Question of the Week OK let’s see them! Show us your water change gear

[Art]

Pulled this from Facebook.



Post your water change gear!

 

[ElleDee]

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.

 

[Phish Tank]

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]

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!

 

[Art]

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:

https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Mountain-Goods-Bubbler-Sprinkler/dp/B07T77J2DC/ref=asc_df_B07T77J2DC?mcid=b68d25ee96a233ce9e54518257dd9bb4&hvocijid=3538711081723845581-B07T77J2DC-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3538711081723845581&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051768&hvtargid=pla-2281435179298&psc=1

 

[Kwyet]

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!