Hello,

I have within te past few weeks set up my 75 gallon tank. I live in the bottom floor of an apartment building and right now the only way I know how to do water changes is to use the gravel vaccume to take the water out(5 gallons at a time in buckets), and then fill the same buckets up with the new water and dump the water in the tank. The problems are 1) the top of the tank sits above my shoulders, so I have to step up on a chair to do these things and it's a real workout because I'm a very tiny woman. and 2) I would get smething to attach to an outside faucet, but there isn't one that I can see on my side of the building. Also the kitchen sink faucet is really small and I don't know of any adapters. is there maybe a better way I can do this? The way I am doing it seems really primitive and it deterrs me away from doing my water changes like I should. Thanks!

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Frontosa Fanatic

Sorry I can't help you.

I don't do water changes.


woopsies perhaps that does help.

There is a python thing to help.

also you can use a faucet adapter with clear tubing and just run the tube over to the tank.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

I use a python to change a 90 gallon reef tank. An adapter screws on to the sink or other faucet and you use it to suck out water and dirt and then use it to fill the tank back up with water. Even my 5' 100 lb. wife can use it.....

use a python system, you hook it to your faucet and it pulls water out and when you get what amount of water out, you can reverse it adn fill it back up, really easy and no mess or water spilled on your floors, fosterandsmith has somthing simular to it

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What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

Aqueon makes a water changer kit. They also sell the faucet adapter as an extra item you can get. To pull water out, I just start a siphon and put the hose end outside.

Aquarium Maintenance and Water Changes: Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer

Great thanks for your responses, I will be sure to look into getting one

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Frontosa Fanatic

After reading this thread, I just bought one! Thanks all!
Oh, Beaslbob, I tried to find some information about your system, but could only find bits and pieces. Can you send me some info?

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2 Kitties: Tiny & Sassie Blue
1 Doggie: Oliver
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90 Gal Aquarium
1 - Marble Angel
1 - Gold Pearl Angel
1 - Black Lace Veil Angel
5 - Emerald Cories
2 - Eugene SuperKing Powerfilters
2 - Penn Plax Fl-40 aquarium lights
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15 Gal Guppy Aquarium
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6500 Gal Koi Pond with 300 gallon bog
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You could just have a plastic trash can and use that gravel vac to suck the water out then use a header or pump to place the new water back into the tank.

Even if you don't go for no water changes, like beaslbob, having plants in your tank does mean you can do less frequent and smaller water changes.

I plan to have my tank planted, but right now I'm having ammonia problems and the plants would die anyway, but I also don't have a light fixture for my 75 gal yet... it's a work in progress lol

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Frontosa Fanatic

Let's see here. You have no plants and you have ammonia. Gee that should be a big big hint.


(plants rapidily consume ammonia when present for their nitrogen)


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

He/she has no light.....

I'll give you the thumb nail right here.


add 1" peat moss (canadian sphagum peat moss 1'x1'x3' plastic wrapped cubes for $11 or so, no fertz added)

add water to top of the peat.

level peat, clean tank.

repeat for 1" play sand (50 pound bag for $3)

Repeat for pc select (from pro choice contact them for local supplier, 50 pound bag for $8) ( can use gravel as well but I like the pc select).

add (10g tank) 4-6 bunches of anacharis, 4-6 vals, 4-6 small potted types (swords, crypts) and a single amazon sword)

fill tank with water poured over a dish.

wait one week.

add 1 fish (male live bearer or neon (or other) tetra))

wait one week with no food added.

add 2 female live bearers or 4 more of the other fish.

start feeding 1 flake per day.


Any questions?

Oh yea no filter no circulation (air stones), no water changes. Just top off evaporative water with water from a commonly used cold water faucet that has bee ran for a minute or so.

Lighting 1.5-2 watts per gallon of 6500k. from smaller tanks I use the spiral fourescent replacements for incadescent (use actual wattage not incadescent equilivants). For 4' long tanks I use utility shop light fixtures. 2- 32w 6500k tubes are ~$6 and the fixture is around $10 or so.

If it gets cloudy or algae kill the lights and stop feeding for a few days untill it clears.

that's about it and it is very similiar to the dianna walstad (spelling) method.

my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

the only light that my tank gets is from the ceiling fan that is in the middle of the room. if there is a plant that can survive such a small amount of light, I would get one

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Frontosa Fanatic

Java moss probably would, it seems to grow anywhere! Does the room have a window? I had java moss growing in a tank with no light in a dark corner of a room, it grew slow but it looked pretty happy, I was impressed.

I would focus on a light pretty soon.Until then,java moss and java fern will grow in very little light.They wont grow fast but they will live.Just be sure its some light and not none.

I change my water very primitively.I use a large bucket and siphon the water into that.Takes about three loads,over the course of about two hours as I drain mine slow.Then I have a smaller bucket,about three gallons.I fill this and prop it on top of the tank or on a shelf above(Im a small woman too,but it builds muscles lol)and let this slowly drain back into the tank.The fact its a smaller bucket and it drains slow makes it easier as I am the one doing all the lifting.It gives you breathers in between.

I like my slow primitive method,no sloshing of water and the fish dont even know whats going on.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

lol, small tank people with small tank ways. You'd go this route for about 2wks with a 75g tank.

so.. what i did to change mine was I have a pond water pump... i found it in my Fathers Garage LOL. i use a hose to drain it into a bucket then i fill a toat back up with water prolly 20 gallons worth attach hose to the pump and reverse flow.. However after reading this im changing my ways... LOL Thanks guys!

Speaking of Java moss. it will not grow for me.. AT ALL.. i have a 65G 146 watts of light Co2 and nothing... just all turns brown... however i apparently left some in a 30G in the basement with no filter or lights the tank had like 3 inches of water as it was going to be used soon and in 3 weeks i return to set up the tank i have freakn java moss... Now by in the basement i mean ZERO light there is no windows or anything LOL.

Well, if my land lady would give me her 75,I would find out,lol.Until then,Ill live with my small tank ways,haha.

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http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"