Destroying the Aquarium ~Water Change Part 2~

Hello everyone, it's me.

The previous article I posted about water changes seems to have been fairly well-received, so here is the second installment!

Last time, I introduced basic knowledge about water changes and the simplest method for changing water.
This time, I will introduce an easy water change method for those who have many tanks and find water changes difficult.

<Semi-automatic water change>

Items to prepare
・EHEIM CompactON 1000 NEW

・Extension cord
　If you plug the submersible pump directly into a wall outlet,
　it won't be flexible enough to use for water changes, so use an extension cord.
　Measure the distance from the outlet to each tank and purchase an extension cord of the necessary length.
　A single-outlet extension cord is fine.

・Hose (Diameter: 16/22 or 19/27)
　The above submersible pump has a two-stage outlet, and you can attach either 16/22 or 19/27 diameter hoses.
　I think the larger diameter will increase the drainage volume, but the hose will be stiffer and harder to handle.
　You will need a hose long enough to reach from the tank to a place where you can drain the water, such as a window or balcony, so please measure it yourself and purchase the necessary length.
　It does not have to be an EHEIM-specific hose, so there is no problem with buying a cheaper one at a home improvement store.

・Hose reel
　Used to attach to a faucet and put water directly from the tap into the tank.
　If the water volume is high, you would have to do a bucket brigade dozens of times, which is exhausting.
　Here too, the larger the hose diameter, the greater the water volume, which saves time.
　Please measure the length of the hose from the location with the mixing faucet to the tank before purchasing.

・Hose nipple
　Depending on the type of mixing faucet, you may not be able to attach a hose reel, so please check the type of faucet in your home and purchase a hose nipple for connection.

・Water purifier
　Since tap water contains chlorine, it is necessary to remove it using a water purifier.
　In the long run, this is cheaper than using dechlorinator.
　For those keeping corals or growing aquatic plants in areas with hard water, the minerals in tap water can be harmful to growth, so I recommend introducing a high-end model that removes both chlorine and minerals.
　When it comes to water purifiers, Marfied is famous, but looking at the discharge volume per minute and the removal capacity of a single filter, I recommend the products from AquaGeek.
　Marfied NEO Standard: 7ml/m, filter life 30-50t
　AquaGeek Simple: 14ml/m, filter life 100t

Since filters are replaceable, it is fine to purchase them only when needed.

<Preparation of water change tools>

① Dock the CompactON with the purchased hose.
② Attach a hose nipple to the faucet as necessary so that the mixing faucet and hose reel can be connected.

<Water change procedure>

① Submerge the submersible pump in the tank.
② Place the hose outlet into the drain.
③ Turn on the submersible pump.
④ Drain the water to the specified water level of the tank.
⑤ Set the water temperature from the faucet to near the water temperature of the tank.
⑥ Set up the water purifier and hose reel.
⑦ Fill the tank with water until it is full.
※ Be careful during step ⑦, as if you zone out while filling, the floor will become flooded.
　It seems there are convenient goods available that can stop the water at a specified level.

In the case of freshwater, it is not much of a problem to drain it directly into the garden, but if you drain saltwater into the garden, plants may wither or metal objects buried underground may corrode, so please be sure to drain it into the sewage system.

<Summary>

It costs about 30,000 yen to get the whole set, but basically nothing is likely to break, so I think you can use it for several years without any problems.
The water purifier filter needs to be replaced periodically, but I think it can be used for over a year without replacement, so the running cost is not that high.

In keeping fish, water changing is the most important task and also the most troublesome one. I think investing in reducing the amount of work and increasing consistency is just as efficient as buying a good filter.

As a mechanism for water changes that is even higher-end than this, there is something called a continuous water change system.
I have never installed one, but it seems the effort for water changes becomes zero.
However, it will cost money and a single faucet will be occupied for the fish...
For those who live with family, how to solve that might be a big problem...