Water Change Question

[bmackk]

Just getting started with my 40 gallon AIO. I have done multiple water changes so far, both 10% and 20% and I am having a hard time doing it using 5 gallon buckets. I obviously have a siphon to get the “dirty” water out but have been using a cup to transfer the new water into the tank. Does anyone have a better method to do these changes?

 

[leninja]

Use your ato if you have one

 

[MNFish]

Transfer it into the tank from what?
A 5 gallon bucket, or a 32 gallon can or .....?

 

[dstockwell]

I use a small pump to drain with and fill with. I use 5 gallon buckets and circulate salt with the same pump.

 

[bmackk]

Transfer it into the tank from what?
A 5 gallon bucket, or a 32 gallon can or .....?

Sorry, should have been more clear. As of right now I am mixing up water in either one or two 5 gallon buckets and the trying to transfer into tank.

 

[bmackk]

I use a small pump to drain with and fill with. I use 5 gallon buckets and circulate salt with the same pump.

Like a small battery pump or something?

 

[Twocorns]

Like a small battery pump or something?

I think he means something like a sicce syncra 1.5. Just attach a hose to the sicce pump via the hose barb, put pump in 5 gallon bucket, other end of hose in air tank and turn on the pump.

 

[MNFish]

Just a small return pump will get most of it just make sure it has enough Head Height to get it into the aquarium from the floor.

 

[MNFish]

I have also used one of these in the past, it is only a .5 gallon but they are handy to have for other reasons as well and once the bucket is not so full then I dump it manually

Heavy Duty Specimen Container - Large

Lee's Specimen Container has a wide variety of uses and we use them all the time. The integrated hanger lets the container hang on the rim of your tank (up to 1" thick), and can be placed to hang either outside or inside the aquarium. Lee's Specimen Container makes a great acclimation device...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[bmackk]

I have also used one of these in the past, it is only a .5 gallon but they are handy to have for other reasons as well and once the bucket is not so full then I dump it manually

Heavy Duty Specimen Container - Large

Lee's Specimen Container has a wide variety of uses and we use them all the time. The integrated hanger lets the container hang on the rim of your tank (up to 1" thick), and can be placed to hang either outside or inside the aquarium. Lee's Specimen Container makes a great acclimation device...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

That’s what I’ve been doing just using the largest cup I have in the house . Looks like I’ll just have to get a small return pump like y’all suggested. Thank you!

 

[MNFish]

That’s what I’ve been doing just using the largest cup I have in the house . Looks like I’ll just have to get a small return pump like y’all suggested. Thank you!

Just make sure the small return pump that has enough head height (how high it can pump water) I made the mistake of getting a small one before to find it could only pump water 2 feet high which turned out to be useless for me.

 

[CoralB]

datockwell ,twocorns , and MNFish said it all

 

[Twocorns]

That’s what I’ve been doing just using the largest cup I have in the house . Looks like I’ll just have to get a small return pump like y’all suggested. Thank you!

If I were you I'd get a return pump that also fits in your AIO. So if the AIO pump one day fails, BAM, you already have a back up to take its place. Many folk like sicce syncras for their AIOs

 

[snorklr]

i use a penguin 660 power head...the clear tubing from my gravel vac fits on the output tube

 

[trainbob]

I do more frequent water changes that are smaller. One gallon at a time usually every other day.

 

[ptrick21186]

Can you just pour the bucket into the tank?