My Improved Gravel Vacuum / Water Changing System Project

**ijankrom** · 02-25-2013, 05:51 PM

Ok so I'm scraping part 2 of this project as I no longer need this filtering contraption.

I worked on part 1 of this project last night (it's the only part now so I'll stop referring to it as part 1). I will try and get some pictures up tonight so you can see it and how I will be using it.

**ijankrom** · 02-26-2013, 12:05 AM

Ok photos posted in the album now. So this is how I plan on using it for vacuum/water changes. Shut off valve 2 (or B in second picture) and with vacuum tube in above tank open 1st valve (can't see in picture, inside cabinet though) until all the air is removed from vacuum tube. Then shut off valve 1 and open valve 2. Then take vacuum out of above tank when finished to stop the siphoning action and refill tank to desire level. I can also detach vacuum and instead attach a garden hose and with valve 2 closed I can just perform a large water change when I open valve 1. Not every PVC piece is glued, so I can twist and move things about to my liking.

**ijankrom** · 03-07-2013, 09:01 PM

So I completed a gravel vac last night filtering out the gunk as I previously wanted to do so I can return the water (which I did not this time around). I let the water sit about an hour in bucket before testing. I only tested Ammonia and it was "0". Was not surprised, I'm pretty good at keeping on schedule with my maintenance. So I'm thinking of trying my original plan, return the water to sump after the gunk has been filtered out during a gravel vacuum. I'll clean the mechanical filter pads just after completing monthly gravel vac's.