Making water changes easier! What are some tips and tricks?

bnord · Nov 10, 2021

Sicce ultra zero utility pump solve all problems!!

Can never have too many of them

HB AL · Nov 10, 2021

What's a water change? I have many tips and tricks for making water changes simple, I don't do water changes!

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Nov 10, 2021

My tank is heavy in gha and I need to do wcs to lower the nutrient level. Lol
D

Paul B · Nov 11, 2021

I normally just back up to an ocean, throw in a long hose with a bilge pump attached and pump 40 gallons into my Jeep.

Most ocean water is free.

I back up to my driveway and pump the ice cold water into a big vat. Then I fill 5 gallon water cooler bottles with hot water and float them in the vat to warm up the seawater.

While I am waiting, I may dance.
Then I pump the water into 5 gallon containers that are placed on a table next to the tank.

I remove water from the tank and dump in the new water.

I could just pump it in from the Vat but that takes to long and I am impatient and always want to go and do something else. Maybe bungee jump or cut my toe nails. ;Bucktooth

This week I collected 140 gallons of water and changed 80 gallons in my 125 gallon tank.

I just wanted a few more gallons so I put on boots and quickly collected a little more. I just can't get enough.

Vyper · Nov 11, 2021

Mixing station and a Neptune dos to do the water changes automatically is hard to beat. Just have to mix new salt water every few weeks. Hardest part is adding the salt

Gtinnel · Nov 11, 2021

To make the water I have to turn a valve on my mixing station and then dump salt in. Once the saltwater is mixed up I'm done. The rest of the process takes care of its self with a smart outlet and a masterflex pump.
An AWC is an amazing upgrade for anyone who has room for one and plans on doing water changes.

MillennialReefer · Nov 12, 2021

I could conduct a water change easily. But that means I have to fill my 5 gallon bucket which takes about 2 hours, then heat it up then add the salt and wait for it to mix. Its not difficult its just time consuming and I dont have space for a storage water... I think if I did it would have to be atleast 20-30 gallons so It can last about a month or so. Im hoping my ATS can reduce the frequency of water changes.

Sheehantastic · Dec 12, 2022

I have RO in my house for everything but the outside spigots. I have a 40 gallon cooler on a furniture dolly, I have an external filter with a auto drain feature. So I open that bad boy up and drain as much I want into the cooler. I mark the water level, then wheel the whole thing over to the floor drain and pull the drain plug on the cooler. I then wheel it over to the laundry sink and fill up to the line I marked for the drained water. Then over to the tank where I mix in my salt and additives. Then I use the fill feature on my external to pump the new water in. The whole process takes less than a half hour for 35 to 40 gallons. The only thing i have to lift is mixing bowls/spoons, refractometer and additives.

MnFish1 · Dec 12, 2022

Sheehantastic said:
I have RO in my house for everything but the outside spigots. I have a 40 gallon cooler on a furniture dolly, I have an external filter with a auto drain feature. So I open that bad boy up and drain as much I want into the cooler. I mark the water level, then wheel the whole thing over to the floor drain and pull the drain plug on the cooler. I then wheel it over to the laundry sink and fill up to the line I marked for the drained water. Then over to the tank where I mix in my salt and additives. Then I use the fill feature on my external to pump the new water in. The whole process takes less than a half hour for 35 to 40 gallons. The only thing i have to lift is mixing bowls/spoons, refractometer and additives.

This would be best to post in a new thread

MnFish1 · Dec 12, 2022

Sheehantastic said:
I have RO in my house for everything but the outside spigots. I have a 40 gallon cooler on a furniture dolly, I have an external filter with a auto drain feature. So I open that bad boy up and drain as much I want into the cooler. I mark the water level, then wheel the whole thing over to the floor drain and pull the drain plug on the cooler. I then wheel it over to the laundry sink and fill up to the line I marked for the drained water. Then over to the tank where I mix in my salt and additives. Then I use the fill feature on my external to pump the new water in. The whole process takes less than a half hour for 35 to 40 gallons. The only thing i have to lift is mixing bowls/spoons, refractometer and additives.

That said - I use a python (brand name) - I siphon off the amount I want to - and then connect it to a pump from my already made saltwater to replace it - it takes less than 30 minutes to change 40 gallons (but it could be any amount)