An automated system has been of interest to me, but in my apartment, I don't have too many options and a 50gal drum would be unsightly. I never realized it but I have the option to do what Greg is doing. I have two canisters as part of my Ocean Clear system. These are already engineered to be drained with a hose as both have a drain valve with a hose thread fitting. I never thought about closing the exit flow from the first filter and turning the pump on, that would make sense. I still like to use a buck to siphon some debris from the bottom ot the tank but I just don't let the 10gal bucket fill too high so it becomes too burdensome. Refilling with the same hose, I continue to siphon, prune, clean the inner panes so that I'm done by the time the tank has filled.

I am contemplating my next big BIG tank, either in my apartment or house, within the next year or so. If I had my own place....the things I could create!

So where exactly is it drilled, bottom or nearer the top?