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Diy Water Changer


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#1 Cawdor

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 03:07 PM

After getting some inspiration from another forum member some months ago I thought I'd post up my DIY design for a water changer.

The advantage of this one over other versions:

1. no glue, everything screws or clips together and with some plumbing tape is made watertight, no spills or drops on the floor. No waiting for glue or silicone to set
2. curved bit at the end means when water is pumped back into the tank the water is circulated around the tank.
3. flyscreen at the end means no fry can get sucked out.
4. the screw design allows the arm to be tilted so you can choose how much water will get drained from your tank, without having to be there to monitor.

I've been using this for my large tanks for several months now and I can't imagine living without it. It has made it so much easier - just clip the hose on, water goes out on the lawn and then afterwards clip the hose onto the tap and fill the tank up.
The most expensive bit is the tap that sits between the hose and the pipe. All other parts can be had for a few bucks.

Attached File  waterchanger.jpg   289.78KB   484 downloads

Example how to change water drain level:
50% drain
Attached File  waterchanger1.jpg   49.07KB   411 downloads

25% drain
Attached File  waterchanger2.jpg   88.71KB   434 downloads

#2 dazzabozza

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 04:06 PM

Looking good Tim.

Got a pic to demonstrate how you adjust the drain height? (I understand the concept but a pic will still be useful for other forum members).

Next question is when are u going to make me one? smile.gif


Daz

#3 CICH-BRO

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 05:21 PM

Who was the other member you got your inspiration from? I made mine in Sep last year and no sh*t its almost identical haha.


#4 Cawdor

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 05:28 PM

Dazza pointed me to Stars example a while back.

Have added the drain example now Dazza smile.gif
Dead easy to put together yourself, don't need me to do it trust me smile.gif laugh.gif

#5 dazzabozza

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 10:17 PM

Thanks Tim smile.gif

Now can u list all the parts required? Not sure if the Bunnings person will understand "curved bit at the end" LOL smile.gif


Daz

#6 Cawdor

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 10:48 PM

No need to ask a person - all the parts are readily on display at every Bunnings or retic store smile.gif

There are 8 parts (not including the valve and the flyscreen)
1 white PVC elbow with threaded end
2 black pipes with thread ends (choose whatever length you want for two of them)
1 black pipe with thread ends - <10cm
2 black elbows with threads
2 different adaptors to convert thread to click for the valve part

plumbing tape (the white thin tape) to make it watertight

Best way is to play around with the parts in the store to see if they all fit together smile.gif

#7 dazzabozza

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Posted 01 February 2009 - 07:24 AM

Cheers Tim. I'll be taking these notes with me on my next trip to Bunnings.

#8 CICH-BRO

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 07:21 AM

Just a quick note, I did not use plumbing tape with mine and have had no leaks with just screwing the pipes together.

#9 69olds

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Posted 28 February 2009 - 06:15 AM

Hi Tim just one question how do you start the water draining? one very long suck on the end of the hose or does it start with just gravity??

cheer's mate
neil

#10 Cawdor

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Posted 28 February 2009 - 08:30 AM

Hey Neil, very simple: I connect those hose up and let some water flow from the tap into the tank until no more air comes out. Then I disconnect the hose from the tap and put it in the backyard, put the attachment on (just a ring that pushes the flowstopper back so water can flow) and water starts gushing out. No sucking required.

#11 Warby

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Posted 12 March 2009 - 02:33 PM

been meaning to put one of these together for ages, finally did it the other day and HOLY HELL did it make my life easier when I did water changes on the weekend! haha.. flow from mine is very slow, presumably because it has to travel through 30m of hose to reach the garden, but it's so much better and easier being able to just set & forget it while I go about other things... for the sake of about $10 in parts from bunnings + what I had laying around at home & 5 minutes of my time to throw it together it's a bloody legend heh..

#12 STEVEGREEN

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Posted 12 March 2009 - 03:54 PM

flow was the reason i used larger diameter pvc , the limiting factor is diameter.

i bought a laudry sink type hose from bunnings for the draining part , one big suck gets it started ( hose under 10 bux )

flow is incredibly quick , but i am dumping 300L a week without fail

next modification is drilling a hole throw the wall under the tank and pinching olivers idea and having brass tap-like fittings going throw the wall to the outside , then no more open doors whilst water changes ( fly's mossies etc etc )

will post pic's when done

Cheers
Steve Green

#13 n30

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Posted 12 March 2009 - 08:25 PM

Looks good... Tim. smile.gif

What kind of tap is that ? How much is it and where do you get it ?

#14 Cawdor

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Posted 12 March 2009 - 09:02 PM

It's a tap I got from Bunnings in Cannington, I believe it's the "Gardena" brand. From memory I paid around $14 for it. There are cheaper ones but they looked dodgy - I'm very happy with this one, works perfectly, doesn't leak and is hardy. I stepped on it a few times by accident and it's still intact wink.gif wink.gif



(EDIT by Dazza - I've cleaned up this thread so it remains on-topic with Tim's creation.)




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