My water changes are easy now

[Harry_Y]

I finally got tired of the mess when doing water changes and plumbed in a couple
of pumps to move the water around (I change about 25 gallons at a time).

So now my water change is a matter of.

1. Turn off a switch to stop the return and top off (actually I just flip off the power strips)

2. Turn On a switch to drain out water from the sump (then off once is done)

3. Turn On a switch to pump new Saltwater in to the sump (then off once is done)

4. Turn the switch back on to start the return and top off again.

once that is all done I refill my SW Barrel, turn the mixing pump
and heater back on and add salt so I'm ready for the next time

I just used a couple of Maxi-Jet 1200s and I set the
one in the sump so that it can only drain down so far.
(That way I can walk away and it will only drain so far).

 

[thewackyreefer]

Sounds like a pretty easy setup to me. I'd definitely consider something similar if I were changing out more than I do.

 

[Harry_Y]

I should have done this long ago.

Water changes are now Zero Mess.

 

[Wild1]

I should have done this long ago.

Water changes are now Zero Mess.

Any pics?

 

[Murfman]

How do you measure how many gallons you have pumped out of the sump?

 

[Harry_Y]

Any pics?

I need to take some to post

 

[Harry_Y]

How do you measure how many gallons you have pumped out of the sump?

I have the pump in the sump (maxi-jet) positioned so that it can only drain the sump partway.
That level was originally determined by pumping out the water from the sump into the
mixing barrel then marking that level in the sump so I knew to only pump down that far.

Not real scientific but pretty accurate.

I can do a 25 gallon water change and it is pretty
dead on as far as the amount I drain and replace.

 

[aquafrags]

I have been wanting automated water changes for a long time

 

[Harry_Y]

I have been wanting automated water changes for a long time

This one is manual, but easy as it is just flipping switches

Look here https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/li...ion/49506-auto-water-change-help-setup-2.html for how
I came up with one way of doing an auto water change.