helicopter
Aquarium Advice Activist
I envision a plumbing system on my filter pump that is as follows:
I would have one three way valve on my outlet tubing of the filter, one position connects the filter to the tank and another connects it to a section of tubing that I have go out my window (or could go to a bucket or a drain if your housing situation permits it). Another three way valve would go on the intake tubing of my filter. One position of the valve would be normal filtration operation and the other position would connect the intake of the filter to tubing which would go to my 6 gallon jug where I prepare my backish water in (This could go to any type of reservoir where you store/age water or even all the way to your sink).
Therefore:
Lets say I want to do a 3 gallon PWC, all I have to do is switch the first three way valve to vent the outlet water out my window until I get about 3 gallons. Then turn it so it connects back to the tank. Then take the other three way valve and pull water from my 6 gallon reservoir until I fill the tank back up.
The benefits that I see to this plumbing situation:
1) The tubing which I will use to connect to the 6 gal reservoir will actually be my gravel cleaner (which has a one way valve), therefore I can just as easily do a gravel vacuuming with this tubing just by turn the valve.
2) When I do gravel vacuuming (which would normally be during PWC) all the crap I vacuum will go onto my filter. This could be a benefit or a deficit depending on how you look at it. I see it as a benefit because sometimes I suck up things I still want like big sections of free floating java moss and other plant parts. I could just pick it out of my sponge in my filter.
3) Makes PWC a breeze, all you have to do is turn a switch.
4) I don't need an extra pump to pump from my reservoir to my tank.
I bought all the supplies I needed plus extra stuff from www.mcmaster.com for about $50 shipped. Not bad.
I would have one three way valve on my outlet tubing of the filter, one position connects the filter to the tank and another connects it to a section of tubing that I have go out my window (or could go to a bucket or a drain if your housing situation permits it). Another three way valve would go on the intake tubing of my filter. One position of the valve would be normal filtration operation and the other position would connect the intake of the filter to tubing which would go to my 6 gallon jug where I prepare my backish water in (This could go to any type of reservoir where you store/age water or even all the way to your sink).
Therefore:
Lets say I want to do a 3 gallon PWC, all I have to do is switch the first three way valve to vent the outlet water out my window until I get about 3 gallons. Then turn it so it connects back to the tank. Then take the other three way valve and pull water from my 6 gallon reservoir until I fill the tank back up.
The benefits that I see to this plumbing situation:
1) The tubing which I will use to connect to the 6 gal reservoir will actually be my gravel cleaner (which has a one way valve), therefore I can just as easily do a gravel vacuuming with this tubing just by turn the valve.
2) When I do gravel vacuuming (which would normally be during PWC) all the crap I vacuum will go onto my filter. This could be a benefit or a deficit depending on how you look at it. I see it as a benefit because sometimes I suck up things I still want like big sections of free floating java moss and other plant parts. I could just pick it out of my sponge in my filter.
3) Makes PWC a breeze, all you have to do is turn a switch.
4) I don't need an extra pump to pump from my reservoir to my tank.
I bought all the supplies I needed plus extra stuff from www.mcmaster.com for about $50 shipped. Not bad.