Water Change Method: What's Yours?

[ihavecrabs]

I have two brute 20g cans, one for waste water and one for fresh salt water. I have two 50ml/min peristaltic pumps which run 2 minutes every hour 24 hours a day. Each time power turns on for my ATO pumps (5 min every half hour to ensure if they stick on, they don't overfill) a pump in the fresh salt water keeps everything mixed.

I effectively do a 4.5 gallon waterchange each week. I top off the fresh salt water and empty the waste water once a week also. Could go longer but I don't want to keep more than a week's worth of fresh saltwater mixed and waiting.

 

[FishLover01]

I have 3 freshwater tanks and one saltwater tank. I vacuum all the tanks weekly. I use the typical vacuum found at the LFS. Also, I have a 50 ft python hose that I connect to my bathroom sink. I only use the python to refill the freshwater tanks. I premix salt for my saltwater tank. I do about 20% of water volume weekly for freshwater and about 10% for saltwater. Sometimes, my nitrate readings dictate to me that I need to do more. It takes me about 3 hours.

 

[mcarroll]

Make the saltwater the night before; one heater and pump in each can. I have a Fluval FX6 canister filter on the tank. I use that and flexible vinyl hose to pump water out of the tank and down the commode. Then I use a pump to pump water in from the trash cans (using different flexible vinyl hose). I use unions to separate the hose for easy storage. It's a fairly quick process.

I'm always trying to improve my routines, so hope you might use this 2¢ worth of ideas in that spirit.

Heating saltwater for any extended time tends to have a bad effect on it. Pumping for circulation also has this effect. Basically you want to be able to mix it up and use it right there on the spot. (And you can.)

I can imagine some reasons it might not work out, but have you considered dragging the empty Brutes in the house and then pumping RODI into them?

Heating the water to an acceptable temperature (around 65ºF+) while vigorously circulating the water shouldn't take all that long if you have good sized heaters. Just like on the stove, I'd keep a lid on the containers during heating to male it go as quickly as possible. Then take the heaters offline and continue...

For example...

When I do a water change, I mix like this – same for 5 gallons as for 55 – and use the water immediately (as shown):
You can see in my thread how many times I did this: A Water Change A Day... (Link)

And BTW, I just got my 55 gallon olive barrels "recently" and haven't actually timed mixing with a paddle in them yet (I've only done a full 55 gallons once)....but it's actually not too much longer than five gallons.

Unless you take some effort to mount them for maximum effect in your mixing barrels, pumps are actually very mediocre mixers. I tested lots of pumps in lots of configurations, and here's the 1000gph propeller pump that worked best out of that field of tests:

No better than the mixing paddle in the first video and 100% more bother to use. The paddle is very simple and quick to use and put away. No unwinding or hooking up or mounting....pure simple.

Another option is to insulate your container with some construction foam and heat the RODI water to a decent minimum like 60ºF continuously. That way it's always ready for use with minimal-to-no heating required.

 

[scardall]

 

[Debramb]

I have a tub that's marked to reflect my 10% water. I mix it up over night and use a Mag 5 to pump back into tank. I usually blow off my LR and corals and siphon out to get more of the junk out of my tank. I use AquaForest Reef Salt and Bio S with some Prime for good measure.

Do you "blow off" LR and corals with
aBaster? Powerhead? I try to wave my former big kitchen nylon spoon to "dust" when hubby's siphoning top of sand bed.

 

[Greg Williams]

I use the "Bucket Head" wet/dry vac to take water and gunk out of my sump (about 8 gallons. Then I use a turkey baster to blow of my rock and then a Python to vacuum the sand in the display (about 12 gals.).
My saltwater is mixed in a 35 gal vertical tank from Tractor Supply using a mag 9.5.
I still carry buckets in and dump them.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Nice discussion.

I plan on a fully automated (as much as possible) WC system. Now I just have to figure it all out!

 

[ihavecrabs]

Nice discussion.

I plan on a fully automated (as much as possible) WC system. Now I just have to figure it all out!

After I went to an AWC system, I love it. A couple of BRS 50ml/min dosers calibrated and a few brute cans and you are good to go assuming you have a controller!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

After I went to an AWC system, I love it. A couple of BRS 50ml/min dosers calibrated and a few brute cans and you are good to go assuming you have a controller!

I am thinking of going with the Neptune DOS system.

 

[Salty1962]

Do you "blow off" LR and corals with
aBaster? Powerhead? I try to wave my former big kitchen nylon spoon to "dust" when hubby's siphoning top of sand bed.

Turkey Baster.

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Hey guys,
I'm new, but thought I'd share my set up.

I have two 32 gallon Brute trash cans. One is hooked up to my RODI system, and always stays full. I run a TZune ATO connected to one of the SpectraPure LM3 pumps. It brings fresh RODI water up from that tank in the basment.

The RODI Brute is connected via some PVC to another 32 gallon brute. I am able to transfer via an Ehiem 1260 pump, and some valves between the two cans. Once the transfer is complete I can close off the valves and the 1260 then circulates the water in my now "salt water vat". Once a month I have to go down stairs, and mix in the salt.

I use an APEX DOS pump to do a 1 gallon a day water change. All of this is connected to my tank via 1/4" RODI lines.

When I get home I'll add some photos of the setup.

Aero

 

[cil311]

I use my canister filter. As i clean out the media, i dump the water from the canister and replace it with my new water. Easy, perfect volume match swap.

 

[rhygar666]

every week 60 litres (total volume about 500l) in and 60 litres out, one eheim pump is all i need takes about 20-30 mins total
every 3 weeks or so i also clean the sand and overflow from scrap