The closed loop system on the back of my tank has 2 extra pipes and a bunch of gate valves that function as an extra inlet and outlet (in addition to the inlet and outlets to/from the display that are the primary purpose for the closed loop system). The idea behind it is you use the closed loop to suck water from 1 30G garbage can into the tank and put an empty 30G garbage can on the outlet side to make water changes really easy.
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Big water changes: let's talk easy or messy
- Thread starter Moe_K
- Start date
my process was similiar to your previous one prior to adding the basement sump. although far removed from optimal, it seems to again be similiar to your current process.
not having a drilled tank(125) limits the amount of water i can drain into the 55 basement sump. As a result, for simplicity sake, i attempt to do more frequent smaller water changes: 10-15g.
- mix/aerate/heat the new water in the 32g container
- turn off sump return pump
- attach extension pipe to T'd off fuge input-protrude out side window- fully open valve.
- turn on return pump and drain sump till output area is empty-some water goes back up into tank..but not much.
- attach hose to pump in new water container turn on. the hose remains in top of sump at all times, so i do not need to move it around at all..just reconnect it to mixing pump in container.
this should take about 10m.
for larger water changes, i just siphon water right out the window next to tank.
water changes
unfortunetely i live on the third floor of an apartment and although i have a 20 gallon sump under my tank, my ro/di system and my fresh/salt make-ups are in the basement. this requires lugging a couple of 5 gallon buckets up too many stairs, but it could be worse. i usually just ad a maxi-jet to a hose in the sump and drain water right out of the window (pretty funny and crude but it works for me) then i simply replenish the water into the sump. this method takes all of 10 minutes tops. after the holidays i'm planning on trying to plumb some other type of setup or if the misses lets me reinstall the makeup water upstairs.
unfortunetely i live on the third floor of an apartment and although i have a 20 gallon sump under my tank, my ro/di system and my fresh/salt make-ups are in the basement. this requires lugging a couple of 5 gallon buckets up too many stairs, but it could be worse. i usually just ad a maxi-jet to a hose in the sump and drain water right out of the window (pretty funny and crude but it works for me) then i simply replenish the water into the sump. this method takes all of 10 minutes tops. after the holidays i'm planning on trying to plumb some other type of setup or if the misses lets me reinstall the makeup water upstairs.
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