Jonez
I can't remember if I posted this before (Found the original thread , I've just added the shower head splitter), so thought I'd add this to the collection of DIY's, as its been super successful for me, and only cost about $13 to make.
Items used:
50ft Garden Hose (get an anti-kink hose).
3/4" male thread-to-5/8" barb
3/4" female thread to 5/8" female thread
5/8" shower nozzle plunger switch.
Self-priming vacuum siphon.
Magnetic glass scrubber.
The whole system is very simple.
I took the male end of the garden hose and screwed the 3/4" thread to 5/8" barb onto it.
I then just attached my regular self-priming siphon hose to the barb end. Make sure you have the self-priming siphon.
On the other side, I left it as is.
Now to my shower head. I unscrewed it, and attached the 3/8" shower nozzle plunger switch. I re-attached my shower head to the top side, and attached the 3/4"-to-5/8" thread to the bottom side.
I actually found this mechanism on a job site of a house I was remodeling. I haven't been able to find a link online for purchase but I'm sure your local hardware store will know what to look for.
And that's pretty much it!
Now to drain my tanks, I just take the one end of the garden hose and leave it in my tub, while the other end I use the self-priming siphon as usual (shaking to get suction).
Once drained, I remove the self-priming vacuum attachment from the 5/8" tubing and use the clip to secure the tubing to the inside of my tank for refilling.
I then use my magnetic glass scrubber to place just beneath the tube outlet to disperse the water instead of having it jut into the tank, disturbing the substrate.
Then I just go to my tub, and screw the hose end to the attachment on my shower head and set the plunger to the bottomside.
I turn on my water faucet, get my temperature set then pull the shower plunger.
Tanks are filled as normal.
There is always water left in the line from drain-to-fill, so expect a forced air bubble or two when reversing the flow.
Once I'm done, I shut off the water, unscrew the hose from the shower-side and place in the tub. I go to the tank-side and start winding up my hose -- draining the excess water from the hose into the tub as I wrap it up.
My 40 gallon takes about 15-20 minutes to drain and fill, and my 10 gallon takes about 5-10 minutes.
Items used:
50ft Garden Hose (get an anti-kink hose).
3/4" male thread-to-5/8" barb
3/4" female thread to 5/8" female thread
5/8" shower nozzle plunger switch.
Self-priming vacuum siphon.
Magnetic glass scrubber.
The whole system is very simple.
I took the male end of the garden hose and screwed the 3/4" thread to 5/8" barb onto it.
I then just attached my regular self-priming siphon hose to the barb end. Make sure you have the self-priming siphon.
On the other side, I left it as is.
Now to my shower head. I unscrewed it, and attached the 3/8" shower nozzle plunger switch. I re-attached my shower head to the top side, and attached the 3/4"-to-5/8" thread to the bottom side.
I actually found this mechanism on a job site of a house I was remodeling. I haven't been able to find a link online for purchase but I'm sure your local hardware store will know what to look for.
And that's pretty much it!
Now to drain my tanks, I just take the one end of the garden hose and leave it in my tub, while the other end I use the self-priming siphon as usual (shaking to get suction).
Once drained, I remove the self-priming vacuum attachment from the 5/8" tubing and use the clip to secure the tubing to the inside of my tank for refilling.
I then use my magnetic glass scrubber to place just beneath the tube outlet to disperse the water instead of having it jut into the tank, disturbing the substrate.
Then I just go to my tub, and screw the hose end to the attachment on my shower head and set the plunger to the bottomside.
I turn on my water faucet, get my temperature set then pull the shower plunger.
Tanks are filled as normal.
There is always water left in the line from drain-to-fill, so expect a forced air bubble or two when reversing the flow.
Once I'm done, I shut off the water, unscrew the hose from the shower-side and place in the tub. I go to the tank-side and start winding up my hose -- draining the excess water from the hose into the tub as I wrap it up.
My 40 gallon takes about 15-20 minutes to drain and fill, and my 10 gallon takes about 5-10 minutes.
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