How do YOU fill your tank?

[RJ F.]

Hey yall. Not sure if this is the right area for this thread but it does fall into aquascape. I'm still using the ol' tip the bucket way of filling my tank. However this leads to me blowing the samd around and ticking corals off and even have disrupted them. I looked into a python but my sink doesnt have a standard thread. It's a "fancy" faucet. I thought about getting a pump but they seem expensive. Lmk what yall do. Thanks

 

[Peace River]

There are several ways to go about filling a tank. If you are filling the tank with a bucket then one approach is to put a plate on the sand and pour the water in the bucket toward the plate. Another approach would be to get a small pump, valve, hose barb, and a bit of PVC pipe with two elbows that can be hung over the edge of the tank - with the valve you can control the flow rate to make sure that you are not stirring up the water. Good luck with whatever direction you choose!

 

[Daniel92481]

I usually take a big drink, swish it around, gargle it, then spit it in the tank. Depending on the size of your tank, shouldn’t take more than about 6 months, or so.

 

[Han]

I use a battery operated transfer pump. I take a stepladder, put the bucket/jug of water on top, and pump the water into the tank. Pump is weak enough that it doesn’t make a mess in the tank but powerful enough that you won’t take too long. Not the exact pump I have, but similar.

 

[Gareth elliott]

So if doing a manual water change. I empty from the tank. But refil to the sump. I match my dc pump to the flow rate of my siphon hose. This way i also stop filling when i reach my high water sensor in my sump.

i also like the ext pumps from cobalt. what i use to move water from my ro/di reservoir to either my mixing container or a 5 gallon jug to fill my ato.

 

[mike550]

I have a small pump that sits on the end of a PVC pipe that I suspend in the main tank and pump water out and into a drain. I then use the same contraption (more or less) and put the pump in fresh saltwater and refill the tank.

To keep the same volume, I turn off the return pump before I start, and refill until I first start to hear the water flow into the sump. Turn the pump back on and then “true up” the volume by matching a line placed in my sump.

 

[cylon032]

I use a vaccum gravel cleaner to both take water out and refill from a 5 gallon bucket

 

[phatduckk]

I use a little lifeguard pump that fits into those standard 5 gallon jugs. The head pressure sucks so I’m looking for a faster way.

it’s super convenient just not efficient. Once I get my garage in order I’m gonna look into doing AWC.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi, you can get a cheapo pump off Amazon and some hose for less than 40$. Depends on your size get a small Rio pump and vinyl hose, drop pump in bucket and hose in tank.

 

[Dolelo96]

Use a python to drain it. I made this (loc line and vinyl tube) and attach it to a cheap pump I bought.

I have a brute container on wheels that I keep my saltwater in, so I just wheel it’s up to the tank

 

[S.Pepper]

I guess it depends on how much you need to fill. For me doing a 10% wc involves only a 5 gallon bucket of water. I mix it in there and then transfer by using a 2.5 quart container until the bucket is down to 1/3 of its volume. Then I dump the rest in from the bucket. As far as removing water, i just use a siphon hose into a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

I mix salt in a 5 gallon bucket then use a red solo cup to put water in the tank until it’s not as full then pour the rest in slowly.

 

[Paulie069]

So if doing a manual water change. I empty from the tank. But refil to the sump. I match my dc pump to the flow rate of my siphon hose. This way i also stop filling when i reach my high water sensor in my sump.

i also like the ext pumps from cobalt. what i use to move water from my ro/di reservoir to either my mixing container or a 5 gallon jug to fill my ato.

Sounds like ur a mad scientist with all u got going on. Plus I’m so new to this I haven’t even fully figured out what to do with deco but I know I’m going 95 percent fake,, only real stuff is crushed coral in the center and some live rock. Have 16 buckets of water ready to roll by tomorrow night just figuring out how to do it without screwing up