Check out my water changing system

scotia-reefer · #1 01/12/2006, 02:45 PM

To make my water changing go a little smoother and quicker I made a system tha was very simple to construct. In my basement I set up a 44gal Rubbermaid garbage can and ran 1/2" copper to it with a valve for the fresh water supply. In the can I have a heater and a powerhead running at all times. I got a Rigid 3/4hp pump (oil-free) from Home Depot and I plugged it into a wireless remote gadget that I bought at Walmarts during Christmas time ($9.50). It has 5/8" clear tubing running from the pump up through the floor to the tank.
For the drain part I got a simple 32gal garbage can and a basic sump pump with the float switch. The drain line from the tank is 5/8" clear tubing which goes from the tank through the floor and to the can. When it fills up the float switch kicks the pump on and it pumps it up a garden hose into a existing drain line.
When it's time to do a water change all I have to do is unravel the tubing from inside the cabinet and put them in the tank. To start the siphon in the drain line I use a turkey baster and shoot one squirt of water in the line, starts the siphon immediately. After I suck out enought water form the tank I pull the line out and put the supply line in the tank and press the "on" button on the wireless remote. I did a good 15-20 gallon change in about 4-5 minutes last weekend.
Here are some pics. Not that easy to read but take a look.

waterdog1 · #2 01/12/2006, 03:07 PM

holy CAD Batman

Toyota Guy · #3 01/12/2006, 05:58 PM

I've got mad CAD skills!!!!!

Show off......

jallard · #4 01/12/2006, 06:09 PM

just looks like blue and red color pencil to me :P

scotia-reefer · #5 01/12/2006, 07:58 PM

Thanks guys but any comments on the other thing?!

upstatedave · #6 01/12/2006, 08:15 PM

looks good.and not really that complicated.....what do you do with the old water that goes to the cellar? kinda like the old mouse trap that uses a boot,marble,shotgun,alarm clock and a broom....just kidding...lol

scotia-reefer · #7 01/12/2006, 10:13 PM

The old water goes down into the can and the sump pump kicks on with the float switch to shoot it to the drain pipe. It works great and I'm kicking myself for not thinking of it before.

vmiller · #8 01/13/2006, 10:17 AM

I don't know if I'd trust copper pipe without the water running through RO/DI before it goes into the tank.

Nice setup though. My sump is in my basement and I installed pvc behind the wall that allows me to pump water out of my sump and into the house sump. I have another pvc line behind the wall that allows me to pump water from a 90g garbage can into the sump from about 20 or 30 feet away. I can do water changes as fast as the pumps allow and they're as easy as can be, but yet I still don't do them as often as I should.

scotia-reefer · #9 01/13/2006, 11:04 AM

RO/DI is next on my list. I left room to install one in the line.

jaze36 · #10 01/13/2006, 02:03 PM

I've been to Lou's and seen the system, its a nice set up. I want one.