Making my water changes easier. What do you guys think

[DerekL]

I have a 90 gallon display tank and my sump was made from a 25 gallon aquarium. My thoughts were purchase a new shop vac dedicated to my water changes only. I would cut power to my return pump and skimmer. Would wait till overflow stop draining into sump and also for the siphon break on my return line once water stopped flowing into sump I would then mark where the water line is then proceed to take shop vac and take all water out. While water is drained I woul do a quick cleaning of skimmer and return chamber. And once every couple of months do a good overhaul on whole sump. Once I am done cleaning I will then take extra mag 12 drop in new saltwater made for water changes and well I figure the whole process can be done and over in the matter of minutes. What do you guys think is this feasible? I know that cleaning sump everytime probably isn't necessary but if I do with every water change the overhaul won't take as long.

 

[Poseidon]

seems like a good plan to me but i dunno if a shop vac would be necessary...
just use the same mag 12 to drain the sump, then every month just do a quick siphon of the sump,
thats basicly what i do.

 

[reeffreak]

I use a shop vac for water changes. Easy as hell, even easier then using a mag pump , that's what I was doing. The vac can just suck up all that nasty junk, and right to the laundry tub to unload. That easy. Whereas the pump can get clogged and can't suck up small things  like snail shells.

 

[Seggsy]

Shop vac is a great idea (if Derek will let me borrow it once or twice a year)

 

[reeffreak]

Shop vac is a great idea (if Derek will let me borrow it once or twice a year)

40$ at lowes. 6 gallons it holds takes me about 4 min to suck up 20 gal and dump. Maybe not even that

 

[DerekL]

Thank you Reeffreak that was the same reason I was thinking shop vac. Won't damage a shop vac. So am I correct with filling it back up to the same level as it was before I started right? And Dan you are welcome to borrow the shop vac anytime. I will let you know once I buy it as I want a new one that will be dedicated just to my sump cleaning. Reeffreak how long roughly does it take to do your water changes?

 

[reeffreak]

I do 20 gallon changes usually, recently it's been 10 but more often. For a 10 gallon water change I have 2, 5 gal pails ready to put in. I shutoff return,'skimmer, etc. then suck out 5 gals at a time and dump them. I fill the return section back up with 5 gal new water turn pump back on let return chamber empty and dump the other 5 in. Total process takes under 10 minuets.

 

[reeffreak]

But what would make it even easier would be adding a 20 gal tank onto the system strictly for WC, no equipment, no rock, no livestock. Shut off the line running to the tank Have a hole drilled near bottom,  plumb in a valve and use that to empty the tank. And then refill it turn everything back on.

 

[DerekL]

Once I buy a house and I have my sump on the basement I will definately employ something like that right now until I can find something to fit in my stand the sterilite container I use for my ATO is sitting beside my stand and wifey is no too impressed. Don't get me wrong i lucked out as she enjoys this hobby too which is great cuz never the argument about spending too much money on the fish tank but who really want a container of water just sitting next to there fish tank.