Looking to make water changes stupid easy - Help me!!

[mjt82]

I’m in the process of designing a new “dream system”. I’ve been keeping reef tanks for over 20 years now, and I’m tired of running hoses outside for water changes, so I have a drain in the floor of my new maintenance room, and won’t have to run long hoses any more (win!!).

My current plan is to incorporate a conical bottomed tank in the system design that circulates on its own loop, sharing the sump that my display circulates though. See also: MikeC’s settling tank, and also the guy from the YouTube channel Daily Reefing (no linger around, sadly!!) - they have done something similar. But I’m not sure how to do that efficiently.

The point of this chaotic post: I’d love to see some SUPER SIMPLE, knob-turn only type water change setups. Especially if you’re incorporating a cone bottom tank like I’ve described!!

 

[Subsea]

Not sure what advantage cone bottom gives during water change. Yes, it is a settling tank as is the sump.

Good call on floor drain, I ran a hose into bathroom drain.

Do you presently have an ATO system?

 

[KStatefan]

For me you can not get easier than an auto water change system.

I assume you are just wanting to drain the cone tank and refill with salt water then tun turn the loop pump back on?

 

[mjt82]

Not sure what advantage cone bottom gives during water change. Yes, it is a settling tank as is the sump.

Good call on floor drain, I ran a hose into bathroom drain.

Do you presently have an ATO system?

My current tanks don't allow for complete draining. The cone bottom will allow the tank to be drained completely. If I use it in circulation with the system, detritus will settle into the cone, and will be flushed out when the drain is opened. I'm currently testing that in a live rock curing vat, and it works nicely.

I do have an ATO system - I've always been a Tunze Osmolator dude. I pull from a 5 gal reservoir in my stand that is refilled automatically each night by the Neptune Dos.