No more Bucket Brigade

2166 Views 24 Replies 19 Participants Last post by AshNeon93, Mar 19, 2014

mfurufuru

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2014

After two years of working for the bucket brigade to do my water changes, I have finally graduated and am now part of the aqueon water changer team.
I actually didn't mind the bucket brigade but using the water changer is just sooo much easier and faster.

I was only doing 25% water changes before but I wanted to start following the EI dosing regime so I figured doing 50% WC with a bucket on an 40B would be pretty time consuming. I gotta admit, I was kinda anxious at first because I live in an apartment and have carpeting. After figuring out how everything worked, everything went pretty much as designed. Hardest part was adjusting the water temp as I refilled the tank. I'm gonna use two thermometers next time so i don't have to keep running back and forth to adjust water temperature. It also felt kinda strange dosing prime directly into the tank. Normally I add prime to the water buckets prior to dumping it in the tank.

I would definitely recommend getting a water changer. It is faster, easier and lessens of chance of accidents like spilling while trying to fill the tank with a bucket.

Next step would probably be an automatic water changer but that will be sometime in the future.

roud:

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

Ckalisz

· #2 · Mar 16, 2014

I've been bucketing my 55g, well actually 1g pitchering it. Finally got online last week n ordered the python and 20 mins later my son looked under my tank and pulled out my old python. Yeah, I'm a dumba$$

sowNreap

· #3 · Mar 16, 2014

I don't think I could keep aquariums anymore if I didn't have a water changer. LOL I have an older Python that came with my used tank. I almost bought one before I got that tank but I was trying to not spend the extra money on something I didn't think I needed. I didn't realize how much less time I would spend doing water changes. I'd never go back to buckets now. Kind of like the difference between broadband & dial-up internet .. can't imagine trying to surf the net now at those slow modem dial-up speeds.

du3ce

· #4 · Mar 16, 2014

my nearest sink is my kitchen and my faucet is one of those faucet/sprayer all in one so I cant really use those water changer. Try doing 30% wc 3 days a week on a 75 g tank. Good thing my tank is right next to a window so I can just siphon the water outside.

lamiskool

· #5 · Mar 16, 2014

water changer definitely is an essential part of my fish keeping tools...especailly with 11 tanks...

du3ce

· #6 · Mar 16, 2014

my faucet does not have an adapter I cant screw anything off it has a detachable sprayer and a faucet all in one

sowNreap

· #7 · Mar 16, 2014

du3ce said:
my faucet does not have an adapter I cant screw anything off it has a detachable sprayer and a faucet all in one

Glad you brought that up. I wanted to get one of those since I use the side sprayer a lot but now I have to remember NOT to get one when I replace my faucet. LOL I've become so dependent on my Python, I'd have to invest in an extension hose to get it to a faucet I could use otherwise.

I run my hose out my back door to drain the tank. I only use the faucet for refilling.

Actually I still use 5 gal buckets but just for storing used tank water for cleaning filters. Mostly only during winter when it's too cold to do it outside.

GitMoe

· #8 · Mar 16, 2014

du3ce said:
my faucet does not have an adapter I cant screw anything off it has a detachable sprayer and a faucet all in one

Those can almost always be adapted. The standard size is a 3/8"FPT to Garden Hose thread. The sprayer head should unscrew somewhere.

Also, making a water changer is infinitely cheaper than buying one. All you need is about $15 in parts

6' of 1" PVC. (I think that's the smallest piece you can buy)
Some PVC glue/primer.
2 - 90 degree 1" PVC elbows
1 - 1" PVC cap
1 - 1" PVC end to 1/2"MPT
Sink Threads to Garden Hose adapter
1 - Garden Hose Thread to 1/2"MPT
2 - 1/2" FPT to 3/8" barb
3/8" hose however far it is from your tank to the water source.

The connection to your sink may vary based on the style sink you have. as long as your tank water level is higher than your sink drain the siphon will start automatically without the fancy flow a Python says you need.

This is the tank end of the one I built recently for my new 55g...

I drilled a lot of holes in the part that goes in the tank. The syphon will stop flowing automatically so I don't have to watch it and it empties 30% every time without me babysitting.

Also for water temperature monitoring at the water source...

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Aqguy

· #9 · Mar 17, 2014 (Edited by Moderator)

My 100g in the living room is on the backside of a bathroom wall so I plumbed a drain with valve into the bathroom drain it comes thur my aquarium cabinet , so my python is hooked up to this drain on a long hose so I can walk around the house and vacuum my tanks .
Under the kitchen sink is my ro system with drinking water storage tank and faucet then thur the wall in the califorina room/ porch is my 75g ro storage tank with pump and hose for filling my tanks 400g per hour so a 60 gallon change on the hundred takes about 10 min.
Got tired of buckets a long time ago

GitMoe said:
Those can almost always be adapted. The standard size is a 3/8"FPT to Garden Hose thread. The sprayer head should unscrew somewhere.

