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Show me your waterchange system!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Lee, Apr 25, 2013.

  1. Apr 25, 2013 #1
    Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    I absolutely hate doing waterchanges and I know some of you have designed setups to make this chore much easier. I would love to see pictures of your setups!



     
  2. Apr 26, 2013 #2
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    I have hoses, and buckets. LOL. But hopefully when I get the new sump in I'll have something a lot more convenient.
    I'm with you on wanting to see some nice simple water change set-ups.
     
  3. Apr 26, 2013 #3
    nickbuol Marion, IA

    nickbuol Here fishy, fishy, fishy...

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    I am going to be stuck with buckets and hoses forever, unfortunately. My tank is in my basement with no usable location that is closer to my storage room where I make the RO/DI water and salt mix, and no way to plumb anything to where it is currently located. If we ever move again (oh, gosh I hope not), but if we do, I am going to look for a storage room location under where the tank could go and then I could rig something up for super hidden ato water storage, filtration, and water changes.
    - Nick
     
  4. Apr 26, 2013 #4
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Buckets and hoses rule for sure !! Keeps my back in shape lol
     
  5. Apr 26, 2013 #5
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    You go above and beyond with buckets and hoses. Dragging water back from North Liberty.



     
  6. Apr 26, 2013 #6
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Not any more...finally installed a RO/DI unit...man, why I didn't do that sooner !!!
     
  7. Apr 26, 2013 #7
    Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Nobody!? Probably those that have waterchange setups are spending their extra free time enjoying other things/not doing tank maintenance!


    I did find a nice write up on an automatic waterchange system using a Litermiter III. It would be a little pricey to setup, but it's got me thinking I might start looking into automatic waterchange systems since I have the space and a drain right next to the tank anyways!


    http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...aterchange



     
  8. Apr 26, 2013 #8
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Yep...the rest of us take a break from hauling buckets and tubs of water by reading through GIRS posts !
     
  9. Apr 26, 2013 #9
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    litermeter III seem to be the way to go for automatic water changes. I have considered getting one several times.

    I wish there was controllable rate dosing pumps at a reasonable price you could run off the APEX. Make your own system and not have to add another controller.
     
  10. Apr 26, 2013 #10
    ninjazx777 Des Moines, IA

    ninjazx777 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Litemeter III with 2 remote pumps is what I use for auto top off and water changes I top off 7 gal a day and change out 15 gal a day of salt water. I love not having to haul buckets and hoses around
     
  11. Apr 26, 2013 #11
    Jamie

    Jamie Well-Known ReefKeeper Vendor

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    I"ll have to get some pics of mine up here this weekend. I've got 2 12 volt SP200VOHD peristaltic dosing pumps that I got from apt instruments that can run up to 100ml a minute. These pumps are awesome as you can change the speed of them also by simply changing the voltage to them from 5 -12 volts with simple and cheap wall warts.
    The system changes about a 1/2 gallon every hour. I pump fresh saltwater in at a salinity about 3 points lower than the tank salinity from a 110 gallon full drain inductor tank. The inductor tank allows me to mix and store saltwater with just a air pump since the bottom of the tank is a cone shape. (air stone in the bottom of the 2" drain on the tank. The lower salinity water accounts for freshwater top-off as well so that I do not have to worry about trying to dose the correct amount of fresh water at the same time. The water pumping in every hour causes the skimmer to constantly skim extremely wet skintimate which the other dosing pump drains down the drain at the same time.
     
  12. Apr 26, 2013 #12
    Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Hey Matt - Do you do any other waterchanges other than the ongoing automatic ones? Curious if you neet to heat the new saltwater or if you just keep it at room temperature with a circulation pump or airstone?

    Jamie - Would love to see pictures of that setup...I wondered about combining the topoff with the new water, but seemed like it might be hard to calculate the correct specific gravity as the evaporation rate changes from winter/summer.
     
  13. Apr 27, 2013 #13
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

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  14. Apr 27, 2013 #14
    MXC207 Cedar Rapids

    MXC207 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Kostlff5U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    Thats what id like to get setup. Need to figure out more about my apex first tho.
     
  15. May 1, 2013 #15
    Pete H.

    Pete H. Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    That is an awesome video! Bookmarked for when I get to set up my dream tank some day.



     

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