19 replies to this topic

[Westie]

So I missed the DIY meeting, and wanted to know if there is a really fast way of draining water out of my tank? I want to speed up my water change time, as I've got more fish in my tank now, and want to start increasing my amount and frequency of water changed.

My current water change method is:
- Firstly draining water in to buckets, then pouring that tank water from the buckets on to my front lawn
- Then I get the hose from the back garden which has one of those spray nozzles on it, and spray about 30 seconds of water on the back garden to remove the first bit of hot water from the hose
- Then I put the required amount of water dechlorinator in the tank, and fill the tank with the back yard hose

So it's fast filling the tank, but REALLY SLOW draining the tank. I'm thinking that rather than try and built one of those DIY fill up thingys, can I just buy a gravel cleaner from a LFS and attach it to a garden hose? If I could do that, then I could run the hose from the gravel cleaner to the top of my front lawn (which is on a slope) and drain off the tank water.

This way I water the front lawn, and not waste the old tank water at the same time. WIN WIN!

Any thoughts people?

[Evil_Boof]

big powerhead, one for a pond or something, shove the hose on the pump and pump all the later out real quick

[Anka]

are you using a blue drinking water hose?

IMO using a DIY water changer is the best. Saves a lot of time.

[Bowdy]

No need to use a gravel vac on the hose just put the hose straight in the tank , drain your 30-40% for example then re attatch the hose to the tap and turn it on. That's how I have always done it and get 8 tanks done in an hour.
But those hang on water change attachments may be worth a crack to.
Cheers.

[Rovik]

Get these, the W/C attachment was made and purchased at AQUOTIX.
Hose reel was from bunnings.

Edited by Rovik, 24 January 2012 - 07:52 PM.

[Buccal]

As a addition to Roviks method you can upgrade your garden hose to the next size up in diameter, and buy the same fittings you already have but to suit the larger diameter, this well speeds up draining out.

[simmoman]

pumping the water out is my prefered method but not with a powerful pump incase something goes wrong.
Place a bit of masking tape or other on the tank where you want the water to go down to, attach hose to pump,turn it on and sit back and watch it as I have forgotten once, yapping to a neighbor.

Water the garden as well if you want at the same time.

[Westie]

thanks everyone for the suggestions.
hey rovik, do you know approximately how much the W/C attachment you made at AQUOTIX would cost me? will try and come see you some time this week
these slow water changes are killing me!

[Neakit]

Go to bunnings and get a roll of grey water hose, it should be one inch in diameter, the easiest way to move more water faster is bigger hose, pumping it can help but I can assure you when I use my 45mm hose I can dump 200l in about 3 min. This is a case of bigger is better.

[Riggers]

I'm going to bunnings tomorrow jase, I'll make you a water changer........... Finally

[ice]

DIY king to the rescue!

[Westie]

You're a champ Riggers! I'm pretty sure Zach will be back in Fremantle next week too

[mattt]

save yourself 10$ and just siphon via garden hose..

[Riggers]

Been to bunnings Jason, if your at the meeting on Tuesday I'll give it to ya then

[Hypanheaven]

http://www.perthcich...showtopic=44972

I can also refill my planted tank through this as well as auto syphon, but the larger the bore of the hose/pipe the faster it will flow. So bigger=quicker. If you up your hose dimensions but keep the same fittings, Im pretty sure flow is restricted by the smallest diameter in the pipe and since it's still the same diameter internals of the fittings you won't get any more flow (unless you increase the pressure behind it of course)

[werdna]

I use 19mm black retic pipe for draining my tanks.
Still takes a while to remove 50% of the 8ft's water though.

Currently I empty my 8ft water into my AP system.
That replaces evaporated water, the plants get a boost, and the 8ft gets regular water changes.
Just have to feed the fish in the tank AP food.

[sandgroper]

If you want to drain a tank quickly, a brick does wonders, just makes the filling up process a little more difficult.

[Westie]

Been to bunnings Jason, if your at the meeting on Tuesday I'll give it to ya then

See you there man! Thanks again

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, feeling the love

[dazzabozza]

Best thing about those DIY WCs is they hang on the tank and you don't have t worry about them falling out compared to a plain old hose. Shutting the tap/valve also allows you to keep the siphon going when shifting it between tanks.

This is what I use with the DIY changer - http://www.perthcich...showtopic=40963