Also, making a water changer is infinitely cheaper than buying one. All you need is about $15 in parts

6' of 1" PVC. (I think that's the smallest piece you can buy)
Some PVC glue/primer.
2 - 90 degree 1" PVC elbows
1 - 1" PVC cap
1 - 1" PVC end to 1/2"MPT
Sink Threads to Garden Hose adapter
1 - Garden Hose Thread to 1/2"MPT
2 - 1/2" FPT to 3/8" barb
3/8" hose however far it is from your tank to the water source.

The connection to your sink may vary based on the style sink you have. as long as your tank water level is higher than your sink drain the siphon will start automatically without the fancy flow a Python says you need.

This is the tank end of the one I built recently for my new 55g...

I drilled a lot of holes in the part that goes in the tank. The syphon will stop flowing automatically so I don't have to watch it and it empties 30% every time without me babysitting.

Also for water temperature monitoring at the water source...

In line temp gauge - YouTube

Nice setup and I really like the rock finish on your tank and stand.

Whiskey

· #10 · Mar 17, 2014

du3ce said:
my nearest sink is my kitchen and my faucet is one of those faucet/sprayer all in one so I cant really use those water changer. Try doing 30% wc 3 days a week on a 75 g tank. Good thing my tank is right next to a window so I can just siphon the water outside.

I have the same problem, I put a 5G bucket in the sink, and put a powerhead on the end of the hose. This way I pump water from the 5G bucket into the tank and don't have to carry anything anywhere.

Whiskey

Ckalisz

· #11 · Mar 17, 2014

All u guys with faucet issues I dont have the biggest house but also not the smallest and I don't think there is anyplace in my house I can't reach with 45' of hose

Ruxl

· #12 · Mar 17, 2014

Whiskey said:
I have the same problem, I put a 5G bucket in the sink, and put a powerhead on the end of the hose. This way I pump water from the 5G bucket into the tank and don't have to carry anything anywhere.

Whiskey

Same here - I picked up a $15 harbor freight pond pump and toss it in the bottom of a bucket inside my sink. Hook the hose up to the pump & I'm golden.

GitMoe

· #13 · Mar 17, 2014

Aqguy said:
Nice setup and I really like the rock finish on your tank and stand.

Thanks. It's an Oceanic tank. I got it on CL for $150 with some random (mostly useless) other stuff. $150 turns into a much bigger number quickly in the planted tank world... Still a great deal though. The stand is just MDF but with a really nice coating. The tank is 1/2" glass. Heavy as hell...

GraphicGr8s

· #14 · Mar 17, 2014

In my last house I had a bunch of tanks inside. While I don't mind the bucket brigade for emptying the tank I sure do hate it filling. Anyhow, I use to use this hose for plant watering. Nothing more than a 30' length of 1/4" tubing that attached to a faucet. I wound up tapping into the charcoal filter under the sink instead. It was a nifty little hose. I would start on the large tanks and work down the line to the smallest. Being that the hose was only 1/4" it wouldn't fill very fast. So as I was getting done emptying/cleaning the next tank the first tank was about full. When I was done I just drained the house into the sink. Best part was the hose was thin enough it wasn't a problem dragging it around. And unlike the coiled hoses I see today it put no pressure on the faucet. Haven't seen one in years but it was a nifty idea. Same idea today would be to get some drip hose and use a faucet adapter for that. Add a piece of coat hanger into the tip to keep an elbow. Only thing left would be to find a shut off of sorts. The original just had a crimp to shut it on the business end. The whole thing wrapped up and sat in a nice coil in the cabinet.

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aman32

· #15 · Mar 17, 2014

Love the python ( lol ). Changing water on my 125 is cake. Takes 20 mins to do 33%. Great invention.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Steve002

· #16 · Mar 18, 2014

I have my tank beside a sliding door and that allows the use of a garden hose to an outside faucet & drain. Luckily the city water is always the right temp and has no chemical additives at all.

adamprice271

· #17 · Mar 18, 2014

I bought a 60 gallon drum that I fill from the hose outside, dechlorinate and get to temp (I usually add water around 10 degrees cooler than the tank), and I bought a sump pump from Harbor Freight and some hose from Home Depot. Once the drum is full, I drain the tank from the FX5 spout, and run to the shower, then plug in the sump pump and fill her up. Takes about 20-30 mins to do a full change.

MarkM

· #18 · Mar 18, 2014

I have a couple of tanks and the house is on a septic tank so I do not want to put 75 gallons a week of waste water in the septic tank. I have a 55 gallon drum set up outside and use one hose as a siphon from the tank(s) to the drum. I use the water in the drum on plants and shrubs outside. And have a second hose with a female spigot connector to attach to the utility room sink. I drain and clean with the siphon, add prime and fill from the spigot.

About forty five minutes to do 50% changes on the 120 + 50.

matt11390

· #19 · Mar 18, 2014

lamiskool said:
water changer definitely is an essential part of my fish keeping tools...especailly with 11 tanks...

11 tanks .... good grief that sounds like a lot of work

Stone454

· #20 · Mar 19, 2014

We have ummm 20 tanks but most thankfully are nanos but we have house to drain the tanks into the bathtub and we take the spout off the bathtub and attach a hose to fill up a rubbermaid tub add conditioner and use a pump and hose to fill the tanks

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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