Water Changers
Contents:
- RE: float switches/automatic water changes
by spine/stlnet.com (Mon, 19 Jan 1998)
- Pumping RO water
by "Tony Minneboo" <fishingt/angelswest.com> (Sun, 31 Jan 1999)
- RE: Pumping RO water out of a garbage can
by Michael D Nielsen <mnielsen/U.Arizona.EDU> (Sun, 31 Jan 1999)
- Pump Warning
by Julius Odian <uodiaj00/umail.ucsb.edu> (Mon, 1 Feb 1999)
- reducing water hardness for breeding discus
by BigJohnW/webtv.net (John Wubbolt) (Tue, 26 Jan 1999)
- George Booth's Evaporation Problem solved
by IDMiamiBob/aol.com (Sun, 16 Jul 2000)
by spine/stlnet.com
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998
> From: "Felix Fernandes" <fern121-at-msn.com>
>
> I've been searching the web for info on automatic water change setups(I
> don't mean python products). The only article I found was by Jon
> Elion(automatic water changes aug 92) - using a overflow PVC pipe
connected
> to house drainage.
>
> I was interested in a float switch system that would first drain 10% water
> triggered by a timer which would in (at the low water level) trigger a
> solenoid to fill up the aquariam.
I have created a semi-automatic water changer for one of my systems. I have
two lines of PVC pipe to the aquarium. One goes from the back of the
aquarium to the basement drain and the other from the back of the aquarium
to a pump in the basement which is in turn attached to a reservoir.
The drain line has a solenoid installed about 4' from the drain. This
solenoid holds water in the drain line to help initiate siphon when I drain
the tank. I have the switch for the solenoid controlled via an X10
controller. When I trigger the switch the solenoid opens and the water
already in the pipe begins to drain, sucking water out of the aquarium and
starting the siphon. When 25% is drained I close the solenoid, keeping
water in the pipe to start the siphon next time.
I then trigger the pump to push water into the aquarium. The drain pipe
that extends down into the aquarium is removable so that I don't have to
look at it and it is also a limited length so that if I forget the tank,
it'll only drain about 35% of the water.
Nothing is automated although with the X10 it could be. I've found no need
to automate the process. It's so easy I don't find myself getting lazy like
I do with the other aquarium.
Mike
St. Louis
by "Tony Minneboo" <fishingt/angelswest.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999
<<<I have an RO system and I store the water in a garbage can until I'm
ready
to use it. I'd like to come up with a system where I pump the water out of
the can and right into the tank for water changes. I was looking at some
little pumps at the LFS today, but the guy told me that they can pump water
only so far up (implying that the water would never make it out of the can).
The garbage can is about 30-40 feet away from the tank. If anyone is doing
something like this, I'd like to hear your solutions and what to look for in
a suitable pump.
Kelly Beard, Cat IV, Team Allanti>>>
I use a rubber maid garbage can to treat for chloramine and then pump the
water into the tanks using a Mag Drive submersable pump. I have racks all
the way up to the ceiling and these pump it all the way up. You also dont
want the water to go too fast however as this would cause too much
disturbance in the tank. I bought the Mag Drive rated for 350 gallons per
hour. It is just right. This pump has garden hose fittings, it couldnt get
much easier. At the end I fashioned a U shaped piece of PVC so I can hang
this on the rim of the tank untill the tank is full.
Best prices for stuff like this is www.thatpetplace.com
Tony Minneboo
Owner, Angels West
mailto:fishingt@angelswest.com
Visit our website for breeding quality angelfish and proven hatchery
supplies.
http://www.angelswest.com
by Michael D Nielsen <mnielsen/U.Arizona.EDU>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999
While the pumps made for aquariums will work, they are expensive, and if
you only need to use the pump for water changes here is my suggestion,
which I have been using for over a year with great luck on fresh and
saltwater tanks.
Go to a hardware/general/home supply store and find a submirsible sump
pump. They are usually used to pump effluent out of houses. I got one on
sale rated at 1140 gph with a large screen bottom and a garden house
output. It pumps down to something like 1/4" of water. I use a 50 foot
garden house and all tanks are on one floor, but these pumps are generally
able to pump to a very high head (>>10 feet). It fills tanks fast, and if
you need to diffuse water flow put some filter pad on the output.
Since I don't trust the pump I only put it in the water when actually
using it to pump water and rinse in freshwater after every use.
Very fast pump and very cheap (about $30-40 at walmart).
Good luck and if you have any other questions please ask.
o Mike Nielsen u
m Department of Geography THE OPTIMIST BELIEVES WE LIVE IN ?
a Harvill Bldg Box #2 THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS; w
r Tucson, AZ 85721 THE PESSIMIST FEARS THIS IS SO h
e mnielsen@u.arizona.edu o
by Julius Odian <uodiaj00/umail.ucsb.edu>
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999
Now that everyone knows where to get these utility sump pumps, I just
wanted to remind everyone that they are not safe to use as a circulation
pump. They will leach metals into the water. For pumping out of a garbage
can I am sure they are fine, but remove the pump afterwords so it doesn't
sit in the water for extended periods of time.
The sump pumps are actually quite convenient to have around the house. My
neighbors driveway flooded and I hooked the pump up to a hose and let it go
to work.
Julius
by BigJohnW/webtv.net (John Wubbolt)
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999
To: apisto/majordomo.pobox.com
Hello Kym
A friend of mine uses a system where he has 55 gallon garbage buckets on
like a small scooter ( the thing fits the bucket but has 4 wheels.)
Inside the bucket of water he has a one of those little giant water
pumps. Coming out of the pump is a hose that he has hooked up a piece
of pvc piping that he has set up in a U shape. This way it hangs onto
the tank and the open end either drains water out of the tank or fills
the tank back up. It depends on which way he runs the water pump.
This way there is no lifting or carrying of water. the wheels on the
bottom of the bucket do all the work. That is if you have no steps and
a flat floor. The best part is he isn't pregnant or out of shape, he
just hates doing unnecessary work if he doesn't have to. Saves alot of
time if you have alot of tanks.
John Wubbolt
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by IDMiamiBob/aol.com
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000
Merrill writes:
> Just attach a Meridian Automatic Aquarium Water Changer to your aquarium
> or to your "well" under the aquarium and turn it on for the required
> time to replace your evaporation. It changes 5 gallons per hour, so you
> can even hook it up to a garden hose timer for the amount of time to
> replace the evaporated water. It's an ideal project for you.
Do it one better. Hide a small second tank behind it or elsewhere at the
same level. Put an all-plastic toilet valve assembly in that second tank,
and run a permanent siphon between the two. When the water level drops, the
valve opens by itself and replaces the water. Or how's this-
You get a couple of those one-gallon-per hour drip valves in the garden
department at the department store. You hang them in the tank, attached to a
sprinkler system timer. You set the thing so it replaces 10% or 20% or
whatever every week, twice a week, again-whatever. You set up a
self-regulating siphon (goose-neck siphon) in the back of the tank and run
its output to a drain somewhere. You can automatically top off and get water
changes done at the same time without any effort from you.
Bob Dixon
The Krib
Plumbing and Filtration
The Krib