Best Way To Mix Water In 40 Gallon Fowlr

Okay so I'm not new to saltwater aquariums but I'm primarily a fresh water guy (I know, I know, please don't kill me lol). I've had my saltwater 40 gallon up for a year and a half now. When I first started mixing saltwater, I did it in 5 gallon buckets and it was a disaster. I gave up and started buying saltwater from my LFS.

Lately I have not had the time to go up every weekend and buy it and come home, so I've decided to have another go at mixing it myself. This time, I'd like to make it in batches of 20 gallons.

My plan: buy a 20 gallon barrel or container and set it next to my tank. add the fresh water and salt and heat/mix it for 48 hours before the planned water change.

So here are my questions:
1. Good idea?
2. How do I get the water from the barrel up to the tank? Electric pump?
3. What sort of container should I buy? I don't have too much space to put it so I'd rather get one that is taller than wider.

Thoughts? Thanks guys

 

I would stay with the buckets get two buy a couple cheap power heads on eBay and do 4 gallons in each for a 20percent water change. Otherwise put your 20 gallon tote on a table or something then just use a python to transfer to the water to a bucket than pour the bucket in your aquarium

 

1) Yes. Good idea. 20 gallon barrel, container, or even a 32 gallon brute trash can.

2) Either scoop or what I do is use an inexpensive return pump. attach PVC pipes and hose to the return nozzle. Turn on when you are ready to fill your tank back up. Simple.

3) Take a look at Brute trashcans.

 

What I do, is that instead of buying power heads, I just put on airstone and heater in there. This is cheaper since I already have the supplies, but it takes longer. To put it back in the tank, buy a water pump, attach it to a tube, and the water will up by itself, in the tank.

 

1) Yes. Good idea. 20 gallon barrel, container, or even a 32 gallon brute trash can.

2) Either scoop or what I do is use an inexpensive return pump. attach PVC pipes and hose to the return nozzle. Turn on when you are ready to fill your tank back up. Simple.

3) Take a look at Brute trashcans.

Okay I’ll look, thanks

 

What I do, is that instead of buying power heads, I just put on airstone and heater in there. This is cheaper since I already have the supplies, but it takes longer. To put it back in the tank, buy a water pump, attach it to a tube, and the water will up by itself, in the tank.

Would 20 gallons mix within 24-48 hours with an air stone?

 

I would only use the air stone for a small batch of water, for mixing 20 gallons, I would definitely use a powerhead. What I like to do is, leave the powerheads pointed at the bottom for 24 hours to be sure no salt settles and it all mixes, and then move the powerhead to the top of the bucket so it agitates the surface and oxygenates the water for the next 24 hours. I guess an air stone sorta does both, but in a tall trash can, I don't think it would agitate the surface much, and I don't think it would move enough water to prevent salt from settling on the bottom.

 

I would only use the air stone for a small batch of water, for mixing 20 gallons, I would definitely use a powerhead. What I like to do is, leave the powerheads pointed at the bottom for 24 hours to be sure no salt settles and it all mixes, and then move the powerhead to the top of the bucket so it agitates the surface and oxygenates the water for the next 24 hours. I guess an air stone sorta does both, but in a tall trash can, I don't think it would agitate the surface much, and I don't think it would move enough water to prevent salt from settling on the bottom.

Okay I can do that. I think I have a spare power head laying around somewhere. What about a water pump to go 3 feet up to the tank? I have a python but I'm not sure it has the power to go that far against gravity without a pump. So any recommendations anyone?

 

I'm a Freshwater guy but I use this pump for my water changes:

Since setting up a 75g, I picked up a 32g Brute trash can w/lid from Lowes. I use a Python gravel vac to vac the tank and fill the trash can to about 3/4 full. I use the pump to pump the water to a drain. While it's draining, I fill up my 5 gallon buckets with water (I have a LOT of 5 gallon buckets). I can usually get 3 or 4 buckets filled before the trash can is empty. I add Stress Coat in the trash can and dump the 5 gallon buckets in. I use the pump to pump the water into the tank.

 

You can just use some kind of pump like the one attached in the post above. I have a couple random pumps laying around that I use when I need to move a lot of water, usually if it's only 5 gallons I'll just pick it up, but for a 20 gallon bucket that weighs nearly 200 pounds, just get some kind of pump, I wouldn't suggest using a cheap one, but I'm guilty of doing that.