Automatic Water changes. It doesnt get any better then this.

[Fin]

And what about that all important word - stability. Constant nutrient export and constant refreshing of depleted elements, has to make for a more stable system. I don't really have a drain close to my tank, or a place for much of a salt water reservoir - or else I would be doing this also. Great idea for those that can manage it.

 

[Softylover]

And what about that all important word - stability. Constant nutrient export and constant refreshing of depleted elements, has to make for a more stable system. I don't really have a drain close to my tank, or a place for much of a reservoir - or else I would be doing this also. Great idea for those that can manage it.

Mine is using taller kitchen trash cans...

 

[Chris155hp]

And what about that all important word - stability. Constant nutrient export and constant refreshing of depleted elements, has to make for a more stable system. I don't really have a drain close to my tank, or a place for much of a reservoir - or else I would be doing this also. Great idea for those that can manage it.

To be honest my storage tank and drain are about 75 ft away from the tank in a different room completely. The beauty is that you just have to run just two 1/4 ro lines which are pretty easy to hide and manage, weather it be threw the attic or outside of the house. Even wire channels for entertainment systems would work well. As for the drain you could go to the closest sink or even drain strait outside

 

[AquamanE]

I am trying to understand why so many people try to do this. Is there a benefit I am missing that would be better for my tank? Is there a practical purpose outside of carrying buckets. I do not ask to denegrate the accomplishment, but to learn

Folks- I think Railcar79 brings up a reasonable point. Lets not trash him/her.

Railcar79- Since doing this i get the same question constantly- "does you tank look better, are you getting more growth, do you see improvement??", and the simple answer is NO. I see no difference in my tank, i see no more growth, i see no better coloration etc.... That being said... I have had a water change system in place for the last 8 years where all i lift is a garden hose to do my waterchanges. I am very anal about accomplishing AT LEAST a 30% water change per month (as recommended by the reef chemistry GURU Dr. Randy holmes-Farley), wether i do it weekly, bi weekly or monthly. I have not, not, done a 30% water change in my tank for over 8 years. I stopped lifting buckets many years ago, but have always stayed in the same 30% WC mode for that period of time.

What this system of AWC does do is allow me to spend more time on other STILL necessary tasks in my tank, like cleaning skimmer, powerheads, changing floss, etc... I no longer even have to bring the garden hose in to do a water change. I have more time to chill and observe the tank, i have more time to watch wether i need to move a piece to an area where it will benifit more from flow or light etc....

By no means am i lazy with my tank since im an empty nester. My kids are out to college, and all they need is $$. But this does allow me more freedom to enjoy the tank.

I respect your opinion that this might be a lazy scapegoat, but ive been reefing for over 25 years, so relief from buckets, and WC's is a great way to delve into other tasks that are still necessary and give me more time for other things.

BTW- My tank is doing amazing!!! and as im typing this a 2.5 gallon water change is being achieved.

 

[Softylover]

Folks- I think Railcar79 brings up a reasonable point. Lets not trash him/her.

Railcar79- Since doing this i get the same question constantly- "does you tank look better, are you getting more growth, do you see improvement??", and the simple answer is NO. I see no difference in my tank, i see no more growth, i see no better coloration etc.... That being said... I have had a water change system in place for the last 8 years where all i lift is a garden hose to do my waterchanges. I am very anal about accomplishing AT LEAST a 30% water change per month (as recommended by the reef chemistry GURU Dr. Randy holmes-Farley), wether i do it weekly, bi weekly or monthly. I have not, not, done a 30% water change in my tank for over 8 years. I stopped lifting buckets many years ago, but have always stayed in the same 30% WC mode for that period of time.

What this system of AWC does do is allow me to spend more time on other STILL necessary tasks in my tank, like cleaning skimmer, powerheads, changing floss, etc... I no longer even have to bring the garden hose in to do a water change. I have more time to chill and observe the tank, i have more time to watch wether i need to move a piece to an area where it will benifit more from flow or light etc....

By no means am i lazy with my tank since im an empty nester. My kids are out to college, and all they need is $$. But this does allow me more freedom to enjoy the tank.

I respect your opinion that this might be a lazy scapegoat, but ive been reefing for over 25 years, so relief from buckets, and WC's is a great way to delve into other tasks that are still necessary and give me more time for other things.

BTW- My tank is doing amazing!!!

I am with him, it allows you to focus on other things, and I've being doing it over 11 years, water changes were the one thing I hated, that being said, I am happy to be back on auto water changes.. With the better salt mix, I won't be dosing

 

[AquamanE]

I am with him, it allows you to focus on other things, and I've being doing it over 11 years, water changes were the one thing I hated, that being said, I am happy to be back on auto water changes.. With the better salt mix, I won't be dosing

Wait wait- Softy- Dosing is a totally different subject. AWC will not change your dosing regimen unless you have VERY little demand

 

[Chris155hp]

Wait wait- Softy- Dosing is a totally different subject. AWC will not change your dosing regimen unless you have VERY little demand

+1 you might get a little alk/ca/mg with the change but not nearly enough for any tank with even a mild bioload

 

[AquamanE]

+1 you might get a little alk/ca/mg with the change but not nearly enough for any tank with even a mild bioload

Everyone in this hobby needs to read this article by the MASTER of reef water chemistry:

Water Changes in Reef Aquaria by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[SchnitzelReef]

These will be going outside in my shed, where this is

I'll have it all controlled with an EB4 that will be connected to my tanks apex.

I'll post more pics and a video down the road.

 

[NeveSSL]

Nice! What's the speed of your 7024s?

Brandon

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Nice! What's the speed of your 7024s?

Brandon

Not sure. I had my buddy help me set it up.

 

[NeveSSL]

Ok, cool. I ordered three of the Fisher geared drives... I'm hoping they come in soon so I can hook them up. :) I purchased a Masterflex set-speed pump thinking it was 100RPM, but it is 10... it would take 22 hours to do a 2g water change... that's not going to work... lol... the Fishers are 80RPM and should be much more efficient. I may keep the Masterflex for dosing or sell it, I'm not 100% sure yet.

Brandon

 

[AquaSwap]

Water Testing the containers and fitting before the pumps are hooked up.

 

[KoleTang]

Where did you guys pick up the 2.5mm DC Power Cable? 2.5MM DC POWER CABLES, 24 AWG 6' CABLE | AllElectronics.com

I'm not paying $9 shipping for this thing. Does mendards or radioshack carry it?http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/cb-296/2.5mm-dc-power-cables-24-awg-6-cable/1.html

 

[Sacohen]

Radio Shack has a wide variety of DC connections. They go by letters. I think the 2.5 is a size M.

 

[NeveSSL]

So... what do you do when your pump heads don't pump the same volumes? :squigglemouth: :ooh:

They're the same model heads with the same tubing, but one is faster than the other by maybe 2 ounces per gallon. Not terrible, but enough to count. What do you guys think? One pump is going to have to push water quite a bit further than the other, but I'm not sure that will actually affect these pumps... heh...

Brandon

 

[Sacohen]

The stenners are adjustable.
With the Cole-Palmer you can pull on the slower tube to stretch it out a bit until they are equal.

 

[NeveSSL]

Oh, ok. Do you take it out of the head and pull it?

Brandon

 

[Sacohen]

I haven't done it yet, but I think you can do it in the head.

 

[NeveSSL]

Ok. Thanks, Steve! I'll see if I can Google it. Wonder if there's a break-in period for the tubing, too? I may let it run overnight, too.

Brandon