Water changes made easy

[jaywickrob]

Simply attach a length of hose to the outlet of a small pond or water feature pump.
Drop the pump into the tank & the hose into a bucket or down the sink to drain. To refill put the pump into your bucket of prepared water and pump it to the tank.
Only thing to watch out for is that you don't let the pump run dry

Jay

[john100]

I'm happy to syphon the water out (and clean the gravel as I do so) but use a small submersible pump as you suggest to refill. Two additional tips; I added a footswitch to the pump electrical feed to I can start and stop the water more easily whilst holding the fill tube in the tank and my refill water is mixed in a 25 litre tub (sold for winemakers) which sits on a base with casters (sold for heavy plant tubs). Thus I avoid lifting heavy containers of water - for which my bad back is very grateful!

[AnnP]

I use a waterbutt pump to empty and refill. I attatch it to a length of hose pipe which is kept just for tank use and it makes a water change very easy. With the water butt pump it has switches to stop water flowing when you want. i use to change over 7 large tanks in under an hour with this system.

[syd4444]

Hi Ann,,,If you can change your water so quickly, how do you get the temperature of the new water up to temp. I too can change my water very quickly, I use 20ltr water dispenser bottles. When I get them up to temp, I just pour them in. It's getting them up to temperature that hold me up.

[AnnP]

I have a combi boiler and use it to keep the water near to the right temp. I have a very large bin which I fill next to the sink, then add declrinater and plant food, then pop the pump in the bin and refill the tanks

[syd4444]

That's a great idea Ann, I'm going to be getting a combi boiler in the next few months. To be quite honest, doing all of these water changes was putting me off the hobby, but I'll persevere. I want to set up a 300ltr Discus tank but the water changes is putting me off, I can see light at the end of the tunnel, thanks Ann.

[AnnP]

This is the pump like the one I have, but when I bought mine it was around £20
http://www.hor-i-zon.com/catalog/pro...53egal6rjmtjo0

[syd4444]

Thanks for the link Ann, looks like a good investment.