The Python type systems for cleaning gravel/changing water would sure make things easier, but I just can't bring myself to directly add my nasty tap water that I myself won't even drink straight into my aquariums without being treated first. No matter the concentrations. I'm also looking at setting up a marine system (hopefully a reef if I get my nerve up to try it) at some point in the future and I would definitely not want to put my tap water straight into that system (I know that I will have to setup a RO/DI filtration system for that tank).
Does anyone have some DIY plans for setting up a water changing system for larger tanks? In my small 10gal by the time I clean the gravel, it has syphoned out enough water for a water change usually, but with the 55gal it generally has not and I end up having to let it drain extra water and then have to lug back 15 or so gals of water to refill it. I keep thinking about how this 55gal setup will need to be moved to a 100galish tank later and how much work that will be doing it the way I currently do and it frightens me.
I've been invisioning some setups for this, but figured others had already setup some type of system to tackle this issue. I'm trying to setup something that will work far into the future when I have a few largish tanks setup so I don't have to keep updating it as this obession grows.
I have an extra bathroom that noone uses in the house, so I'm thinking of setting up my filtration system there with a 25galish resevoir of freshly filtered water for top offs/changes. However, this room is located 30 to 35 feet from the rooms my tanks will be in so I don't know if that will be much of an issue trying to setup something to pump the water this far.
Anyhow, thought this might be an interesting topic for the new board. I've done several searches (google, msg boards, etc), but almost every time I find some information people are using Python type systems and I just really don't want to go that route.
Does anyone have some DIY plans for setting up a water changing system for larger tanks? In my small 10gal by the time I clean the gravel, it has syphoned out enough water for a water change usually, but with the 55gal it generally has not and I end up having to let it drain extra water and then have to lug back 15 or so gals of water to refill it. I keep thinking about how this 55gal setup will need to be moved to a 100galish tank later and how much work that will be doing it the way I currently do and it frightens me.
I've been invisioning some setups for this, but figured others had already setup some type of system to tackle this issue. I'm trying to setup something that will work far into the future when I have a few largish tanks setup so I don't have to keep updating it as this obession grows.
I have an extra bathroom that noone uses in the house, so I'm thinking of setting up my filtration system there with a 25galish resevoir of freshly filtered water for top offs/changes. However, this room is located 30 to 35 feet from the rooms my tanks will be in so I don't know if that will be much of an issue trying to setup something to pump the water this far.
Anyhow, thought this might be an interesting topic for the new board. I've done several searches (google, msg boards, etc), but almost every time I find some information people are using Python type systems and I just really don't want to go that route.
