$15.00 way to drain your tank without a bucket...

[kitokatlin]

Over the last weekend, I got tired of running back and forth with buckets of water. I decided to buy some 3/4" PVC and run it into the mechanical room behind the fish tank. In Colorado 90% of homes have a floor drain in the mech room. Just have to make sure you have a downgrade or... well you you'll be in for a suprise if you don't! The drain runs against the wall which I strapped with 3/4" clamps and ran it to the floor drain. My wife was insistant that you not be able to see the PVC from the living room so I ran it into the stand with enough rise to get the pressure going! (The 2nd drain you see is for my humidifier.)

Total cost: $15.00 from Lowes and about 2 hours of my time. Happy DIY'ing!

[grannylvsfish]

good for you :) looks good !!

[mellowvision]

that drain is going to stink after a while.

[kitokatlin]

Good Point. The drain is constantly being used which is the nice part, the p-trap is constantly being flushed and cleaned. I am in the HVAC industry and we use them for 90% furnaces and humidifiers constantly. Shouldn't make a difference.

[duke33]

Good job, that's using your head. I did something simular. In the floor and out to the gutter drain.

[kitokatlin]

Good job, that's using your head. I did something simular. In the floor and out to the gutter drain.

Interesting, have any photos of the drain? I would love to see it.

[Lil_Stinker]

... (The 2nd drain you see is for my humidifier.)...

What about the 3rd one?

I am thinking of something like this in the family room (above the utility sink) I have 2 55s on on each side of the TV, so I need to figure a way to not harm the electronics, but I want only one hole in the wall....

[AnDr3w]

Nice work. I wish I had a floor drain. =/

[---MR.CLEAN---]

yeah I wish i had one too good thinkin :idea:

[jpappy789]

nice job!

[kitokatlin]

What about the 3rd one?

I am thinking of something like this in the family room (above the utility sink) I have 2 55s on on each side of the TV, so I need to figure a way to not harm the electronics, but I want only one hole in the wall....

The third drain is for the water heater. High efficiency water heaters condensate. PVC is really easy to work with, just need a good cutting tool, primer and glue (these come in kits at Home Depot and Lowes.)

3/4" PVC is the easiest to work with plus most gravel vacs will fit into the 3/4". Have a good level with you and make sure both drains are at a downward slope. Purchase a 3/4" T and a wall plate (for cable or a blank.) Drill a 3/4" hole through the plate to conceal the hole you cut. Should be able to run your drain then. Good luck!

[loaches r cool]

I ran mine to the floor drain as well.
http://tristan.homelinux.net/fish/240g/plumbing12_400.JPG (http://tristan.homelinux.net/fish/240g/plumbing12_800.JPG)

Mine ran a bit more $$$ though since I use a QO4000 pump in the tank to drain it, 30 foot of 1" hose, and the refilling stuff is >$100 (solenoid, chlorine & micron filters, 50' 1/4" line. float valve, fittings, etc).

[kitokatlin]

So nice having the floor drain in the basement... I don't miss the buckets for draining!

[MiramichiMob]

How do you get the siphon started for it to start draining?

[kitokatlin]

The drain is lower than the fish tank to make sure I have the pressure. I have a Marina Easy Clean (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~HG11063.html) gravel Vac. It is the first gravel vac that I have used that actually starts the siphon when you quickly lift it up and down. Works very well.

[AquariumNoob13]

or u cud do what do and just use a garden hose running from your fish tank into your garden. its easy, cheap, and you can reuse the water since plants love the nitrates in the fish water.

[loaches r cool]

For some of us that would be 100+ ft of hose, lots of fiddling running up/down stairs/porch. etc letting frigid cold air in house, and no plants growing outside this time of year anyways...

[kitokatlin]

Good Point! Being in cold states, this makes maintenance much easier when you have the waste the water anyway! During the summer, I may still take the water outside.