Undrilled Drain?

[fishmama]

Is there a way on a tank to attach a "drain", say over the top rim, that will drain 50% without drilling the tank and without using a python, etc? Yet works off a syphon or vacuum principle? I ask because I have a 55 gal that can't be drilled due to tempered glass construction. :(

[phidelt85]

Hey Lisa! Yes you can. I'll attach some photos of what I use to drain one of my tanks into the other. It is just a "U" that hangs over the tank; if you then add another "U" inside the tank at the level at which you want to drain down to it will hold prime for you. I add a valve on the outside to stop the flow when I'm done draining down

[fishmama]

AWESOME!!! Thanks so much! Pics would be so,so helpful as I am certainly no plumber (not even related to one that I am aware of :p)

[phidelt85]

Here are the pictures of a couple that I have. The first two pics are of one I currently use to change water on my challenge fish. The tank it is in drains into my Challenge fish tank. If you notice the intank shot, it's the gray pipe next to the heater. It will siphon down to the bottom of the pipe. The problem with this one is that if you let it go all the way to that bottom it will break the siphon and need to be reprimed. Hence, the extra "U" on the inside of the tank as in the third pic. You just have to cut the pipe that is on the inside of the tank to the length that will leave the top of the 90s inside the tank at the level you want to drain to. HTH

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Tank%20furniture/DSC03858.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Tank%20furniture/DSC03857.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Tank%20furniture/DSC03860.jpg

[fishmama]

Perfect...that is what I was needing. If you stopped the flow with the ball valve I guess you could even transfer it to another tank without having to prime again?

thx,
Lisa

[seanyuki]

Is there a way on a tank to attach a "drain", say over the top rim, that will drain 50% without drilling the tank and without using a python, etc? Yet works off a syphon or vacuum principle? I ask because I have a 55 gal that can't be drilled due to tempered glass construction. :(



Hi Lisa,

Found this at Jehmco.

http://www.jehmco.com/html/safety_siphon_aquarium_drain.html

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Francis

[fishmama]

Another good one...and just put in an order today with Jehmco.

Thank You Francis...with all the input, I can relate to my situation.

[phidelt85]

Perfect...that is what I was needing. If you stopped the flow with the ball valve I guess you could even transfer it to another tank without having to prime again?

thx,
Lisa


Yes you can just move it over to another tank and move on. I would recommend making the pipe on the outside of the tank longer so that the valve sits below the bottom of the tank. It will help re-establish flow faster. You don't have to make it quite that long but you want the valve below the inside "U"

[phidelt85]

Hi Lisa,

Found this at Jehmco.

http://www.jehmco.com/html/safety_siphon_aquarium_drain.html

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Francis

Same principle except you can build one for less than $10 at HD. I had the gray fittings laying around that's why I used those. More expensive to buy but I already had them from a previous project. The white Schedule 40 fittings are more than adequate and alot cheaper.

[fishmama]

Good to know, thx!

[fishmama]

Okay...any final thoughts before I glue this together?

Thanks, Lisa

[wilddiscuss]

Here is what I did with a submerged pump.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4813/1001147rp4.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5308/1001148sn3.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5715/1001149kl6.jpg

I just took the pump hooked it up to some pvc. I used what are called unions at the top of the pump and by the sink I led the drain pipe to so I could remove them for cleaning and what not. There is a rubber gasket inside the unions so they don't leak, and you just unscrew the unions with you hands...and it makes it very easy. There is a ball valve attched so the drain pipe to it doesn't siphon by itself. The pump is pluged into a socket that is powered by an on/of wall switch. So when I go to drain it I just turn the ball valve on and flick the switch and boom I am draining the tank!

HTH,
Todd

[phidelt85]

Looks good, Lisa. BTW, try not gluing in the pipe that is in the tank. That way you can always change the level the tank drains down to if you decide a diff. % down the road, or you can just make another one ;)

Todd, looks good. Simple and efficient. :D

[fishmama]

Great idea Todd-just flick a switch and off ya' go!

Jose-Thx, this was my first PVC experience :p Found it rather fun!:D

[phidelt85]

Great idea Todd-just flick a switch and off ya' go!

Jose-Thx, this was my first PVC experience :p Found it rather fun!:D

Not too bad was it!?! :D You're off to the races now! Now you can plumb up that fish room of yours all by yourself. :D

[subcooler]

Using this setup for W/C's-What are you using to remove fish waste?
I have been using W/C's to remove waste-am I missing a easier way?
I bought a battery operated tank vac. & it worked poorly(returned to LFS)
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Rob

[phidelt85]

I still use a siphon to clean up the waste along the floor and then open the drain to drain the rest of the water.

[XPLOSV]

I find this way to change water very handy, for the poo poo part nothing beat hand vac.