Pulled this from Facebook.
Post your water change gear!
Post your water change gear!
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Question of the Week OK let’s see them! Show us your water change gear
- Thread starter Art
- Start date
For draining, I have a vacuum tube connected to a garden hose that goes out the front door to a flower bed. For replacing the water, the 15-gallon plastic tote fits in my kitchen sink and I use a submerged dc pump with a 1" hose. I usually fill it twice for 30 gallons of new water. My husband printed that circular plastic thing on the end of the hose to diffuse the water. (The reason I have two hoses is long and boring, just believe me that it makes sense in context.) Then the tote holds everything and fits neatly into a utility closet.
I've had my big tank for a little over 6 months and doing water changes is still a bit more cumbersome than I would like, but there's just no getting around the fact that moving that much water is a big job. I feel like I have it pretty optimized for my particular situation at least, and it doesn't take much more time than doing my typical 8 gallon water change with buckets even if it is more complicated.
I’m not gonna post a picture of my python I use on my bigger tank, but one thing I started doing recently on my two nano tanks is using a watering can to refill them, and I lay a square of bubble wrap on the water surface to break the flow from the watering can and slow the water down. Works nicely.
Kwyet
After every new tank—“This is my last one!”
I’m not going to post a picture either, because I injured my knee on Saturday and can’t get down the stairs yet. I missed Monday’s water changes 
I use a Python to get tap water into a big, rolling Brute trash can and remineralize the water as needed. Then I use a water transfer pump connected to two Flexzilla garden hoses attached to Python hooks to move water out of and into my tanks. I’ve started using appropriately sized filter socks with a small sponge in the bottom to disperse the return water.
First I remove about half of the intended water change. Then I do all of the internal maintenance, cleaning the substrate with a siphon/turkey baster combo, which goes into a 5 gallon bucket. Then I remove the rest of the intended water change. Once the bucket has settled, I use the water transfer pump to remove most of the water from that and set it aside to dry. Then I can pour the dried sand/crud into the trash before using the bucket again the following week.
For the 2 smallest tanks, I remove water with a small siphon. Then I fill a quart container from the Brute trash can and pour it slowly over a sponge and into the tanks 3 or 4 times. Now I want to try that bubble wrap idea!
I use a Python to get tap water into a big, rolling Brute trash can and remineralize the water as needed. Then I use a water transfer pump connected to two Flexzilla garden hoses attached to Python hooks to move water out of and into my tanks. I’ve started using appropriately sized filter socks with a small sponge in the bottom to disperse the return water.
First I remove about half of the intended water change. Then I do all of the internal maintenance, cleaning the substrate with a siphon/turkey baster combo, which goes into a 5 gallon bucket. Then I remove the rest of the intended water change. Once the bucket has settled, I use the water transfer pump to remove most of the water from that and set it aside to dry. Then I can pour the dried sand/crud into the trash before using the bucket again the following week.
For the 2 smallest tanks, I remove water with a small siphon. Then I fill a quart container from the Brute trash can and pour it slowly over a sponge and into the tanks 3 or 4 times. Now I want to try that bubble wrap idea!
- Thread starter
- #5
Oh wow! You guys have really detailed steps.
Over the year's, I've focused on trimming down my water change procedure to its essence. I only use a Python tied to my bathroom sink. I use the vacuum attachment to vacuum the substrate while the water drains down the sink. I then reverse and add the water directly from the sink to the tank.
I'm done in 10-15 minutes tops.
I did use this for a while and it worked fairly well for diffusing water back into the tank:
Over the year's, I've focused on trimming down my water change procedure to its essence. I only use a Python tied to my bathroom sink. I use the vacuum attachment to vacuum the substrate while the water drains down the sink. I then reverse and add the water directly from the sink to the tank.
I'm done in 10-15 minutes tops.
I did use this for a while and it worked fairly well for diffusing water back into the tank:
Kwyet
After every new tank—“This is my last one!”
I don’t send the substrate cleaning to a sink because most of my tanks have a sand substrate, and I find it difficult to clean it without picking up a small amount of sand. It’s not a lot, but I’m afraid of what it might do over time. I’ve also occasionally sent a small fish on a wild ride, so it’s better if it ends up in a bucket, lol!
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