Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tanks and Equipment => Topic started by: Matt on January 05, 2018, 11:54:36 AM

Title: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Matt on January 05, 2018, 11:54:36 AM
I'm thinking about how I'm going to do water changes on my 220litre tank when its set up and want to find a cheap, pain free method of doing them.

As such I've been researching water change pumps but am rapidly realising these still require copious amounts of water to be moved about the house which sounds like a lot of effort for what should be an easy essential task as part of the hobby to ensure the best possible environment for the fish.

As such I'm therefore wondering about siphoning the water out into the garden... or toilet if needs be... and filling the tank from my mixer tap attached to a combi boiler system to put same temperature water back in really easily.  This could be achieved with one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000TAQZJ6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000TAQZJ6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1)

What do you think?
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Littlefish on January 05, 2018, 01:51:00 PM
What filter do you have on the tank?
I have recently had an epiphany regarding water changes on my largest tanks, both >350L. They have Fluval FX4 and/or FX6 external filters, which have a connection at the bottom of the filter. Yesterday I purchased 10M of hose which I can attach to the filter, put out through the patio doors, or front window (depending on which tank I'm working on), and use the waste water on the garden.
In the past I've used the short hose supplied with the filter to drain the water into 10L containers, which I carried out to the garden, and I've damaged my elbow with all the heavy lifting, but I feel obliged to recycle the water considering I go through so much of it.
The same connection on the filter is also used for refilling the tank, and I've worked out that I can remove nearly 50% of the water without any problems.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Sue on January 05, 2018, 02:02:16 PM
Google DIY python. The actual pythons are American but lots of people have created their own versions.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Helen on January 05, 2018, 03:48:02 PM
I have a 15l "out" bucket and a 10l "in" bucket with a Syphon. And traipse halfway across the house with buckets of water. My house has been slightly reconfigured since my tank was set up, so water and drainage isn't convenient. I would need a pipe at least 4m long to get to the nearest window.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Matt on January 05, 2018, 03:52:56 PM
@Littlefish I like the idea of using the filter pump to assist things but I don't think my filter has the same feature you are describing.  I could only do this by taking the filter hose off and putting a new one on... I think the hose would wear and possibly the 'watertightness' of the seal would degrade quickly.  I'll have to see how long it takes to drain using the siphon and go from there.

@Sue I recognise the python and have now googled the diy kits. It is becoming clear that the easiest way to fill the tnnand is indeed by attaching a hose to the tap.  The part I put a link for below will do this.  If I can use the hose to start a siphon the other way with the tap adaptor removed, and it doesn't take too long to drain, then that should be all I need. I never l liked the idea of all the treated water wasteage when draining the tank when using a python so it will be good it I can avoid this if possible. 

@Helen  I'm thinking of using garden hose with the adaptors linked too so long lengths won't be a problem. I found a kit with 10m hose on a little compact reel with a handle to wind it in which will be useful.

Do any of you have any experience trying to drop the water level in a take using a siphon on garden hose diameter tubing? Interested to find out how long it is likely to take to drain say 50 litres from a ground floor tank to a garden drain.  Presumably the siphon tube could go out over the window sill and out that way as long as the end of the hose is low enough compared to the tank?
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Sue on January 05, 2018, 04:17:49 PM
I too use buckets, 12 litres out, 10 litres in. The problem with me using a python type of tank emptier is that the tank water would go down the sink. Shock horror  :o all that dirty bacteria laden water into the sink  :yikes: My husband would not be able to cope with that idea. Unfortunately for me  >:(
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Littlefish on January 05, 2018, 04:23:59 PM
I still use buckets & manual syphon for the smaller tanks, and the Fluval FX filters are the only ones I have that have the extra connection for water changes, so my dwarf puffer tank is also still done manually.
I don't have any experience of using garden hose & tap connectors for water changes, but I would have thought that 50L wouldn't take long.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Helen on January 05, 2018, 05:40:14 PM
How would you add dechlorinator if the tank is refilled directly from a tap?

I know that the dechlorinator I use says you can add it directly to the tank, but I'm not sure that I'd be happy with that.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Sue on January 05, 2018, 06:33:28 PM
You add the dechlorinator to the tank before starting to refill it. It used to be said that you should dose for the whole tank volume, but apparently that only applies to Seachem Prime, it's just that everyone assumed all dechlorinators were the same. But all the rest should be dosed for just the volume of new water.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: fcmf on January 05, 2018, 06:42:34 PM
I know that the dechlorinator I use says you can add it directly to the tank, but I'm not sure that I'd be happy with that.
Admittedly, in the latter years of my goldfish-keeping days, I did do that, although I wonder if it's because I used Seachem Prime [cf Sue's comment].

You add the dechlorinator to the tank before starting to refill it. It used to be said that you should dose for the whole tank volume, but apparently that only applies to Seachem Prime, it's just that everyone assumed all dechlorinators were the same. But all the rest should be dosed for just the volume of new water.
Looking at my current bottle of Seachem Prime, the dosage is now only for new water. Not sure when that changed, actually - and it seems I might have been overdosing as I'd not realised that until now...
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: Sue on January 05, 2018, 06:50:06 PM
Interesting. According to their website they say
Quote
If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume.
http://www.seachem.com/prime.php

But I suppose it depends on whether they keep the website up to date or not.
Title: Re: Best kit for water changes
Post by: fcmf on January 05, 2018, 07:07:06 PM
Ah right, yes - it says "Use 1 capful (5ml) for each 200L (50 gallons) of new water" but then, further down, after saying that it can be added to the aquarium directly albeit better if added to new water first, it says "If adding directly to aquarium, base dose on aquarium volume".