Simplifying Water Changes

[crb]

I am looking for ideas on simplifying/semi-automating water changes (until I can justify adding something like what was discussed recently here)

The closest solution I have found is described in Anthony Calfo's book and discussed here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=706257 (this one will not work for me, b/c I do not have a drain below the lowest level in my system).

I was wondering what others have come up with and hope this thread can be a place to gather some ideas.

 

[JohnK]

My set up isn't automated, but I can do a 50gal water change in about 30-40 min and never lift a bucket

1- make the new water near the tank (55 gal barrrel, 75' of 1/4" tube feeds the water in from the RODI in the next room, auto shut off and float valve shuts it down automatically.)

2- Spare barrel to siphion old water into

3- use 1" flex tube to sihpion water out of the display FAST. Water is siphioned into the spare barrel. Takes about 2-5 min to siphion out 50 gal.

4- MJ1200 with about 20" of tube on the output to pump the new water from it's barrel into the display. This fills the display back up reasonably quickly, but gently enough to not make a mess of the sand exct.

5- when done, use a utility pump and flex tube to pump the water out the window. I use a quiet one 4000, but anything would work.

 

[stevenp]

I do 20g water changes. I know that 1lb - 5oz of IO yields a sg of 1.025, so I dump this amount x4 into 20g of freshwater. I also know from experience how much (in ml) CA and MG is required to bring these levels up to where I prefer them, so I add that in as well. Whole thing probably takes me 2 minutes. Then I let it sit until I'm ready (sometimes hours, sometimes days).

I have enough room in my sump for the extra 20g so when it's time for the water change I pump all 20g into the sump. Then, I go upstairs and siphon 20g from the display, sucking away any nuisance algae and detrius from the rockwork at the same time

Works for me!

 

[JohnK]

Oh yea, I forgot about that. I also worked out the amount of salt and supplements for each batch of water so I don't have to add - measure -add - measure ....... all day to get a batch of water right.

For 50 gal of water I use 6.5 scoops with a 32oz cup of TM salt, 1/2 gal of DIY mg supplement, and 50 grams of dowflake.

Having that worked out in advance saves a ton of time and effort IME.

 

[CaptainAndy]

I do just about the same thing but I do have to run fresh water from an out door hose when the tank waters on it's way out. Otherwise, you can get a big patch of dead grass.

 

[JohnK]

Ah yes, that's a good point.

I used to keep a few sections of PVC so I could pipe it out to the storm drain on the street, but then I realized I have another window that's next to nothing but weeds.

 

[paulthomas]

Curious... Do you guys not have a drain nearby to pump the old water into? If you do, is the reason you're not using it because of the likelihood of corrosion caused by the salt? I plan on using my slop sink to dump old water. Then I'd flush it for ~ thirty seconds with FW.

I hear Ed (Yaktop) has a great method/system for water changes. Might he chime in? Hrm?

 

[UncleJT]

I vacuum the substrate when I do water changes.. I don't think we will ever be able to automate this.

 

[Joel A]

I vacuum the substrate when I do water changes.. I don't think we will ever be able to automate this.

likely not... but good husbandry pays off... lots of people don't vacuum the sand now a days... myself included... i'm going to start after reading that thread on reefcentral though.

 

[reefsmurf]

Haven't done a water change in like over a year.

<--- terrible reefkeeper.

 

[coralcor]

Haven't done a water change in like over a year.

<--- terrible reefkeeper.

i think if you can keep your reef alive with not water changes for a year your a great reef keeper!

 

[Behrmon]

I simplified my 30g water changes like this:

Replace 150g Display & 30g sump w/ 34g Solana.
Replace barrels pumps & tubbing w/ a 1 gallon pitcher.
Change 3g per week.
Viola!

 

[coralcor]

I simplified my 30g water changes like this:

Replace 150g Display & 30g sump w/ 34g Solana.
Replace barrels pumps & tubbing w/ a 1 gallon pitcher.
Change 3g per week.
Viola!

i have the same size tank... i do 5g/w maybe i should do what you do.....

 

[reefsmurf]

i think if you can keep your reef alive with not water changes for a year your a great reef keeper!

The sad thing is.. before this year I was probably averaging 1-2 water changes per year for the last few years now. I'm a little worried about things biulding up (like sulfate from the randy 2part+mg dosing). I guess I should get off my rear end and do it tonight.

 

[paulthomas]

likely not... but good husbandry pays off... lots of people don't vacuum the sand now a days... myself included... i'm going to start after reading that thread on reefcentral though.

What thread?

 

[Joel A]

What thread?

you've gotta be a frequent RC'er to know what i'm talking about .


It's in the SPS keepers section, titled something like "Who vacuums the sandbed in their SPS tanks" .. the majority of people responded saying they do, and you should if you have a shallow sandbed because you're not using it for filtration purposes, but the sandbed is instead just for looks...

 

[snowmaker]

You won't need a thread on ReefCentral to justify vacuuming your substrate once you start doing it and seeing the colorful results in your corals for yourself. Fishys probably happier as well.
When I first started doing it, I vacuumed for 10 gallons worth, let the mulm / detritus settle out in the 2 buckets overnight, then poured off the water. What was left was a full 16oz glass of very nasty stuff.

 

[Joel A]

You won't need a thread on ReefCentral to justify vacuuming your substrate once you start doing it and seeing the colorful results in your corals for yourself. Fishys probably happier as well.
When I first started doing it, I vacuumed for 10 gallons worth, let the mulm / detritus settle out in the 2 buckets overnight, then poured off the water. What was left was a full 16oz glass of very nasty stuff.

yup, that's what i hear .

It just never really occurred to me until it was brought up on RC

 

[mickeyfinn]

I don't use a single bucket either. I simply added a T in my return pump tubing and pump the water right out to a drain (or you could buckets or an open window). Here's a diagram of my system, but what is important is my water never stops circulating and the water in my display tank never goes down at all. The only place the water gets low is in the final chamber of the sump (which I made a specific size to accomodate for instant water changes).
Here's how I do it:
I make up my water with RO/DI a day or so in advance and agitate it with a powerhead, which brings the temp up to almost exactly 78 degrees. Then I open the drain valve until the water line is at the "Min." line on my sump. The I fill my sump from the left chamber until the water touches the "Max." line on my sump. It is exactly 6 gallons from my sump and 6 gallons in my makeup tank. I can literally change the water in less than 5 minutes.

Did I make sense?

Her's a picture:

 

[tigerslacrosse4]

mickeyfinn you dont fart around lol you got right down to it lol!!!