My method for 90% daily water change from tap without stress to fish

[Salvin49]

I have been using this method for almost two months now with great success. I, like many others, have an enormous amount of bubbles coming out of my faucet even during the warmer months. Since I have been keeping discus I have been trying to find a way to eliminate these bubbles. I have tried the micron sock over the prefilter and it helped, however the discus would still huddle in a corner during water changes while I watched their slime coat string away. The general opinion from the great members around this forum is that aging water is the best way to alleviate this issue. While I 100% believe that to be true, I simply do not have the room in my 1200 sq ft house with a family of 4. My only option was to figure out a better way to change water from tap. I have already tested my ph levels from the faucet and after aeration and found no swing in ph levels. My only problem was with the dangerous and fish stressful bubbles. What I knew about these bubbles is that they stick to everything they come into contact with. I also knew that when ran through a filter they sometimes combine to form larger bubbles, like the case with the filter sock. Knowing this I wanted to run my water through as much surface area contact as possible before it entered my tank. My brainstorms eventually landed me onto this system I have now.

I had a large section of 6" foam in which I cut a piece to fit tightly inside two buckets.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1554_zpssasho09k.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1554_zpssasho09k.jpg.html)

The foam I used is a relatively fine/dense foam
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1555_zpsm9pinghk.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1555_zpsm9pinghk.jpg.html)

I then drilled a bunch of small holes into the bottom of the bucket.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1556_zpsi0t0warg.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1556_zpsi0t0warg.jpg.html)

That is the top bucket. The bottom bucket hangs beneath it.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1561_zpscj0mijdh.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1561_zpscj0mijdh.jpg.html)

The bottom bucket has a similar piece of foam in the bottom of it.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1557_zpsyvozsjbf.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1557_zpsyvozsjbf.jpg.html)

In the bottom of the bottom bucket I used a few 2" pvc couplings and attached some sections of an old wildland hose I had laying around. This is overkill and you would probably not need more than 2 or 3 garden hoses. I wanted to be able to fill as fast as possible and the hoses are far from being my bottleneck.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1565_zpsk6lkwyy4.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1565_zpsk6lkwyy4.jpg.html)

I drain my tank simultaneously with a python and a garden hose leading out the front door to the lawn.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1559_zpszgvsbj1d.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1559_zpszgvsbj1d.jpg.html)

I drain my tank down to having a few inches of water left and hang my bucket from a hook screwed into the joist behind the drywall.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1560_zpsm5zkbn2d.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1560_zpsm5zkbn2d.jpg.html)

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1562_zpsfph0emlx.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1562_zpsfph0emlx.jpg.html)

I begin filling with my python into the top bucket. I use my digital thermometer and drop the probe into the bottom bucket, the probe sits on top of the foam and reads the temperature of incoming water. I turn my cold water all the way on and control temperature with the hot end.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1563_zpsnwrw02wp.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1563_zpsnwrw02wp.jpg.html)

Right after starting the filling I add my 1/4 tsp of SAFE for my 75g.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1566_zps6qtto6vp.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1566_zps6qtto6vp.jpg.html)

The fish are very active during water changes, they are curious, they seem to enjoy the flow of incoming water and seem to explore the fire hoses.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1568_zpsnb2bpira.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1568_zpsnb2bpira.jpg.html)

In the past I have fed them during water changes, however I generally prefer to feed them directly after water changes in order to keep floating blackworms from sticking to my fill hoses.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1569_zpsob0mo6pb.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1569_zpsob0mo6pb.jpg.html)

Using this method I have 0 bubbles visibly suspended inside the water column. I have literally 0 bubbles sticking to any objects, glass, fish, heaters, filters, etc after the water change. And the fish are no longer stressed like they used to be with other methods I have used.

While filling I can squeeze the foam inside the buckets and enormous amounts of air will come out. It appears that the bubbles are sticking to the vast surface area of the foam as it passes through it. Then it aerates as it free falls into the lower bucket and then passes through another block of foam. Again, I acknowledge that this is not the most ideal way to tackle water changes for discus as aging water is probably a much better and more stable option. I am only sharing my experiences with others that may be fighting a similar battle as I was.

[rickztahone]

lol, the contraptions us discus people come up with! I used to use a tile grout sponge and cut a hole in to it to prevent the water pressure swirling everything in the tank. Eventually I just stopped since I didn't have any pH swings. I moved and then I had micro bubbles which lead me to use micron socks and prefilters. Now, I simply age my water. I like this contraption though. My only fear would be if for whatever reason, the buckets came crashing down on the fish tank. It could be a potential nightmare of a situation.

Edit: your discus look really nice!TFS

[strawberryblonde]

That's pretty awesome. I love to see what creative folks can come up with to solve problems.

I use a big piece of poret foam and stuff it tightly into the large end of my Python siphon. Then I dangle the tubing over the tip of the tank so that it's about a foot above the bottom of the tank.

I also adjust my tap water the way that you do, except that I've been doing it for so long now that I can just run the water over my wrist to know the temp. Then I shut the valve at the sink and fill the tank.

No bubbles here either. The poret foam handles them nicely.

[Jack L]

since there already exists a python, maybe you could call this the squid, as that is what it looks like a little bit ; ) TFS

[White Worm]

Love it. Ingenuity at it's best right there.

[Woodduck]

The filter sock is still the way to go. You can't just use everyday 200 micron socks. Use a series with 200, 100, 55 and 10. You can buy all these in NYLON which is so easy to clean from
Duda Diesel. They have the widest selection of sock materials and micron sizes from 600 down to .5.

[ericNH]

since there already exists a python, maybe you could call this the squid, as that is what it looks like a little bit ; ) TFS

lol Love it! Seconded!

[Filip]

TFS Salvin , good effort well documented.

While this seems to me like an overkilll job to be done , cant deny the fact that it does the job done . And at the end thats what is most important.
it gives me a nice idea though... To do something simmilar , but with lower volume bucket.
i got 1 gallon whey protein bucket that i can fill out with sponges drill the bottom and use it as a prefiltration .

[Salvin49]

Thank you for the positive comments everyone. I agree that this is probably overkill, I will also be looking for a way to make a smaller contraption in the future. I had started with just the top bucket but my discus never seemed to like the water falling into their tank. Once I added the bottom bucket with the hoses going underneath it seemed to make them much happier. I could probably get away with just using the bottom bucket, but like you said I would like to progress towards smaller buckets in general as they would be easier to store.

[jeff12]

I had a large section of 6" foam in which I cut a piece to fit tightly inside two buckets.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x389/salvin36/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1554_zpssasho09k.jpg (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/salvin36/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1554_zpssasho09k.jpg.html)


Where did you get this foam and what is it called?

[Filip]

You can find this in carpenter store , they use it to fill the couch-sofas and other furniture .
You can also use any type of aquarium sponge or filter or fiber floss , that also helps
.Aquarium 200,100,50,10 micron socks are told to be the best for stripping micro bubbles out of water also.
The more surface media you put the more effective it wil be . I use a soda bottle full with sponge, filter floss and 200 micron sock for prefilter and it gets the job done .

[Salvin49]

I recycled this foam out of an old camper mattress. Not sure where you would find it to buy. Also, to keep cross contamination out I untie the top bucket to use for my planted community tank. With just the one bucket I get micro bubbles to peel the slime coat on my angels. My point is, like stated above, the more foam surface area the better it will be at removing bubbles. Especially if yours is as bad as mine.

[rickztahone]

The filter sock is still the way to go. You can't just use everyday 200 micron socks. Use a series with 200, 100, 55 and 10. You can buy all these in NYLON which is so easy to clean from
Duda Diesel. They have the widest selection of sock materials and micron sizes from 600 down to .5.

Cool website Bob :) TFS
http://www.dudadiesel.com/search.php?query=filter+sock