For my 90, I made a DIY siphon hose. On the tank end there's an upside down 'U' made of PVC with an integral valve and a threaded fitting at the end of the 'U' on the tank side. I can screw in a fitting to attach a vacuum hose, and then replace that with a 'T' to disperse the water while filling.

The other end of the hose also has a valve (important) and fittings that attach to a water supply under a nearby bathroom sink. After draining the tank and refilling it, close both valves on the hose so it's full of water when you store it. That way it's ready to self-start the siphon when you do the next drain cycle.

TW

Tom, really like this DIY setup of yours. The problem I have is the kitchen sink
water line has a T in it already for the icemaker in the fridge And that would
be the best spot in the house where the tanks are....guess I could hook it
directly to the kitchen faucet? Also, what do you do for dechloriminating/
dechlorinating the water?

Bill

Hey Bill,

Take a look at this post:

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ead.php?t=5233

You could always just add another tee to the one that's there, sort of a manifold thing. I don't change more than 20% at a time, so I don't bother with dechlorinating or worry about the temperature. On the odd occasion where I do remove too much water, I just squirt some dechlorinator in while it's refilling.

TW

Thanks, Tom, that there them was the pics I was looking at BTW, you
don't have to say it out loud here in public, but are you one of them PPS guys? I'll be looking into adding another tee. The water for the icemaker
comes on intermittently, anyway, so shouldn't be much of a problem, hopefully.

Bill

Heh,

Nope, I came up with my own overly-complicated yet strangely logical sounding method. Change water, test NO3 and PO4, dose accordingly. WAG the K+ and Fe based on experience and how the plants look.

TW

Yep, the WAG of K+ and Fe is an important part that can't be readily handed
down (how do you hand down experience, DNA injections? Some sort of cell memory thing? ) But, like Liz Taylor once said: "there's no deodorant like success" and the pics I've seen of your tanks certainly look successful!

Bill