Methods of water change question

[ericmcj31]

How do you all fill your tanks back up after a water change?? Here's what I've been doing-with somewhat a success until last week. I would empty the desired water out-then I'd already have some salt water mixed-outside of the house; I'd get my wife to plug in a submersible pump that had a water hose hooked up to it--and I'd pump it into the tanks until my tanks were full. That worked fine-but now with the newborn, I'm kinda looking for alternative means of water transport. I still like the pumping idea, just need to cut her help out--has anyone tried those appliance remote controls?? I thought about getting one of those-that way I could hit the remote and turn water on/off; anybody had any dealings with anything like this?? How do you fill your tanks back up??? I used to use 5 gallon buckets and it was just too back-breaking and time consuming-not to mention a major PITA! thanks

 

[sureone]

<span style="font-size: 12px;">Eric, first off congrats on the new born. I have a 14 gal. So water changes are not a problem. I marked a 5 gal. Bucket. I drain the water out to the mark and then pour in the new, one gal. At a time.
I have used the remotes on our Christmas lights and they work very well. I got mine from Radio Shack.
</span>

 

[gwhiz]

I use X-10 remotes for a lot of things, but not for water changes. I use a submersible quiet one pump to pump water out of the sump to drain and then to pump new saltwater in from a 32 gal brute trash can. If I need to change more, or vaccum the sand, just pump replacement water from from the brute to the display.

I'm going to be plumbing in a new SW holding tank soon, but right now there's a big trash can in the middle of the room when I'm changing water!

 

[roland jacques]

Just put a on off valve on the end of the fill hose. plug in the pump...

i do have a remote on my water mix tank, but i dont really use the remote that much. the valve is simpler

 

[ericmcj31]

yeah--sounds like I'll do one of the two; I'll think about that valve--I just hope it wouldn't make my hose burst-I don't guess it would as long as I didn't leave it on for long time.

 

[tnyga]

empty into 5 gallon buckets, discard

MJ1200 from tub back to tank

no brainer

 

[ckwatson]

It would be an extra line running though the house but run the pump off an extension cord plugged in to a power strip by the tank. when you are ready to pump flip in on with you foot and then when you are done flip it off again.

 

[krb]

ckwatson;159019 wrote: It would be an extra line running though the house but run the pump off an extension cord plugged in to a power strip by the tank. when you are ready to pump flip in on with you foot and then when you are done flip it off again.

that's a good idea, you could tape the extension cord to the hose as well

 

[oz]

I use the extension cord method and 2 rolling 44 gallon clean trash bins. syphon water from the tank at the same time I Mag3 pump water into the 1st chamber in my sump. 40G water change in <15 minutes. I then use the same Mag 3 to pump the water outside.

 

[roland jacques]

You could leave it on for hours it would not matter.

Python hoses are preety good up to 30-35 PSI, I use a big pump to pump tank fill water it will only put out about 20-25 PSI. (most smaller pumps rarely put out 10 psi) I do this about once or twice a day 200 days a year for many years never had a bust. The only reason i have the remote is because my water tank is in my truck and i want to run down the battery when it running off the inverter.