Help me simplify my water changes

[GeoHawk]

I have begun doing larger water changes every 2 weeks, of about 25%. I have noticed some better color from my sps by doing so. My problem is that its like a 2 day project of mixing the salt water the night before and letting it sit. Then the next day I heat up each individual 5 gal bucket to match the tank temp, which is now taking longer because its colder. I would like to be able to simplify it to take less than an hour, but I cant plumb anything to the tank. How do I make up a bunch of water at once and keep it good and warm ready for use?, or what works for you?

 

[Karl]

I have a 30 gallon aquarium set up for make up water complete with power heads, heater and transfer pump. Another pump in my sump pumps tank water out during changes. I always have 30 gallons of salt water on hand. Water change takes about 10 minutes.

 

[Bry]

I use two brute trash cans.. One to make RO water into and the other to mix salt into. Both have power heads and heaters to keep the water ready to go. I do carry the saltwater up stairs from the basement in 5 gallon bucket to the tank for the time being.. So my water change takes about 25 minutes.

Winter project is to move my sump to the basement to make everything easier.

I always have 25-30 gallons of saltwater on hand as well.

 

[caudill187]

I have a 30 gallon aquarium set up for make up water complete with power heads, heater and transfer pump. Another pump in my sump pumps tank water out during changes. I always have 30 gallons of salt water on hand. Water change takes about 10 minutes.

+1. I use two matching rubbermaid brute trash cans. One of them actually has a float valve plumbed into it so I can hook it directly to the RO/DI filter. I fill it overnight, add salt in the morning, drop a pump in and turn it on, plug in a preset heater and let the whole thing mix overnight. The next day I siphon out the water I want to change into the empty rubbermaid trash can and pump the new water in using the stirring pump with a vinyl hose attached. I then use the pump to pump the old water out of a window (its 45 gallons).

 

[NanaReefer]

I'm pretty anal about this subject. Wanting/needing to put back in the same amount of water as I'm taking out. So I bought 2 food grade buckets with qt/liter measurements from GFC. I make 5 1/2 gallons and remove 5 1/2 gallons

 

[WillKatt]

I guess my first question is how big is you tank so we know what 25% actually means? Depending on how much volume you have one method me be better than another.

 

[GeoHawk]

Good point! My tank is 60 gallon cube with about 20 gallons in the sump so 80 total. I am doing about 15 to 20 gallons every 2 weeks, which has been 3 to 4 5 gallon buckets. My RO system and all my salt is in the basement, the aquarium is in the living room upstairs. I rent so I can't drill any holes or make any permanent changes. Ideas are good so far, and I appreciate the help you guys are giving me.

 

[WillKatt]

I see,

Well for me like other here I have a little mixing station that will ultimatley be plumed into my new build but I also use it on my smaller tank right now. I have an ro/di vat that has a shutoff valve so its always full and a mixing vat that has both a heater and a recirculation pump. My RO?DI sits above the mixing tank so i can just open a valve to fill the appropriate amount of water for the change. I then preheat the water with a 500w heater which heats things up really fast prior to dumping in the salt. I do this because the salt I use "Aquavitro Salinity" mixes up to different specific gravity depending on the temperature of the water. After i add the salt Ill let it mix for anywhere between two hours and the next day.

When I'm ready to do my change I drain the heated mix into 5 gallon blue line jugs with caps in my sink with a little pull out spout then carry them up stairs. Without being able to drill the floors or add any additional plumbing im not sure you will be able to make it much easier.

Vales control RO and salt. There is another valve not shown I can switch over to use the little spike t in the sink to fill jugs with salt or RO.

Switches for heater and recirculation pump.

 

[GeoHawk]

+1. I use two matching rubbermaid brute trash cans. One of them actually has a float valve plumbed into it so I can hook it directly to the RO/DI filter. I fill it overnight, add salt in the morning, drop a pump in and turn it on, plug in a preset heater and let the whole thing mix overnight. The next day I siphon out the water I want to change into the empty rubbermaid trash can and pump the new water in using the stirring pump with a vinyl hose attached. I then use the pump to pump the old water out of a window (its 45 gallons).

Where do I get a float valve for the trash cans?
What pump are you using that allows you to use it for recirculation as well as for pumping the water?

 

[GeoHawk]

Kalgra- that is a very clean and nice set up. How do you keep the water in the top vat from breaking the shelve looks like it would be super heavy? Where did you get those vats they look super nice.

How long can you have salt made up and sitting there without any bad effects. For example could you make up 50 gallons at a time and use it as needed? Ive only let mine sit over night.

 

[dseg]

I have a 180 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. Anyone have any bright ideas how I could do a water change easier? Does anyon just hook a hose and siphon into a drain? I was thinking about keeping everything in the garage, and just a long garden hose to pump water out then pump from the garage. 20% of 200 gallon is a big water change lol

 

[JMSKI333]

+1. I use two matching rubbermaid brute trash cans. One of them actually has a float valve plumbed into it so I can hook it directly to the RO/DI filter. I fill it overnight, add salt in the morning, drop a pump in and turn it on, plug in a preset heater and let the whole thing mix overnight. The next day I siphon out the water I want to change into the empty rubbermaid trash can and pump the new water in using the stirring pump with a vinyl hose attached. I then use the pump to pump the old water out of a window (its 45 gallons).

+1, two rubber made trash Cans in the basement, one with an RODI float valve, the other with a heater and 2 maxi jets. I get 2 water changes out on one 55g trash can. So I make salt water every two weeks and just check the salinity a couple hours before doing a water change (once initially dialed in). At any given time I have 30-45 gallons of heated saltwater on hand as well as 35 gallons of RODI. This is the best option in my opinion unless you have room for more trash cans.

 

[WillKatt]

Kalgra- that is a very clean and nice set up. How do you keep the water in the top vat from breaking the shelve looks like it would be super heavy? Where did you get those vats they look super nice.

I welded and iron stand for the shelf to sit on. But you could do the same thing going side by side I just didnt have the room. I got my tanks here
water tanks, plastic tanks, septic tanks

How long can you have salt made up and sitting there without any bad effects. For example could you make up 50 gallons at a time and use it as needed? Ive only let mine sit over night.

I have asked this same question in another thread im not sure, there seems to be conflicting ideas on the subject. I generally don't go more than two days before using the mix. It would be really nice though if i could mix up the whole container and just use it as needed.

 

[Pkunk35]

I welded and iron stand for the shelf to sit on. But you could do the same thing going side by side I just didnt have the room. I got my tanks here
water tanks, plastic tanks, septic tanks



I have asked this same question in another thread im not sure, there seems to be conflicting ideas on the subject. I generally don't go more than two days before using the mix. It would be really nice though if i could mix up the whole container and just use it as needed.

I really think you can sit that water for a while as long as it is lightproof. I found the thread I got that info from, it is last post by Randy Holmes Farley:

aerating stored salt water - Reef Central Online Community


I'm so jealous of people's saltwater mixing stations.
Renting sucks.

 

[GeoHawk]

Ok I can get the trashcans from homedepot. I will also need a pump and float valve.
What pump do you guys use?
Do I just get the float valve from somewhere online like marine depot?
When you mix the salt do you just dump it in the trash can and let the pump do the mixing?

Sorry for so many questions, I just want to make sure I do it right.
Thanks!