ChicagoDiscus.com     Cafepress Store

Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Waterchange/ drip method

  1. #1
    Registered Member saltydog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Grifton, NC
    Posts
    235

    Default Waterchange/ drip method

    can anyone using this system post pics or explain in more detail how they do this. I would be doing this on a one tank system so i would like to make it as simple as possible. i was thinknig if I could use my existing RO system but skip the membrane all together to eliminate waste water and have the water go through 2x carbon block with chloramine blockers and then filter floss and then drip to my tank. I can also drill out behind my tank for a line to drip to the outside but just need to figure out techno stuff here. I am not real good wtih things like this and i am a very visual person. I was hoping to drip out and drip in at about a rate of 50% water change or more once a week in my 180 planted tank.

  2. #2
    Registered Member Darrell Ward's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Western North Carolina USA
    Posts
    3,385

    Default Re: Waterchange/ drip method

    I done this about 6 years ago on a 240 gal. tank. Sure it looks cool, but it don't vac wastes, and don't really change enough water at once to do much good really. It just mixes about 40 or 50 gals. of clean water over 24 hours to the rest of the dirty water. I used it for about six months, and unhooked it. My water quality actually improved when I started changing water the old fashioned way again.
    Darrell

  3. #3
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    long island
    Posts
    35

    Default Re: Waterchange/ drip method

    Hi,
    i order a "Multi-Stream Dripper" which is a knob adjusts water flow (link below), from amazon but it really hard to set the specific set flow, i was wondering if any of you can recommend me something better, that i can attach to a 1/4-Inch end pipe.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  4. #4
    Registered Member fishbubbles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    221
    Real Name
    Kevin

    Default Re: Waterchange/ drip method

    Can you just use these instead? They're basically mini gate valves for drip systems. https://www.amazon.com/ORBIT-UNDERGR...rip+line+valve

    I use this for my drip system that disperses to 6 separate tanks. https://www.amazon.com/Orbit-DripMas...=drip+manifold

  5. #5
    Registered Member Ryan925's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    SF bay area
    Posts
    2,917

    Default Re: Waterchange/ drip method

    Quote Originally Posted by fishbubbles View Post
    Can you just use these instead? They're basically mini gate valves for drip systems. https://www.amazon.com/ORBIT-UNDERGR...rip+line+valve

    I use this for my drip system that disperses to 6 separate tanks. https://www.amazon.com/Orbit-DripMas...=drip+manifold
    I believe people use the self compensating drip emitters. The ones that are colored coded for flow rate like you use for trees and plants. That way it is designed for a specific gph
    Im not illiterate...only my phone's auto correct is

  6. #6
    Registered Member HappyFace's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    539
    Real Name
    Heidi

    Default Re: Waterchange/ drip method

    Quote Originally Posted by fishbubbles View Post
    Can you just use these instead? They're basically mini gate valves for drip systems. https://www.amazon.com/ORBIT-UNDERGR...rip+line+valve

    I use this for my drip system that disperses to 6 separate tanks. https://www.amazon.com/Orbit-DripMas...=drip+manifold
    I'm not sure if this would work for your setup. This is what I use on both my tanks.
    https://www.zoro.com/brooks-meter-wa...vt/i/G2384417/

    I have a basic garden spigot outside turned on, connected to a regulator then an adapter to convert the garden spigot to 1/4" hose. I have the 1/4" hose connected to a 1/4" quick connect coconut shell carbon filter to remove chlorine (purchase at hardware store and change out 1-2 times per month). All this is outside. Then I have the 1/4" line coming in through a hole drilled through the wall. There's a threaded stainless nipple in the wall. The 1/4" line goes into the key instruments meter then out the meter and into my sump. I set it to full blast for first time use and every time I change the filter to get all air bubbles out then lower it to where I want it to be. Mine is set at 4GPH. We have 1/2 drain hole in the sump so the waste water goes out through the 1/2" hose connected to a pvc pipe through a hole in the wall which then connects to a regular garden hose that waters our garden.

    I salted my tank and did 24 hour salt meter tests to see how much of the water draining out is what I just put in and how much is old dirty water. I determined that 1/3 of the water draining out is fresh water and 2/3 is old dirty water so using this method means you need to account for the fresh water draining out.

    If you use this method make sure your drain line is above the return pump so your sump never goes dry. This method insures you never have to worry about water change floods, major PH fluctuations from huge water changes or your sump going dry from evaporation.

    Let me know if you want pictures of the outside setup.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by HappyFace; 01-01-2018 at 11:36 PM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Cafepress