water...
You have to detatch the hose from the power head on one end...detach the hose at the overflow..clean the hose and put it all back together. That's as much hassle as my canister filter to clean. I haven't touched those hoses in years but I do clean the little filter ends. The hose I will be using also is clear, so we shall actually see how yucky they get. Should be interesting.

 

[meowzer]

Flower....I am talking about the overflow hoses....nothing to detach.....just feed the brush down to the bottom......and then pull it back out....very simple

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316629
Flower....I am talking about the overflow hoses....nothing to detach.....just feed the brush down to the bottom......and then pull it back out....very simple

UMmm..I don't know...I will have to wait and see what is what when everything is set up..a sump system really does sound easier than canisters, and those hoses are a huge pain to detach so that is my only reference. I did save the site where to get the brush you recommended.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316636

UMmm..I don't know...I will have to wait and see what is what when everything is set up..a sump system really does sound easier than canisters, and those hoses are a huge pain to detach so that is my only reference. I did save the site where to get the brush you recommended.
No sweat, Flower! Some quick disconnect/unions could easily be incorporated into the plumbing. All you have to do is simply unscrew them, the ends of the hose can stay attached.
I have a question though. How often does anyone here feel that they need to actually clean their lines before it becomes a problem...once a year, twice a year, 3 times tops if even that?

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316642
I have a question though. How often does anyone here feel that they need to actually clean their lines before it becomes a problem...once a year, twice a year, 3 times tops if even that?
ONCE A WEEK....LOL.....It probably would not hurt to do it less......BUT...before I actually started, my overflow box was running high....had no clue what was going on....decided to clean all the tubes, and there was a clump of algae stuck in there.....apparently enough to make a flow difference.....SOOOOOO I decided to make it a scheduled cleaning
As I told Flower....there is NOTHING to take apart.....I just run the flexi-brush down the hose....takes LESS than a minute for both overflows

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316642
No sweat, Flower! Some quick disconnect/unions could easily be incorporated into the plumbing. All you have to do is simply unscrew them, the ends of the hose can stay attached.
I have a question though. How often does anyone here feel that they need to actually clean their lines before it becomes a problem...once a year, twice a year, 3 times tops if even that?

I have never cleaned a hose, I have replaced them every couple of years. The hoses on one canister is a little over a year and the other is about two years now. I have never heard of cleaning a hose till now.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316649

I have never cleaned a hose, I have replaced them every couple of years. The hoses on one canister is a little over a year and the other is about two years now. I have never heard of cleaning a hose till now.
Probably because of how rare it is that people actually do it.

 

[tang1joe]

I'm starting a new 135G tank and I have well water. Would this be a disaster or is there a additive that I can use to eliminate the minerals, metals and toxins in the water.
Thanks for your help.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tang1joe http:///forum/thread/380828/water-top-off/20#post_3316656
I'm starting a new 135G tank and I have well water. Would this be a disaster or is there a additive that I can use to eliminate the minerals, metals and toxins in the water.
Thanks for your help.

I have well water and a RO flter unit under my sink from Culligan water..