armadillo

Oh yeah, that's what my husband does. But I wouldn't want to miss the look on my fish' face when they get their bi-weekly shower, LOL.

darkwolf29a

I made a hose for my Mag3 pump. I pump the pump in a plastic tub, and pour water in the tub from 5 gallon aging buckets. Flip an on/off switch on the surge protector....and away I go into water movement land. LOL

I used PVC pieces purchased from the hardware store to make a 40ft hose that is the same size as the inlet and outlet for the pump.

I threw a PVC Tee on the outlet just to help reduce the flow into the tank.

fishgirl

I use gal jugs and pour the water in front of the HOB filter.

Eremius

The higher the container you are siphoning from the faster the flow


Edit: Hooray for not seeing 8 pages...

sallie platy

hi people
cud u help me for the following questions
shud i change the water (its from a well)
every six weeks or weekly
is the pH alrite 6.4 to 6.8

bhcaaron

Isn't that the typical woman BS!

MrWaxhead

OK now I am really confused, I have been using beer in my tanks for quite some time and the fish seem very happy

sgould

rwood

Hey all,

I've had a quick look through this post (read this as a super fast skim - so I apologise if it's been mentioned before and I missed it) however I am upgrading my tank to a 72"x24"28" affair. The stand for this tank will be 35" tall. So with the tank on top of that it gets to 63" tall! The reason for the large stand is because I have my smaller 2 and a half foot tank displayed in it and I wanted a bit of extra height to display it more effectively.

So basically I was wondering what sort of method would be best to a) fill the super large tall tank and b) to fill the smaller tank as there is only about 6" of space above the tank to get a bucket/hose/whatever in there.

I did think at first of just using a hose to put water in the bigger tank (and even the smaller tank for that matter) however this is probably a fairly bad idea as the temperature levels would be completely different and the additives to take out the chlorine etc. would have to be added afterwards into the water - again not ideal.

The main issue for me here is the bigger tank as the smaller one I can use small jugs for which takes a bit longer but isn't too hard.

Thanks in advance for any ideas you can give me!

jsalemi

Do you have a faucet nearby? A Python Clean & Fill would be perfect if you do. It comes with a 25' to 100' hose, and a 10" gravel cleaner/sucker. There are longer gravel cleaners available as options (I got a 20" one for my tall tank). You many not be able to clean the gravel in the lower tank, but the cleaner will fit in the space you have a spill water into it. The Python aerates the water as it pumps it in, clearing out some of the chlorine, and you can dribble chlorine remover into the water stream (or just add it direct to the tank).

They're available at most LFS and online: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...10&pcatid=3910

Peterpiper

I have a power head in the tub and just plug a piece of tube in and a small spray bar in the tank and flick the switch.

rwood

Excuse the noobness but by faucet you just mean your usual hose tap thingo outside don't you? As I do have one of those nearby.

As I understand it this just works that you connect it up to the hose and it'll suck water out/clean the gravel on one setting and then pump water back into the tank on the other setting. Is that right?

jsalemi

That or just a regular sink faucet (which is better, since you can regulate the water temp better).

Yes, it sucks out water or pumps in water depending on how the bottom of the faucet connection is set. Simple change, and it works pretty quick. I had my 56g tall (24") about 2/3 full, and it emptied it down to about 4" of water in about 15 minutes. Took about 1/2 hour to fill it back up to the top. This was off a regular kitchen sink faucet.

rwood

Alrighty then, I think I shall be getting that! Thanks a lot for the help mate - I'm assuming it doesn't have a temp gauge in it though? Just wondering for testing the temp of the water coming out of the tap

rwood

Also - if you know off the top of your head...are you aware at all of any cheap places to get this (preferably online) in australia?

jsalemi

I just use an instant-read digital cooking thermometer, like the ones you can buy in any store that sells cooking supplies. Cost maybe $10 US when I got it, and it works just fine for testing the water temp.

And sorry, no, I don't know any Aussie on-line stores. There's a couple of folks from Oz here, though, so maybe one of them will jump in with a source.

rwood

If I am unable to purchase this product in australia is anyone here willing to mail it over for me? Admitedly it's an unsafe way of doing things and there's a lot of trust involved (more on my part as I would transfer the money before getting you to send/buy it) but..just and idea. Cheers

Sarcastic

rwood

Sarcastic,

I've actually come up with my own solution - I've made the Python! I think I've even improved it if you ask me. The improvement is that on the output pipe I've added some extra hose so I can run it outside and into the garden; nutrients in the water are great for the plants! And down here in aus we have water restrictions so we can only water at certain times etc so this is especially handy for me having this extra hose extension.

Using this method of filling the tank means I can adjust the temperature as well; I don't have enough room or understanding parents to allow me to keep massive buckets of water sitting in the house either.

jsalemi

In this day of instant-read thermometers and chemicals that dechlorinate water within seconds, there's no need to leave buckets of water laying around.

armadillo

RWood, maybe you could even start a thread of its own asking for this? I am afraid this one might be buried under other comments. It might attract more attention.

armadillo

That's a really good idea, Joe. I'll see if I can find one here in Holland.

Azahara

I know this is kinda old but . . . Did anyone else think of just moving the fish before you start?

armadillo

It's not that odd, actually, . Some people do it. I don't as I don't do 100% water changes, and the way I do it does not upset the fish. I think it's more stressful for the fish to be moved.

jsalemi

It probably is more stressful for the fish to move them. Besides, my fish love playing in the water stream as I put the water back in with the Python. And the ones in the 10g play in the stream from the 1g jugs I use to put water in.

tony

I add the water through the filter. Just take the cover off the filter (if you have a power filter) and pour the water in that way. That way your not making any new water movements in the tank. And you can actually pour the water in the filter faster than you might think.

MagpieTear

I'm getting ready to remodel the office/den (No more burnt orange carpet! YAY!) and I'm going to run a water line with a temperature control and a drain up through the floor behind the tank. This business of running 5 gallon buckets up and down the steps is getting old. This way, I stick the siphon hose in the drain and clean away. And then just open the faucet for the refill. Be even more important if I ever get the 125 like I want. That's a lot of buckets every week!

jsalemi

Do you have a bathroom on that floor? You could just get a Python and use that to suck the water out and put new water in without having to run new drains and water lines.

MagpieTear

Sadly No, But it's right over the Laundry room. I'm talking about running a maximum of 6' of line. Figure about $100 and a Saturday of sweating fittings. The room is going to be gutted to the studs anyways, and think of the coolness factor. May even run it through one of those handy dandy filter bells that my dad has on his well water to take out some of the crud my Municipal Authority puts in the water...

jsalemi

Yea, in that case it makes sense then. Cool!