lately i've been doing water changes and fell like there is a better/easier way to do them. basically i turn off my pump use my old gravel cleaner as a siphon to take water out then just pour the water straight into the overflow box and quickly turn back on the pump before my sump overflows. also when i pour, water slowly drips onto the floor making a mess for me to clean up. what is the best way to do water changes??? is it something i need to buy??? thank you
Water Changes
- Thread starter laeru
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Pour it in your tank.
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I use a big 45 gallon trash can with the new water in it. Conect a pump(in the trash can) to the hose and let the pump push the water back in the tank. No mess.
I turn my return pump off and skimmer. Bring in a 45 gallon can, I use a pump to drain sections of my sump but leave enough water to keep my pumps working to keep driving my GFO , Carbon, Pellet reactor.
I drain this with the pump into the toilet. I use the same pump and hose to fill 5 gallon containers of made saltwater and carry them into the house and refill my sump.
Takes about 30 minutes and I can change about 20 gallons on my 90 gallon including sump.
I drain this with the pump into the toilet. I use the same pump and hose to fill 5 gallon containers of made saltwater and carry them into the house and refill my sump.
Takes about 30 minutes and I can change about 20 gallons on my 90 gallon including sump.
What do you mix water with? You can use any pump. smaller slower. But any will work, even a maxijet.... I Mag 7 water out the window to my rock walk way, GREAT weed killer. Then Brut with new water, same pump back in.. Then start over again with Mag as mixing pump.
I have two 13gal. Garbage cans. One I fill with RO/DI water then mix in my salt. I have a mixing pump in that container. It also has a hose off one side with a valve. The hose is T'd so that it bypasses water while I have the valve in the closed position and the pump on. (I leave the hose off the pump while mixing)
Then I have the other can marked to where the float shuts the water off in the mixing can. This ensures I replace exactly what I take out. No guess work, no worries about Salinity.
I have a pump that stays in my sump. I hook a hose to that, and turn that switch on pumping water into the waste can. Once it's at the marked spot on the can. I turn that pump off.
I then turn the pump on the fresh Mix, pumping that new water back into the sump. Turn my main pump back on.
All finished, no spills, takes me about 15mins to do a 10gal water change.
I dump the waste water in areas where I have Pine Straw to keep weeds at bay. I then rinse both cans, wipe them off, and put them back in their places. The waste can sets in the garage, the mix can goes back in the laundry room and gets hooked back up to the water supply hose.
Works for me!
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Then I have the other can marked to where the float shuts the water off in the mixing can. This ensures I replace exactly what I take out. No guess work, no worries about Salinity.
I have a pump that stays in my sump. I hook a hose to that, and turn that switch on pumping water into the waste can. Once it's at the marked spot on the can. I turn that pump off.
I then turn the pump on the fresh Mix, pumping that new water back into the sump. Turn my main pump back on.
All finished, no spills, takes me about 15mins to do a 10gal water change.
I dump the waste water in areas where I have Pine Straw to keep weeds at bay. I then rinse both cans, wipe them off, and put them back in their places. The waste can sets in the garage, the mix can goes back in the laundry room and gets hooked back up to the water supply hose.
Works for me!
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I see people get water from LFS. I used to buy my RO/DI water from Kroger, bring it home and mix. Now I make my own water. Savings in Gas and buying water has long paid for the purchase of my own RO/DI unit. I can make water anytime I want, I have fresh RO drinking water, waste water goes into Washer for washing clothes, and also used for watering plants.
I can't say how many times I have heard someone on here alone needing an emergency water change, no LFS open, then having to use Tap Water or find someone willing to give then water from their RO/DI unit.
To me it is a must have, unless maybe you have a 5 gal tank.
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I can't say how many times I have heard someone on here alone needing an emergency water change, no LFS open, then having to use Tap Water or find someone willing to give then water from their RO/DI unit.
To me it is a must have, unless maybe you have a 5 gal tank.
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Good advice here. 
My RO/DI is connected to the wash machine connection with a Y hose adaptor. Piece of cake. I run the waste down the drain for the washer.
As for salt there are standard salts and reef salts. If you don't have a ton of coral save a few bucks and go with standard like Instant Ocean. If you have a lot of coral use a reef salt like Reef Crystals, Salinity and Red Sea Coral Pro.
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My RO/DI is connected to the wash machine connection with a Y hose adaptor. Piece of cake. I run the waste down the drain for the washer.
As for salt there are standard salts and reef salts. If you don't have a ton of coral save a few bucks and go with standard like Instant Ocean. If you have a lot of coral use a reef salt like Reef Crystals, Salinity and Red Sea Coral Pro.
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Ro Di units always pop very often for sale in the drygoods forum, keep checking for one and as another option some stores carry them new or used ones depends on how much you want to expend Well just try to do this if you want to buy a unit
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i put my rodi water in a 5g bucket and fill it up then i put in 2 cups of salt... check it.. mix it a few hours and go for it haha
i'm VERY scientific in ALL my approaches
then i put in 2 cups of salt... check it.. mix it a few hours and go for it hahai'm VERY scientific in ALL my approaches
SnowManSnow;880114 wrote: i put my rodi water in a 5g bucket and fill it up
i'm VERY scientific in ALL my approaches
I just eyeball it........i'm within .002 most the time.
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SnowManSnow;880114 wrote: i put my rodi water in a 5g bucket and fill it up
i'm VERY scientific in ALL my approaches
What size tank is that for and how often do you change 5 gallons?
