I need help making water changes easier

[Quatro]

I feel that I am not putting enough effort into water changes and would like to setup and easier method.  Someday I would like to be able to flip a switch and have it happen automatically.  In the meantime I would like to know what others do (especially those with the big fish rooms).

I have tried the Python Clean n Fill.  Works great for filling (if you get the temperature right and add the dechlorinator to the tank first).  Wasn't very impressed with the draining process.  Seems like a lot of water used to drain a bit from the tank.  I'll try getting a long hose and siphoning directly to the bathtub (the lowest drain I have).

The 2gal bucket approach is time consumming and annoying.

I am thinking about getting a large rubbermaid container to help my dilemma.  I would fill the container, add dechlorinator and other additives, and let it sit for a day to get the temp right, then use a pump to get it to the tank.  The concerns I have about this option are (1) would a 50gal rubbermaid container crack with that much water in it, and (2) would the container effect the water quality (leech chemicals into it).

I was also reading the DIY automatic water change system written by bitterman and like the look of it.  I have one question for him:  if the source water is coming from a tap, how do you add dechlorinator?

Thanks muchly peoples.

Mike S

[zapisto]

what ever method you use, you will have to spend time for your fish
however depend on how much you want spend , any thing is possible

you have multiple way to cut water change time spending, but be aware of no method is plug and play, you will have to think of it well before do anything.

my self i use permanent water change in some tank , and some other i go manually, because some fish like old water some prefer new water all the time etc...

you will be subject to a lot of parameter

Happy new year

[KLKelly]

I just set up a rubbermaid tub last week.  Bought a 30$ pump from Canadian tire (600 gph) and a hose kit there also.
I'm on well water so the water is better after sitting/bubbling which was the point of the tub.  Matching water temp is a PITA this way.  I wouldn't go this route if you don't have to.

I hear you about the python using too much water.  I'm looking for a work around on this also.

[darkdep]

I could never go back to buckets.

I use a Python currently (My 5 year old calls it an anaconda...cracks me up every time) to do all my tanks.  I drain them all in sequence, add the additives directly to the tank, and then fill in sequence.

Although it works well enough, I perceive that the draining and filling takes too long.  Also, I notice that some of my fish go into flashing fits when I do a water change (especially my Multipunctatus). 

What I want to do is run pipe to all my tanks and use a single run of hose with a pump to drain.  A rubbermaid can for preparing makeup water would have a pump for hooking up to the same pipe system. 

All on paper, not implemented yet

[sniggir]

I to use the python but I hook a maxi jet 1200 to it to drain the tank realy fast I did a 100% water drain in my 160g and took less than 30 min was great redbelly showed me that trick anyway hope this helps

[lucky777]

Just a quick question.  Should you not be adding the dechlorinater or additives to the water before putting the new water in tank?  Would it not defeat the purpose if you add the additives to the existing water and dump the chlorinated water in?

I always have about 10, 5 gallon buckets that I add my additives to.  I let the dechlorinater do its job and then I add my salts and baking soda.  Then dump the water in.  Am I going overboard or does anyone else do it this way?

[darkdep]

Lucky777:  You're doing it the better way for sure.  You can add the dechlor to the existing water, it will act on the chloramine in the tap water as it is added.  But, the fish are exposed to it while it's being neutralized.

[lucky777]

Lucky777:  You're doing it the better way for sure.  You can add the dechlor to the existing water, it will act on the chloramine in the tap water as it is added.  But, the fish are exposed to it while it's being neutralized.

Ok, good.  I thought I was wasting a lot of time when I didn't have to.  I'm always the better safe then sorry kinda of guy.  Would hate to see anything happen to any of my Africans 

[White Lightning]

I used to use the bucket method my twenty gallon tank, then I bought  a sixty gallon tank and a python because there was no way I was using the buckets for this one. The python makes things a million times easier. It drains and fills within minutes. I can't believe anyone could complain about the python. That truly shocks me to hear someone say that there is an easier method for doing water changes than that of the python, when using the python is the easiest thing in the world.

[babblefish1960]

An alternative to all that work and planning to avoid that work, you could always be like some of the folks here and have someone come around once a week and do the water changes for you. I know it doesn't solve the issues you bring up, but it certainly sidesteps the entire problem and get you to a state where you actually miss tank maintenance. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[bitterman]

You should have seen me doing a water change on my 172 with buckets It took about 3-4 hours to do a 25% water change! Thats why I built the drip system, not water changes are done automatically!!!

Bruce

[cory]

Python rocks! Takes me around 20 min to do my 125g. (drain, fill)
I do 50% WC once a week My Fish love it! I also add all the stuff straight into the tank before i start filling it back up.