[HungrySpleen]

i have to use the old bucket method of changing water due to distance from faucet. my question is...

do i have to drain all 50% water at once then fill up or could i just drain and replace the 1 bucket full at a time for a total of 50%

hope this makes sense

 

[smp]

You need to take out what you want all at once. Otherwise the water taken out becomes diluted with the new, resulting in less of a total percentage desired change.

 

[EdTheEdge]

On my 90 I do three 15 gallon water changes in sucession. Sometimes I will do 4 of these cycles. It works fine for me. I don't think you need to be to concerned about dilution as long as you are doing a 50% change in a short amount of time. How big is your tank?

 

[HungrySpleen]

On my 90 I do three 15 gallon water changes in sucession. Sometimes I will do 4 of these cycles. It works fine for me. I don't think you need to be to concerned about dilution as long as you are doing a 50% change in a short amount of time. How big is your tank?

its a 40 breeder, from my understanding, i was planning on about 5 to 6 buckets doing it the 1 at a time method

 

[cjp999]

its a 40 breeder, from my understanding, i was planning on about 5 to 6 buckets doing it the 1 at a time method

Assuming 4 gallons per bucket, if you repeatedly remove a bucket of water and add a bucket of water, it will take between 7 & 8 buckets to accomplish a true 50% water change in your tank, compared to just 5 if you removed 5 buckets of water and then added 5.

 

[HungrySpleen]

Assuming 4 gallons per bucket, if you repeatedly remove a bucket of water and add a bucket of water, it will take between 7 & 8 buckets to accomplish a true 50% water change in your tank, compared to just 5 if you removed 5 buckets of water and then added 5.

well i guess that answers that then. to many buckets, i gotta come up with something better.

 

[Chrisk-K]

You have to take out what you need to take out. Then, fill up the tank.

Buy a Rubbermaid 30 gallon container with wheels at Home Depot. That's make your life easier. Or, an even better option is to buy a garden hose, a small pump & a faucet adapter. Well worth $$.

 

[Centromochlus]

You have to take out what you need to take out. Then, fill up the tank.

Buy a Rubbermaid 30 gallon container with wheels at Home Depot. That's make your life easier. Or, an even better option is to buy a garden hose, a small pump & a faucet adapter. Well worth $$.

Or even better, this:

 

[smp]

Or http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/97633-diy-aqueon-water-changer.html

or you own variation there of

 

[HungrySpleen]

does that kind of siphon work for about 65 ft or so

 

[cjp999]

does that kind of siphon work for about 65 ft or so

I run my DIY version about 50' with 5/8" tubing. Mine drains outside to ground level, so I get the advantage of good siphoning. When draining to a sink, pretty much all you get is the suction produced by the special part you attach to the sink.

 

[lauraleellbp]

does that kind of siphon work for about 65 ft or so

Yes, unless you're running it up or down a flight of stairs.

I use a 75' Python and I attach it to spigots outside my house.

 

[Chrisk-K]

does that kind of siphon work for about 65 ft or so

Yes. But unless your tank water level is higher than the faucet, you don't get powerful siphoning. I use a Python + a pump and water change is a piece of cake. I don't miss buckets at all.