How to do a water change

[ashley]

Hello I recently upgraded my tank and I now have a sump...i don't k ow how to do water changes with a sump...do I turn off my power heads and return pump? Do I remove the water from the sump or DT?

 

[jsker]

Hello I recently upgraded my tank and I now have a sump...i don't k ow how to do water changes with a sump...do I turn off my power heads and return pump? Do I remove the water from the sump or DT?

I turn off the powerheads/pumps/skimmer and return pumps. I have an controller and also shut down the heater and a reactor. I remove my water for the DT most of the time and sometimes from the sump when I am clean the sump. For starters start with the DT until you get used to things. I also marked the tank to know how much to take out when I vacuum the DT.

 

[don_chuwish]

I turn off the powerheads/pumps/skimmer and return pumps. I have an controller and also shut down the heater and a reactor. I remove my water for the DT most of the time and sometimes from the sump when I am clean the sump. For starters start with the DT until you get used to things. I also marked the tank to know how much to take out when I vacuum the DT.

+1

 

[ashley]

I turn off the powerheads/pumps/skimmer and return pumps. I have an controller and also shut down the heater and a reactor. I remove my water for the DT most of the time and sometimes from the sump when I am clean the sump. For starters start with the DT until you get used to things. I also marked the tank to know how much to take out when I vacuum the DT.

Ok u will do that...so what about the sump will it auto full up when I do that because of gravity from the overflow

 

[jsker]

Ok u will do that...so what about the sump will it auto full up when I do that because of gravity from the overflow

Fill up in the DT also and it will even out in the sump.

 

[ashley]

Fill up in the DT also and it will even out in the sump.

Cuz I briefly trying doing a water change and when I was vacuuming the DT the sump filled up fast and looked like it was getting really high to almost over flow out the sump...scary...so i stopped.

 

[805reef]

Cuz I briefly trying doing a water change and when I was vacuuming the DT the sump filled up fast and looked like it was getting really high to almost over flow out the sump...scary...so i stopped.

You need to make sure the sump can handle the amount of water that comes from the DT if the power goes out.

 

[alanbetiger]

Or if your sump can't handle that amount of water your returns should have a small hole in the pipe to break the suction or back flow valve so they don't keep syphoning down into the sump when the pumps are off. You need to check that out anyways encase of a power outage.

 

[ashley]

Or if your sump can't handle that amount of water your returns should have a small hole in the pipe to break the suction or back flow valve so they don't keep syphoning down into the sump when the pumps are off. You need to check that out anyways encase of a power outage.

Ok so how do I make sure? Where does the hole go any pictures?

 

[805reef]

I have several holes in my return right under the water line.

 

[ashley]

I have several holes in my return right under the water line.

Do you have a picture so I can see?

 

[alanbetiger]

This is just a random picture off the internet. So you want a hole somewhere on the down pipe in the tank that is below the normal water line. Water will come out of it when your pumps are on so factor that in. Then when you turn off the pump the water level goes below the hole breaking the siphon

 

[alanbetiger]

Like this. The actual position just needs to be below your water line

 

[ashley]

Like this. The actual position just needs to be below your water line

Ok so on the return pump? Or the durso?

 

[alanbetiger]

The return pipe. The whole pipe will be filled with water when your pump is on. When your pump is off all the water flows down into the sump back through the pump. That will continue until your display water level drops below the hole. Then it'll suck airbreaking the siphon. The size of hole varies depending on your pipe diameter. If it's too small you'll hear the air get sucked in but water will continue to flow down. Then make the hole bigger.
Your problem is you need to make the hole below the water level so you need to drain water out to do that. So I suggest (since I don't know your water volume) drain water out of the display until your pump almost runs dry. Turn off pump and continue draining water. Once your sump is close to being full turn the pump back off while still draining water and keep repeating the process until the sump doesn't fill any more which will be when the water level drops below your return exit. Then drill the hole. Fill up the tank. Turn off the pumps and see if you need a higher or bigger hole by repeating the whole process again

 

[Rybren]

You need to be 100% certain that the sump can handle ALL of the drainage in the event that the return pump goes off.

AND

You need to do it now! (or risk a flood)

Drain a fair bit of water from the sump. (as much as possible)
Turn the return pump off and let all of the pipes drain.
You can now add water to the sump to a height that you feel comfortable with; I have mine set so with drainage, the water level is 2" below the top of the sump.

You may not have to drill the return line, depending on how deep they go.

Good luck

 

[Cary Meredith]

What I do, I turn off all pumps, skimmer and power heads, then I remove about 25 gallons of water from sump. Which is not 100%. I then pump the water from the mixing tub back into the sump and then turn everything back on.

 

[taintstick]

Just pull your Utube, unplug the return pump, pull the return outlet up so it sucks air through, enough to stop the reverse siphon process.
Or what I do, I don't turn anything off, I fill my sump up completely, let the water cycle, then pull my overflows outlet to the side to pour into a bucket until my water level is just above the return pump. Fill back up and repeat.
Wait, are you using a U tube? Haha

 

[ashley]

Ok so here's what mine looks like

 

[alanbetiger]

If you want you can just bend up your return after you unplug it. Point it up towards the ceiling. And then just bend it back before turning it on.