What is the best way to change the water in my 10 gallon aquarium without a gravel pump? Are there any tricks you guys use to simplify this process while saving money, etc?|||Great to see you online again, man. Do what I do for small tanks. Go to Burger King, get a large drink cup (they%26#039;re plastic and waterproof). Wash it well. You got yourself a good sized scoop for changing your aquarium water. Cheap, simple, and it came with soda.|||I wouldn%26#039;t recommend doing it any other way than a siphon, you could use a piece of a garden hose to get the same effect, or something of the like. Gravel filters are all of 7 bucks, why not spend it once and never have to worry about it again?|||well, even IF you want to save money, a gravel vacuum is NOTm something to skip out on. yo can get one for 15$ for a 10 gal.|||there%26#039;s no trick to it. Most people just drink up the water in the tank. This is pretty safe and does not cost any money either.
Good luck!|||Large bore hose with a piece of aquarium safe sponge on the end. The sponge keeps fish from being sucked out, a standard garden size hose will drain 5 gallons per minute. Cruise the neighborhood on garbage day, find an old leaky one %26amp; cut off 5 good feet.
On my setup I have several J shaped pieces of 1/2%26quot; pvc pipe, with the long end attached to a few feet of hose. The short end has interchangable lengths, for depth control, it determines how much water is drained. A sponge goes over the tank end.
The other end goes into a 32 gallon Rubbermaid garbage can. There is a 1400gph pump in the can, with a hose leading to my sump pump, and a foot switch to turn the pump on %26amp; off. I start the siphon, drop the hose in the can, and do something else, draining 5gpm. It stops at a pre-determined level.
To fill I have a drinking water safe RV hose, it has one end attached to the utility sink for temperature control. The other end has a smaller pvc J to hang on the tank, along with a shutoff. Add dechlor on the fly, fill %26amp; drain at the same time, 5 gallons in, 5 gallons out, per minute.
I go through 700-1000 gallons of fresh water weekly, buy Prime in bulk.|||I have to warn you, Tom C is a liar - DON%26#039;T DRINK THE WATER!!! The fish tank is in a closed environment and unlike a river the bacteria builds up to astonishing levels . Drinking the water could give you major diahorrea or maybe even a internal infection
Don%26#039;t be so cheap, get the gravel pump it will do more good than any harm|||You can still preform an effective water change without using a siphon. Aquariums have been around for ages and the siphon is relatively new.
Designate a 1 gallon pitcher for your water changes.
Remove the lid to the aquarium.
Take a cloth and clean the inside of the aquarium glass by wiping it.
Then stir up the gravel to release debris using your hand, or if thats gross, a designated object like a spoon or something.
Then with your gallon pitcher, remove the amount of water you want to change.
(this water is an excellent source of fertilization for plants if you wish to water your plants with the water), if not dispose of the old water where ever you like.
When you are finished taking out the water, add the recommended dose of water conditioner for 1 gallon to the pitcher. Fill the pitcher with clean water and add it to the tank.
Continue to add water conditioner and clean water to the pitcher until the aquarium is full again.
Thats how it was done in the old days.
Good luck.
