Water Changing Pump
- Thread starter BullSnapper
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I use a maxijet 900 power head with a clear vinyl tube on one end. I have 2 one for salt mixing and one for pumping water into my tank. I feel like I just answered this question on another forum 
pgr11
Active Member
When I do wc I shut off the return let everything settle in the sump the place the maxi in the sump and let it drain the sump. Then fill the sump back with new water turn on the heater and let it warm up th dt temp then turn the return back on
mcarroll
10K Club member
You may be ahead of yourself with that list of pumps - at the very least I would suggest considering a pump to which you can hook up a 3/4" hose vs being limited to 1/2" only. With most utility pumps you have all the fittings to choose 3/4" or 1/2".
What size tank and how are you setting up your water changes to work?
You may not totally be able to figure it all out in advance, but you should be planning to make 20% water changes A) possible and B) as simple, quick and easy as you can. This may or may not include buckets, siphon hoses, pumps and some other gear! (Don't forget to think outside the box.)
For one example, my tank is not near a drain and I am really not that big a fan of carrying 40+ lbs buckets around that are full of saltwater. (Duh...right?) They're heavy (as noted) and it's inevitable that water will be spilled or sloshed during carrying...over time it will be enough to matter even if there's never an "accident". And as you mention, I would also agree that buckets are a really lame way to put the water back into the tank. To boot, my saltwater mixing is done near the water source and drain which are all about 30-40 feet away.
After schlepping buckets for a while (being cheap), I bought a 50' vinyl hose (whole box of Lee's 3/4" from the LFS) and a couple of ~250gph pumps - one for draining and one for filling. So to perform a water change, the only real work for me involved is unrolling the hose and re-rolling it - and I'm planning to eliminate that work (eventually) by putting some permanent plumbing in. Then all I'm doing is setting up the pumps and putting them away when done.
Also, water accidents or drips at the tank during draining or filling are 100% eliminated. FWIW I do still drain the water into 5 gallon buckets (lots of small reasons I do this - marking your drain level on the tank and draining directly to sewer would also be OK), so I do still have some lifting to do, but there's no walking around and it's a utility area.For a different example, I know someone who has automated water changes down to the flip of a switch and their water source and drain are in the basement one floor down from their tank. This dictates a much different selection of equipment of course.
Last example, if your 20% water changes will be less than 5 gallons, then it's hardly worth investing in more than a siphon hose and bucket. ;-)
So anyway, let us know about your setup and what you're planning!
Good luck!
-Matt
BullSnapper
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thanks, thats actually a good idea, that way i can save on an extra heater !!
so if my DT is 40 gallon, my sump is a 20 long but probably iwll hold only what, 12 gallons? thats 52 total, so I should change about 10 gallons every 2 weeks?
what do you guys think about the Maxi-Jet 400? is that too weak?
so if my DT is 40 gallon, my sump is a 20 long but probably iwll hold only what, 12 gallons? thats 52 total, so I should change about 10 gallons every 2 weeks?
what do you guys think about the Maxi-Jet 400? is that too weak?
