water change Idea (TIP)

[Haas]

I saw a previous post asking about doing water changes in large tanks. I have decided to show how I do mine. First you will need to go to your local home depot or similar hardware type store.
Buy your self the necessary amount of clear tubing and an adapter that will fit your water facet and also fit the hose. This should cost you less then $20. Depending on how far you will need to travel from your tank to water facet.

Everything you need:

Put hose in tank:

Make sure you have enough hose:

Suck end of hose until you see water coming and then remove your mouth or you will end up drinking fish water:

I usually try to do a 15% to 25% once a week:

When finished draining water, attach hose to facet and turn on water until tank is full. Also be sure to add some water conditioner while you are filling tank and make sure your not filling your tank with hot water, cold will be fine.the addition of the new cold water gives the fish the sensation like they might have after a rain fall in the wiled:

 

[Pootspete]

Quite a set up you have there Haas. I am sure some will benefit from your pictures and explanation.

 

[valerie]

I looked into making my own DIY python but around here the tuing cost more then if i were jsut to buy the 25foot python at the LFS

 

[csmaster]

If you find a local industrial suppliers, they should sell clear pvc tubing pretty cheap

 

[downloader]

Hey Val try home depot its 12 cents a foot

 

[Cichlid Woman]

It's so easy!--and cheap. What do you do about vacuuming your gravel, though? And thanks for sharing such a simple and effective setup.

-- Pat

 

[fishlips]

Hey haas, If you fill the tube first then disconnect the end from your faucet it will drain without needing to draw on the hose with your mouth. Yuckie fish water!

 

[125gJoe]

Marineland's Kleen Sweep Vacuum

Originally posted by Cichlid Woman
What do you do about vacuuming your gravel, though? -- Pat

I got this little gadget and it works great! It runs off an aquarium air pump and is very effective. My Rena 300 puts out a lot of air, so I had to turn it down a little bit when using the vacuum.

 

[ArkyLady]

I've been eyeballing those magnum filters with the built in gravel vac. Been thinking about buying just one pro model and using it between all my tanks. Would this cause any problems? Not sure about possibly transmitting diseases or something with this method. I would't use it in my quarantine tank, just my established healthy tanks.

Thanks for the post and great details Haas!

 

[Haas]

I do use a gravel vac but not on every water change...

BTW here is a full pic of my tank: