Martin_NC
12-30-2015, 12:48 PM
Before I can commit to keeping Discus in my planted tank I need to update the my water change procedure. I have a 60 gallon tank and currently change water by carrying out 5 gallons of waste water at at time to a drain and then carrying in 5 gallons of matured water at at time to pump into the tank. With a full time job it requires more time than I have to do, say 4 x 50% water changes a week, not to mention the impact on my back. So I am planning a new system and wanted to get feedback and suggestions before I set it up.
Have been reading various suggestions on the forum and my plan is to get a large water tank in the garage, say 50 gallons. I fill this directly from an outside tap using a new hose pipe I buy. Add prime, run it with a bubbler and heat it overnight.
Also get a 500 gph pump and a 15 gallon container.
Procedure:
1. Siphon out 15 gallons of water from the fish tank into a 15 gallon container. Should be enough to clean the bottom of the tank.
2. Pump siphoned water to a drain.
3. Pump out another 15 gallons directly to the drain.
4. Pump in 30 gallons of new water from the water tank in the garage.
5. Refill the water tank in the garage.
I guess using this method it would also be very easy to do bigger changes.
So my plan is to set this up, run with it for few months and, if I can maintain it, I will be ready to add to my current 2 discuss.
A few questions I have:
- Do I need to insulate the tank in the garage in the winter? I am in NC so temps get to around 20 sometimes.
- Any recommendations for a specific good reliable 500 gph pump for this purpose? It needs to pump the water about 50 feet. Also would be good if it could pump up a flight of stairs to my other tank (which contains the fish I bought and found unsuitable for keeping with Discuss) although I guess I shouldn’t use the same pump for both tanks.
- When refilling the tank, the pump will be in the garage and I will be in the house, thinking of using a standard garden hose statement at the end of the hose to control flow, does that make sense, any better alternatives?
Any improvements I could make? I don't mind investing extra money to make it better.
Have been reading various suggestions on the forum and my plan is to get a large water tank in the garage, say 50 gallons. I fill this directly from an outside tap using a new hose pipe I buy. Add prime, run it with a bubbler and heat it overnight.
Also get a 500 gph pump and a 15 gallon container.
Procedure:
1. Siphon out 15 gallons of water from the fish tank into a 15 gallon container. Should be enough to clean the bottom of the tank.
2. Pump siphoned water to a drain.
3. Pump out another 15 gallons directly to the drain.
4. Pump in 30 gallons of new water from the water tank in the garage.
5. Refill the water tank in the garage.
I guess using this method it would also be very easy to do bigger changes.
So my plan is to set this up, run with it for few months and, if I can maintain it, I will be ready to add to my current 2 discuss.
A few questions I have:
- Do I need to insulate the tank in the garage in the winter? I am in NC so temps get to around 20 sometimes.
- Any recommendations for a specific good reliable 500 gph pump for this purpose? It needs to pump the water about 50 feet. Also would be good if it could pump up a flight of stairs to my other tank (which contains the fish I bought and found unsuitable for keeping with Discuss) although I guess I shouldn’t use the same pump for both tanks.
- When refilling the tank, the pump will be in the garage and I will be in the house, thinking of using a standard garden hose statement at the end of the hose to control flow, does that make sense, any better alternatives?
Any improvements I could make? I don't mind investing extra money to make it better.