How you do w/c?

[Phyroath]

Hi everyone,

I just would like to know how you do your w/c. I find it difficult and messy when doing w/c for my two planted tanks. Do you use pump? automatic w/c?

I usually siphon out manually using bucket and refill my tank from the tape with a pipe and most of the time, I uproot my plants.

[snappyguy]

I do it the old fashioned way with a gravel vac and a bucket if I'm cleaning the gravel. I use a bucket and a hose to do regular water changes. I also have a python that I use to clean my turtle (RES) tank.

[zzyzx85]

When I had a 20, the bucket method.

Now that I have a 55g, I made a DIY python. Much faster and easier. I use the "pump" only to start the suction (turn off hose/faucet when suction is sustained) and refill.

[Dev]

I also use a gravel vac syphon, but I fill a bucket up with the water I want to add back to the tank from the bathtub if I'm doing it from the tap. Then I use one of those large plastic hospital cups to scoop it from the bucket and pour it into the tank. It's a slow and painful process but it's how I manage to keep from disturbing the gravel and plants.
You might be able to try adding a piece of wood or slate to angle the pipe you're using to refill your tank towards; that should deflect most of the flow from being so direct into your substrate.

[excuzzzeme]

DIY Python type device. With 20 tanks it's the only way to fly.

[The Zigman]

just like this...

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151705

[Hooked Newbie]

DIY Python type device. With 20 tanks it's the only way to fly.

Ditto, but not DIY. lol

[Ozymandias]

i have a picher and a 5 gallon bucket i use it's only a 30 gallon so not a big deal

[Kashta]

I use a python from the faucet of my kitchen sink. Doubled up the hose line from an old python (that had a cracked intake tube) to reach other rooms since my tanks aren't all together. The python doesn't uproot anything, but my goldfish do whenever they can. So I'm still replanting a lot.

[DAVIDFBT]

Syphon the water out with a hose out my window, fill it up with an attachment to the faucet, wait a couple hours and shake the plants around to get rid of the bubbles.

[Kashta]

Syphon the water out with a hose out my window, fill it up with an attachment to the faucet, wait a couple hours and shake the plants around to get rid of the bubbles.

That's funny. I chase the bubbles away too. Also have to refill a little at a time because the tap water is too cold.

[Fishy_Fun]

i too use the python

[Phyroath]

I have a habit of doing weekly w/c. Bucket method is a bit of a heavy workload and a mess. Zigman's method, however tend to be costly and not easy to make one. Any other easy one?

[jencheung]

I too use the bucket method to do my w/c's, but when refilling I enlist the help of my hubby. Like Dev suggested, using something to deflect the flow of water really helps to not disturb the substrate and uproot plants. In my tank I don't really have room to add wood or rock like Dev suggested so my hubby pours slowly over my hands (resting on the surface of the water to deflect it so the flow goes out rather than down).

[Squawkbert]

Long tube & gravel vac for draining, bucket fill.

[Dave Noel]

I use a gravel vac that I put a ball valve on, then from the valve I have 25 ft of poly hose. I drain down to my laundry tub (lower level). When I am finished draining I have a hose fitting on the end that I hook up to the faucet close the valve then turn the water on go to the tank and have control of the water by the tank. The water coming from the gravel vac while filling comes out gently when submerged.

[Cory Keeper]

I use the bucket method as well, however when I add water I have a small pump that handles a little over 5ft of head to fill it back up :)

[Hurley]

I use a python and my kitchen sink. I don't usually disturb the gravel at all but if there is a lot of debris then I will take some air line hose and syphon out the algae and debris into a clean gallon milk jug. Because the tube is smaller it creates a pretty strong suction but it fill the jug up slowly allowing me to clean up the bottom of the tank before the container is full. I still don't disturb the substrate much.

[madfox]

I use an air hose sized hose and a little syphon pump into a bucket. The smaller hose gently sucks up the debris from the bottom and around plants without disturbing the plants or sucking up my shrimp!! To refill, I use a 2.5 gal spring water bottle with a tap, like you get at the grocery stores, and pull the tap out just a bit so it slowly and gently lets the water into the tank. Works fairly well. I can even set the water bottle on top and walk away while it's refilling the tank!! I'm sure I'll want to change some of that once I can upgrade to a larger tank, but for now it works for me.

[BadFishPa]

Walmart Python type water changer

[bushwhacker]

python... with a 75 and a 55 and 50% changes weekly.. the bucket method would make me "kick the bucket"