Water Changes

[jcali10]

I normally use a python and gravity drain my tanks. Now with the addition of a a 75, to my 50, 29, 20 and 10 gal tanks the water changes seem to take too long. So I was looking at some of these devices from jehmco. Does anyone have any experience with these? either the gravity or pump models?

http://jehmco.com/html/safety_siphon_aq ... drain.html

[Aaron]

I think Sean uses something like this. Seems easy enough to make yourself?

[eleontie]

Build something custom for your setup - you'll be much better off.
Its just PVC/PEX pipe, a saw and some PVC glue.

[150EH]

Two of them just set the amount of water you want to remove, but the other 2 use a pump to speed up the flow so they should be much fast being there is very little head pressure. I've have never used one but my 150 drains via 1" cpvc and dumps 50 gallons in 10 minutes to my flower gardens, the real speed is the size of the pipe with no restrictions like a python has a the faucet attachment that really slows down the flow. My refill is much slower using a Taam Rio 10HF which pumps at 580 gallon per hour but a 6 feet of head pressure it takes 20 minutes to get 50 gallons of water back in the tank.

[jcali10]

The only thing that concerns me about the self build is the part of the siphon in the tank, it seems to be adjustable. I dont recall ever seeing a part like that; I will have to look for that piece.

Tim, I believe all I need is a gravity feed siphon. Are you using a storage tank? I just run my from a deep sink. All my tanks are in my basement/man cave.

[150EH]

I agree but even gravity fed can be slow if it has to go up and over the rim of the tank then back up over the rim of the sink, then throw in the faucet adapter.

I do use a storage tank.

It's too bad there is not a floor drain, it would drain much faster.

[adin]

I'm not sure if that's a special part... the "swivel" just looks like a threaded street elbow to me

[jweis]

I have used this. I wanted it in gray (vs white) so I built my own using landscaping parts from lowes. Pull up my 37/ journal to see details. I won't hve access to anything but my Blackberry for a couple more days.

[jcali10]

I finally built a siphon, using 1/2 inch pvc pipe and fittings. The hardest thing was finding all the right pieces. Bought a cheap 250 gph pump from harbor freight, 50 ft hose and some PVC. I used it today and it worked great, but I bought another hose today, see below, it's much lighter and really compact.

http://web.mail.comcast.net/service/hom ... 081&part=2

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en ... x=84&ty=90

[tug]

Hi Joe,
I've been thinking about using a hose like that for water changes. I wasn't sure if it would collapse with the pump upstream, pulling water through the hose, the way I need it. Have you attached the hose to the pump's output? From your description it sounds as if you are running the hose from the pump's output. Do you think the pocket hose will collapse if attached to the pump's intake to pull water through the hose?

Mike