HOW TO: Never do water changes - IMPROVED step by step

How to never do water changes - IMPROVED step by step

Items used:
DD-HPR20 - Drip Irrigation Pressure Regulator 20 PSI - Hose Threaded 3/4" FHT x 3/4" MHT.

DD-CHS250 - 3/4" Hose Thread Swivel x 1/4" Barbed Adapter

DD-SR360B - Drip Irrigation Adjustable Full Circle Stream Spray Bubbler 1/4" Barbed Inlet

[RaindropServicesNYC]

You explain things so well, you really don't leave any stones un turned. Thanks.

[zebrapleco]

I just want to take the time to tell you that your videos are awesome. It's really inspiring me to get more handy when it comes to building stuff. I've always been great with electronics and computers but not so much with power tools or plumbing. You're really providing a huge wealth of information to hobbyists around the world.

[fishtalk]

While not being close to a water source, treated water in a 55 gallon drum to an air pump and a check valve before the dripper worked perfectly. The air pump also aerated the water keeping movement as well where the drum lasted for weeks before it needed to be refilled. This worked including adding a sponge filter to the drum. seem excessive but works for me. Always liked your videos where I learned a lot taking what I've seen useful from them. Thanks!

[anderswilkas]

I would love to se you tackle a aqaponics DIY setup, preferably  from plan to finished system. Your way of explaining things are really easy to understand so your take on aqaponics would be wonderful. Does your book cover this topic?

[GeoHvl]

I took your advice and now I have my 55 show from Clear for life with a one inch top drain. I went one step more I added a ball valve at the bottom tee where the drain leaves the tank for easy draining. I drilled a 1.25" whole in the bottom of this tank install a one inch bulkhead fitting to the tee fitting ran a stand pipe to the top drilled 6- 5/16ths holes for drainage. from the back of the tank I ran the 1" pipe through the floor into my basement to a drain in that location. I purchased a drip timer, 50' 1/8 inch drip tubing, a 2G/hour drip head ran the tubing back through the floor into my tank. I did test the drip head and it did in fact drip just over 2 gallons in one hour. I set the time to 4 hours a day that give me a 224 gallon change every month. NO MORE WATER CHANGES! I am on a well so no chlorine problems. I have African Cichlids with Caribe Sea substrate for Africans. What a great idea.

[davidfoley]

I'm also on well water, but I'm moving my aquariums to a house in the city. When I set up the drip and drain system, I'm going to run an in-line carbon filter, because I don't think plastic bottles are a good look.

They're good for stuff like the emergency heat you showed us, but they shouldn't be a permanent fixture in an aquarium.

Huge fan of your work, by the way!

[youngzo]

Thanks for the more detailed video joey but one thing i havent seen anyone do yet is how they tap a water source. For me, this is the reason why i havent done my auto water changes yet. Love the videos. Take care

[MrVinodbhatia]

Great DIY video as always. Is there a DIY video on how the overflow can also be modified so that along with overflow for continuous drip system, it can also be used to drain the tank completely or 50% for water changes without having to drill the aquarium ?

[thekingofdiy]

How to never do water changes - IMPROVED step by step

[EZimmerman]

Thanks for addressing Chloramines in a drip system.. Seems so simple when you explain it. Thanks for all your help!

[richardsees]

For loose bulk charcoal go to a Walmart and on the bottom shelf is knee high pantyhose they sell a pair for .50 fill the charcoal in that works great ...

[jessiecorceles]

Joey, of all of your crazy amazing DIY ideas this one I loved the most ! I've tried it and observed it for a couple of days ... it's been a while now since I replaced water on my tank, It surely help a lot to a very busy man ike me and I can still enjoy the clear waters on my aquarium . Thank you so much man ! by the way my tank is 130 gals and my fishes doubled their sizes in just 3 weeks, with some assistance from probiotics .

[JayDillon-mmyv]

I do nearly complete water changes every other day or so, instead of filtering or using anti algae formulas. Seems to work fine. The bottom of the tank has some rock but only a small amount of gravel. I don't scrub or clean the bottom although I might siphon out particulates and stuff if I notice buildup down there. I have to do some interior glass scrubbing but not too bad. I use well water, no chlorination. (Replacing tank water completely or almost completely with chlorinated water would be a death sentence, I'm sure.)

My fish are "feeder fish" that I got for 7 for a dollar locally. These fish are very tough, very beautiful fish, some white, some orange, and have had offspring so currently I have 2 generations in one tank. .. and have survived moderate to lousy conditions. Previously I have had a few hybrid Japanese goldfish which I loved but they did seem to be more susceptible to poor tank conditions and ended up swimming upside down far too much. I still love em though, might get more of those if I develop the requisite care/skills.

Previously I tried using all sorts of filters and pumps but got disgusted with them all. I just use a few little air bubblers and the water changes. (Siphon hose is kept full of water and just dropped into kitchen sink when needed to remove water from tank.) Hope this comment will be of interest, if not, feel free to delete it or criticize it. Thank you for your video, it's great.

[floydmorey]

I love how you simplify projects cool video I like the fact that you talked about well water vs city water a lot of people don't talk about well water I think it's a good topic for videos

[MultiLEGODOG]

been doing the drip system several years! thanks to you ! water is spot on year after year, no water changes but a few over flows due to my drain, but that is my own fault. if your going to leave you can tun it off for a trip, or turn it down so it just covers evaperation. i have a over the top rail drain some times gets air in it and loses prime so should have 2. but a drilled tank drain would be best . for the drip, i used under sink adapter, to ice maker tubing then a inline icemaker filter and at the end, a inline needle valve for drip control, works great

[MikeV]

Hey Joey - KUDOS: Your drip system/overflow is great and really gets the DIY juices flowing! An alternative for filtering the source water are the commercial inline filters (e.g. nitrate, activated carbon...) used most often for refrigerators, ice makers etc. These could be placed anywhere convenient inline between the source and the tank. They're not that expensive and last 1500 - 2000 gallons.
(I have high nitrates in my well water so I filter through both an inline nitrate and inline activated carbon filter into buckets for weekly partial water changes....so your drip system has me pondering!)

[r.i.t.randominterestingthi]

man, i am already looking this never do water changes for the past 2 month. this drip system is so awesome

[thegoodbadandtheugly]

Oh my goodness! I absolutely love this Man and his mind! Thank you so very much!!!

[nosbormelo]

Hi Joe... You could try a sand filter... Not the moving bed with sand but an actual sand filter like the one used on municipalities water treatment station or try to come up with a freshwater refugium.

[ericlind]

If you drip in say about 3.5% of the volume daily, that's over a 100% change per month approximately. Of course it's not the same as a 100% change all at once, but it's still swaps out much of the water, spread out daily. That may be a bit too much as super clean water will starve out your plants.