1 reply to this topic

[jslayz]

Hi

I have been busy on the DIY!!

Knocked a hole in my wall behind my 6 ftr and added 2 ball valves to the outflow hose of my FX5.
There is a 15mm hose now plumbed into the outflow and the other end goes to my laundry sink.
So I turn 2 valves and my 6ftr is emptying very quickly straight into my laundry drain.

Great for my 20 % mid week change.

Then i got sick of going out and getting the coiled hose so I added some hose clamps n thread tape to my laundry sink which allows my to plug in a shorter, clean, indoor hose to my laundry sink tap.

So I did all this then realised I had become lazy on gravel vacuuming so I built a monster unit.
This unit has couple of valves and drains into a bathroom drain while you are vacuuming the gravel.
It is 15mm black tube so has great suction n dumps a lot of water quickly.
Once i have finished vacuuming I just rest it on an ornament in the tank while it dumps the rest of the water that needs removing.

I gotta head to work but will add pics later.

J

[jslayz]

Here are the pics.

The indoor hose:


The tap adapter:


The ouflow valve setup:


The Monster:
 PICT0966.JPG   103.56KB   261 downloads

The gravle siphon section:
 PICT0967.JPG   100.04KB   207 downloads

The valve setup:
 PICT0968.JPG   102.58KB   223 downloads

Yes I like to do things the easy way ....... but I had fun making these!!!

Here's how the monster works:

Firstly I run the black waste water hose to the drain plug and pop it down.
Then I put the vacuum end in the tank, the indoor hose is pressurised and plugged into the fitting on the monster.
At the hose fitting there is a ball valve built in so i open that and close the ball valve on the black waste water hose.
This pushes the water up the hose and out the vacuum end.
Once most of the air is out I close the indoor hose valve and open the black waste water hose valve.

As the hose is 15mm and the clear hoses and fittings are 25mm the water really moves.

It has terrific suction, so much that you probably would not use with sand bottoms at full suction.

So after I have finished vacuuming I just rest the unit on the edge of the tank and kick back to watch as it drops the remaining water.

Now when it is finished dropping the water (20% usually) I close the valve on the black waste water hose and open the valve a little on the indoor hose and it begins filling up the tank. Add some prime and watch as the tank fills.

Then before I put it away I slightly open the black waste water valve n let clean water flush the black waste water hose out while continuing to fill the tank. This way it does not smell when I put it away.

At this point I check the water, adding my softner pillow or ph down if needed.

Mid week I do another 20% change but I just use the outflow plumbing and indoor hose to do it.

J