Waterchange from main drain

[Peter Dietz]

I was wondering if it's possible to drain your tank from the same line as the main drain without having to pump your sump water into the display to cause it to overflow to the main overflow. Basically gravity drain your tank to a T in your main drain line and have it flow into a bucket. Tips, help, videos and pictures would be greatly appreciated

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Evening

I had a bit of trouble following you. Are you saying you want to use the normal overflow plumbing and T it off so you can open a valve and have the water diverted from the sump into the bucket?

 

[Peter Dietz]

Evening

I had a bit of trouble following you. Are you saying you want to use the normal overflow plumbing and T it off so you can open a valve and have the water diverted from the sump into the bucket?

From the main display preferably. I know it's possible to t it off the return and pump the sump out but in that situation you would only pump out your return chamber

 

[Goodair]

You wouldn't be able to drain much water from your main drain. Alot of the water that goes back into your sump is from the siphoning on your return line.

 

[Goodair]

After you turn off your pump, water will siphonback to the sump, until your return nozzles are exposed to air. Then there will be no water going passed your overflow weir, thus no water going down your main drain.
If your weir was very low, then you can remove water with a T in the overflow, but you will just end up flooding your floors if something went wrong.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Although it would work, you’re best off with conventional water change , and slightly sifting gravel bed and some detrious