I use a 35' python. They don't make em 35', I added 10 ft of hose to a 25 footer so I can reach my bathtub.


To drain it I start a siphon in the python and let it drain into the tub, Ifind it to be quicker and wastes less water. As it's draining I'll do some vacuuming of substrate. When its close to 50% empty, I connect it to the python valve attached to my bathroom faucet and continue syphoning with water pressure from the tap, adjusting the hot/cold valves to the tank temp, I just go by feel, no need for a thermometer. Once the tap temp is right, I push up the diverter on the python vave to start filling the tank. Then I go to the tank and add water conditioner, and my ferts into the water current. Then I wait till its full, turn off the tap, drain the python and put it away. It takes about a half hour to do the 75gal.

FYI, your hand can measure temp difference of about 1-2degrees F.
Take tank feel and then match to tap water.

Regards,
Tom Barr

I see many folks flush the tank water down the drain. Since it has been dosed with our stuff would it be good to dump it into the wifes garden?

Absolutely ... my wife even waters houseplants with it by simply dipping a pitcher into the tank (took me the longest time to figure out why this one tank had such a high evaporation rate) ...

Greg

My 90 gallon is drained to the flower beds using the hose setup in the pic I posted. My 70 gallon is hard plumbed so that the drain exits at the base of a young oak tree I planted some years ago. That particular tree is several times bigger than other trees planted at the same time that started out the same size.

TW

Tom Bar:

Your water changing system sounds very convenient. I like the fact that you have hard lined your drain and supply into the tank. Maybe you can elaborate on how you went about doing this? I'm very interested.



I use a Python a la Lowe's It's actually an 60'
garden hose that goes from the 120 gallon and 10 gallon in the bedrooms to the utility sink in the laundry room. I use a valve on the tank end so that I can control flow and turn siphon on/off. I have a short hose with a screen that attaches to this which goes into the tank, but I also have a gravel vac with a female end on it that attaches to the hose as well. I store the hose full of water so that all I have to do is flip the switch and off it goes. I go from tank to tank taking out 50% water. I used to drain the water into the sink, but now I let it water (and fertilize ) the garden in front.

To fill I attach the hose to the utility sink in the laundry room. It has a Y on it with valves on each end. One end goes out to the sink and the other to the hose. Once the water is the right temp I flip the valves on the Y and divert it to the tank.

I was also having problems with stressing the fish when I put the water directly in the tank. As it turned out the Ph of the tap water just out of the tap is close to PH8. I assume this has to do with it being oxygenated so now I put the water into a bucket and then use a power head to pump the water into the filter intake of the tank which goes to the tank. This seems to allow some of the gasses to disperse and drive the PH down somewhat so that when it hits the tank it's closer to what it should be.

LOL Greg My wife does that too Her plants look great

I use a Python with a Rio 10HF pump attached to the end. I drop the pump in the tank and plug it in. This speeds up the draining considerably and saves gallons of water. When the tank reaches the desired level I pull the plug and turn on the faucet. The water goes out through the pump which acts as a diffuser so the water doesn't create a big disturbance in the substrate.

-Russ

I have a drain screened bulk head on the bottom of the tank, all I do is turn a valve to drain it.

I have a fill pipe coming in the top(you could add it to the sump but I prefer the tank) and it has a valve as well.

A good sized power head can pump or drain in a similar fashion.
By simply turning the power head off (use an extension with a switch built in) you can can change multiple tanks rapidly once the hose is in the drain. To fill, you use a valve to stop water flow near the end where the tank is so you can quickly change from tank to tank.

All you guys need to do is see a LFS.......they as well as breeders have a dozen or so ways to make water changes easy.


Regards,
Tom Barr

i have a 28 gal plastic garbage can in furnace room that i fill and heat with aquarium heater,and air pump to agetate water. adding seachem PRIME,i allways do a day before a water change. the pump is a silent giant from surplus store that has a 15 foot pressure hight. it sets on floor,and water is plumbed into it along with switch upstairs to operate. all my tanks have water outlet tubes from eheim,suction cupped to glass. have shutoff valve inline or at end of tubbing,depending on whether it drains into bucket,floor drain or out side. allways have water for for my changes. of course a larger storage tank is needed if a large tank is to be serviced. regards,cornhusker