help with auto water chnages

[sw10mm]

I want to build a auto water change system... I know how I can get water into the tank... but getting it out is a diff story its a 220 gallon I'm looking to do 10 gallons a day as that would equal what I change weekly.... any ideas?

[bertie 83]

Not sure how to build that. You would need to up the amount should you wish to match a single 70g change. I would set for 20g daily to match

[sw10mm]

Why double the amount? Cuz its a mix of clean and old? You know how they tap into water lines to go to the fridge could I do that off my return line to the sink

[bertie 83]

7x 10% water changes does not even come close to doing 1x 70% change. Because you change old and new water out. I am poo at maths so can't explain further than that I am afraid. Double it and play safe, no need to play it risky

[bertie 83]

Just to add if I had a 220g I would change 65-70g 3x weekly minimum but I am a bit OCD on my tanks waterchange schedule lol

[defool89]

Bertie is right and here is why.

If you change out your water once a week 70% you are directly removing 70% of water/excess Nutrients/Harmful ammonia/Nitrates/Nitrites
if you do 10% water changes every day, you are dividing the amount of excess nutrients and harmful ammonia and Nitrates/nitrites you are removing by that amount.


here is a link to one of our forum Mentor RTRS articles on water math

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article54.html

If you dont feel like reading just scroll down to the tables and you will get the jist. I do suggest reading tho, great information.

[sw10mm]

Hmmm maybe I can buy two water pumps and set up to do 40 gallons every other day... say turn of sump pump turn on drain up for 21min turn on refill pump for 20min then turn sump pump back on.... I think ill head to radio shack for a look at timers

[sw10mm]

Or a simple pump to a daily timer... go on for 20 min with a float valve in the sump so once the water level drops it starts flowing hmmm that'd be easy after I get my crayfish breeder tank set this will be my next project

[RTR]

The simplest automatic water change technique is simple overflow. You set a constant-level siphon outlet to floor drain or sump tank with float-triggered switch to pump water up to a laundry tub with a drain.

Unfortunately the dilution rate of an overflow does not equal that of the usual drain and refill technique. The calculations are more complex. I use the math set out by P.R. Escobal in his book "Aquatic Systems Engineering: Devices and How They Work" Dimension Engineering Press, Oxnard, California. 1996. LCCN: 96-84422 ISBN: 1-888381-05-1

HTH

[arrivalanche]

Look up shardinio on YouTube. He created a whole auto water changing system that came out pretty nice.