[JimBinSC]

Hi all, I am familiar with aquarium maintainance but still a beginner and I know I do it the hard way.
How do you experienced SW and reef keepers make your tank tasks easier and/or more efficient?
Here's how I do it: 75 gallon tank. I don't have a 20 gallon bucket, and couldn't move it if I did, so the salt is mixed in the living room 15 gallons at a time. Then I suck water into a small trashcan and dump it over and over. Then add water from the same can over and over, lifting it from floor and over the edge of the tank.
There has to be a better way.
Thanks

 

[Reefing Madness]

I have a 55g drum in the the garage, always has RO in it for top offs. I have a 50' Python hose that I use to fill. I have a pump in the drum and when I need to fill the tank I put the hose in the sump and turn on the pump in the drum. No fuss no muss.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Python-No-S...-Tank-Hose-50-Gravel-Vacuum-Kit-/380577479596

So if you used a little bigger bucket, say a 5g bucket, and got a pump that can be submerged you could use that to stir and then pump the water into your tank.

 

[JimBinSC]

I have a 55g drum in the the garage, always has RO in it for top offs. I have a 50' Python hose that I use to fill. I have a pump in the drum and when I need to fill the tank I put the hose in the sump and turn on the pump in the drum. No fuss no muss.
Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Vac Tank Hose 50' Gravel Vacuum Kit | eBay

So if you used a little bigger bucket, say a 5g bucket, and got a pump that can be submerged you could use that to stir and then pump the water into your tank.

Do you have another 55 gal drum with saltwater? I was thinking I could mix 50 gallons of saltwater at a time and it would last a few months. I have a python but am missing the faucet thing so I can only fill with it, not vacuum. I should get one, last time I looked they were like $6.
Thanks for answering. I am surprised there are not more answers.

 

[RSully]

I'm on a much smaller scale then you so I just keep to 2 1/2 gallon containers pre-mixed with SW.

 

[Reefing Madness]

No, you can't do top offs with Salt Water, it will raise your salinity way to high, and kill everything. Remember, water evaporates, the things in the water do not.
When I do water changes I mix the salt right in the barrel, I use it all, then I just refill it again with RO, and use it once more for top offs, until its time for a water change again, which for me is only twice a year.

 

[RSully]

......

 

[Reefing Madness]

......

rofl

 

[JimBinSC]

No, you can't do top offs with Salt Water, it will raise your salinity way to high, and kill everything. Remember, water evaporates, the things in the water do not.
When I do water changes I mix the salt right in the barrel, I use it all, then I just refill it again with RO, and use it once more for top offs, until its time for a water change again, which for me is only twice a year.

Right. I know that. I was thinking a barrel of water for top offs and a barrel of saltwater for changes. I told you I do things the hard way.
There's a million pages with maintenance schedules but not one tells how to make it easier.

 

[MetalArm3]

I use two 5gal buckets. One has salt mix in it and the other is empty. I put my Maxijet 1200 in the tank with a hose attached to the outlet letting it drain into the empty bucket. Then I move the pump into the salt mix bucket with the hose on the outlet going into the tank to pump it up and in.

No lifting and cost effective since you already have the pump to mix your salt. All you need is 2' of vinyl tubing and just move the pump from tank to bucket.

MetalArm3
(Hope I didn't make that confusing)
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Reefing Madness]

Right. I know that. I was thinking a barrel of water for top offs and a barrel of saltwater for changes. I told you I do things the hard way.
There's a million pages with maintenance schedules but not one tells how to make it easier.

I don't use 2 barrels, but if you have room for them, go for it. But there is no reason to have SW mixing in a barrel that your not going to use anytime soon.