Semi-Automatic Waterchange

ruppertb · May 18, 2012

So I plumbed in a pump to my saltwater mixing bin, it recirculates water from bottom and dumps it on top. I then T's off with a ball valve and went to my sump. I open the ball valve and the new saltwater goes in, no more lifting buckets for this tank anymore.

To remove water I have a bulkhead on the side of one of my sumps and it is connected to a length of pvc and a hose for manual removal. I T'd off this and added a pump and pvc tubing to a drain on the floor. Now this tank is right at ceiling level in my basement and the fdrain is on the floor. The pvc goes up and over across the basement to the drain.

I assumed this would happen and I teseted it out just to see and of course a syphon is created and it just keeps draining.

Now I know I could add a ball valve and turn it every time but I wanted to see if there was a better way. A check valve wont work (i dont think) because the water is draining the right direction, but when the pump is turned off it keeps draining.

The portion of the sump is designed to remove 16 gallons, as that is where the bulkhead sits, so if I were to actually pump out all 16 gallons the pump would suck up some air and probably!!! break the syphon, but I dont like Probably.

Any ideas would be welcomed, Brice

strange33w · May 18, 2012

Nice anytime you can make things like water change easier makes the whole hobby more enjoyable

ruppertb · May 18, 2012

Ya I just need to figure out how to keep it from draining the new water I add in and then draining my whole system. What would be the best solution for the syphon issue?

revsgirl · May 19, 2012

:bump:

revhtree · May 19, 2012

I am not real sure what you are asking so I will attempt to answer.

I would drain the tank of 16g and just stand there with it. 15g probably takes only a few minutes. Then I would open the valve and fill it back up with the fresh saltwater. I got to tell you though that siphon would scare me. The way I get busy and forget while multitasking would cause me some grief! LOL!

Do you have a picture of what you are talking about changing?

ruppertb · May 21, 2012

I tested again today and the syphon breaks when the tank drains all the way. I added a ball valve for added security. I will start a thread with all my pics when i get them on the comp.