Water Plumbing for the Aquarium

[Hoppy]

Probably the most boring, irritating job that we have to do routinely on a planted tank is drain and refill the tank. We should do this weekly or more often when using the EI dosing method, or when keeping big polluters like Discus, or when starting an ADA Aquasoil tank. For many of us this means dragging out the Python or DIY Python, connecting it to the sink plumbing, running back and forth adjusting water flow, etc. I find this enough of an aggravation that I seem to drag out the time between changes as long as possible - well beyond weekly.

I installed a continuous flow water change system for my tank, but I still need to drain it down often enough that I dread the job. So, I need a semi-automatic plumbing system, located right at the tank, where I can manipulate some valves and do the drain and refill with no other equipment needed. That is my current project, still in the planning stage.

Here is the plumbing system I am planning to install - but changes may be made as I think of them or as someone suggests them:


This will consist of a row of PVC 1/2" ball valves ($2.50 each) plumbed with tees and elbows, mounted on a piece of plywood, with a chart of valve positions for each setup, as shown below.

Does anyone see a problem with this? It isn't an expensive project, but I would still hate to have to do it twice.

[goalcreas]

Looks like a cool project, I think I understand everything, but are you using an ATO that is not in this sketch?

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by goalcreas

Looks like a cool project, I think I understand everything, but are you using an ATO that is not in this sketch?

What is an ATO? The only thing not in the sketch, plumbingwise, is the CO2 system, as far as I can see. This is a manual system, not automatic, so I will still have to position the valves manually, with the filter turned off, to make it work. I think I can continue to use the continuous water fill system, but I haven't decided if I want to do so.

The way I approach any job like this is to do it in my mind several times, step by step, looking for possible problems and working out each step. I still haven't started doing that.

[goalcreas]

ATO = Auto Top Off
Common in reef set ups, I had assumed this might be your fill in the continuous water system.
Or if you are taking that away when building this, then you would just open valve 1 for a short time to top off the tank?

[Hoppy]

I didn't have top off system, but did have a continuous drip of new water, so that I had about 5 gallons a day of water change. I can still do that with the new setup, and possibly will. With those valves there are other configurations that do nice things too - for example, I could use the filter as a pump to speed up draining the tank.

[Danielle]

how are you going to go about adjusting the temp of the water coming from the cold water line? that and dechlorinating it?

[Hoppy]

I plan to only change about 25% of the water at one time, and do that slowly, so I think the fish can easily withstand the small drop in temperature that will entail. I will use Prime as I do now - add it to the tank as I begin to add the new water.

[jpiers]

It seems to be an interesting plan.. Goodluck on that

[DriN8]

Hmmm. Cool stuff. To be honest it looks a little too mechanical for me to easily get it. I always dream of this and I have seen it on some custom made tanks even hooked up to a reverse osmosis unit. Yes the many buckets of water back and forth every week. Oh well I guess the sweat makes it extra special and puts in for some exercise. BTW what is the cost on a project like this?

[reybie]

DrinN8, you can probably sweeten that up a bit using a python. Save the back for when you get that big dream tank. Then again, if you're using RO you will need to devise a pumping method to get the water from holding container to the aquarium.