Large Tank water change method

[aquasport24]

I did not like how i do water change in the past two tanks. I'd turned off the return pump and place a utility pump inside the main tank to drawn a predetermined amount (50g). Then wrap the pump and 25ft of hose to the new water (55g barrel in the kitchen) and pump back 50g.

This is my new method for a 240g/40g sump,
-Fill up new water to the top of the sump (about 20g above normal operating level.) using pre hard plumbing from the water mixing station in the kitchen (15ft away).
-Let it run thru the system for a couple mins'
- Then turn on a valve from my return manifold to drawn water down to the nornal operating level.
- Dirty water will goes to washer drain in the next room with pre hard plumbing.
- Shut valve at manifold off.-
- Seqeunce external pump (about 4000GPH w/ 2 returns. one retun with a 4 outlets manifold).

I figure with a new 20g mixing with 260g tank/sump water , at the end i prolly get alot of old and a little of new water to the drain. I can use a LM3 with remote pump to do an automatic water change, but flood might happens over time. I can see and control things with this method.And it does not taking alot of time..
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? HOW DO YOU DO YOUR WATER CHANGE?

[rrasco]

I've automated most of mine too, but I still need to work on my export method. Ideally I don't use buckets once my system is done.

Here is a video I made earlier this year of my W/C system.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0_DZa93HQI

[footballdude2k3]

2 brute containers, 30 gallons of new water in one, take a pump and pump out the old water, add in the new water

[ramsey]

I haven't actually done this yet, but I'm thinking about automating a WC system in my garage. My sump will be running there and I already have a WC/top off water station. I'm thinking about using my controller to open a solenoid that will allow a five gallon bucket to be filled with water. It will know it's full by having a float switch at the top of the bucket. Once full, it will start a pump that will pump the new water in the sump. Discarding the water will be almost identical and will happen first. Pump water out of the tank into a five gallon bucket, trigger the float valve, turn on a small pump in the five gallon bucket and discard the water down my drive way.

I thought about using dosing pumps as well, but it would be more expensive and wouldn't be as fun. :P

[Big_Pun]

i use my 50 ft python with hose attachment to vacuum sand and let water drain to street. i mix my water in garage in brute, then i use a mag 24 and the python hose to pump water back in tank from brute. i also have a 55g drum to hold water in garage and my rodi unit. i never have to lug water around

[kkiel02]

I do similar to Chris. I just pump out old and pump in new. I only do about 40g changes though.

[ramsey]

i use my 50 ft python with hose attachment to vacuum sand and let water drain to street. i mix my water in garage in brute, then i use a mag 24 and the python hose to pump water back in tank from brute. i also have a 55g drum to hold water in garage and my rodi unit. i never have to lug water around

That's basically the way I did it before and I'll likely do this as a once every couple of months thing. I also did the five gallons twice a week which wasn't too bad and things seemed to like smaller water changes more often.

[kkiel02]

Yep that's why I only do 40. I bought another brute but don't use it. With 40 I don't worry about temp or anything since its a small portion of what the system actually is.

[ramsey]

Yep that's why I only do 40. I bought another brute but don't use it. With 40 I don't worry about temp or anything since its a small portion of what the system actually is.

Exactly. Did the same thing with the five gallon changes. It's nice to just mix the salt and dump it in.

[allan]

I used to rinse the fish food with about five gallons, switch the ato to salt water, and change it back an hour or so later when the water level had returned to normal. Then I would lug the water to the restroom next to the fish room.

Problems, I would forget to swap the ato from salt to rodi, ph would drop and salinity would rise.

Pro, the tank looked great and I didn't have any nuisance algae.

Now, I pull seven gallons from the DT, put the system in stand by, take out another 14 gallons, feed the fish/coral.

Then I push 20-22 gallons into the sump from the brute located behind the tank to a predetermined level (close to the top). Then I wait until the SB kicks off and verify that my replacement was accurate. Took a few tries but I think I've nailed it.

Problems, now that I'm not rinsing the food and only doing weekly water changes I've noticed that I have a bit of cyano and looks like a red cotton candy algae that has grown a bit.

Pros, I only do it once a week. It's effortless although I'm still lugging three buckets.


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