Does anyone else periodically get burned out on tank maintenance?

[Gwad]

Wrapped up my AGA submittal a few weeks ago, and I just can't seem to bring myself to take care of my tank right now I think I'm experiencing burnout. I go through these cycles where my tank is all I can think about for a few weeks/months, and then I need a break, and I can't bring myself to do my usual water change and trim schedule. The good news is my tank has so much healthy plant mass that algae doesnt grow even after a few weeks of neglect.

Any tips on fighting this tendency? I think my first idea is to slow everything down, lower my nitrate to more of a zero-bound system and try to reduce my stem trimming frequency. My second idea is making my water change easier. Right now the hardest part is siphoning detritus into buckets that I walk to the toilet. After that I pump the tank down the rest of the way. How do you guys do this? I would siphon straight to the toilet but I'm bound to accidently send a shrimp to their doom that way.

 

[Koan]

Right now the hardest part is siphoning detritus into buckets that I walk to the toilet

Have room for one of these? The roller dolly is awesome

Post in thread 'Non-Python bucketless water change ideas'

Feb 19, 2026

lugging the buckets to the toilet got old immediately, and I am trying to think of alternative options

I'm using the Brute 20 gallon route currently for the smaller tanks

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Drain / clean into can, roll out onto porch, drop in submersible pump, drain into the yard

For the bigger tanks the plan is either Jehmco rig, or drain hose > inline pond pump / smart plug > yard, I believe @Kwyet uses a similar system

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• Koan

• 

I'm bound to accidently send a shrimp to their doom that way

You can siphon the water thru a shrimp net

 

[Mr. Silly Goose]

You can siphon the water thru a shrimp net

I feel silly asking this, but what's a shrimp net?

 

[JayP]

For removing old water from larger tanks, I use a 40+gallon Brute and dolly like @Koan linked. For everything under 30g, I use the below setup. It could be used to refill as well by simply filling the bin near your clean water source and reversing which hose gets stuck where ( I have long hoses connected directly to my RODI storage tank for refilling though). I have two wands, one for if I need to get down to the substrate, and a hooked wand for when I just need to empty half the tank. Both have ss mesh screens to prevent livestock from getting sucked up. The mesh screen on the straight wand, will allow sand and some fine soil to get sucked up which is OK. That is what the extra inline strainer is for mounted to the cart. If the strainer gets too full, I can stop and empty it. I do have to be a bit careful with it this though because the suction is strong enough that it will pull up plants if you get the wand to close to them.

 

[Gwad]

For removing old water from larger tanks, I use a 40+gallon Brute and dolly like @Koan linked. For everything under 30g, I use the below setup. It could be used to refill as well by simply filling the bin near your clean water source and reversing which hose gets stuck where ( I have long hoses connected directly to my RODI storage tank for refilling though). I have two wands, one for if I need to get down to the substrate, and a hooked wand for when I just need to empty half the tank. Both have ss mesh screens to prevent livestock from getting sucked up. The mesh screen on the straight wand, will allow sand and some fine soil to get sucked up which is OK. That is what the extra inline strainer is for mounted to the cart. If the strainer gets too full, I can stop and empty it. I do have to be a bit careful with it this though because the suction is strong enough that it will pull up plants if you get the wand to close to them.

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This is fantastic. I love your wand design. I'm going to have do something very similar.

Right now I have a 44 gallon Brute I use to store my RODI water. I have a submersible pump in there with a long enough hose to go to the tank. I use a similar submersible pump to pump water from my tank to the toilet when Im ready to do my 60% change. The main thing I am hurting on is a good setup for siphoning waste. Right now I am putting it into 5 gallon buckets which is a mess and annoying. A larger wheeled setup like this is perfect.

 

[Koan]

For everything under 30g, I use the below setup

Wow!

Can you post a parts list?

 

[JayP]

Wow!

Can you post a parts list?

I'll put a list together. It can be built at a lower cost than what my build was though.