finally, no more water changes!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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dmopar74

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Mar 24, 2006
5,080
154
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Tri cities washington
finally got a drip system going, its rather plain but there's not much too a drip setup. basically need a carbon filter, pressure regulator, 1/4" tubing, and some drip emitters, and a way to overflow the "old" water.

for a water supply i ran a 1/2" line from the nearest cold line in the crawler to the garage, then to the carbon filter,pressure regulator next, 1/4" line to tanks with emitters.
i went with 1/2" diy overflows and aqualifters, as i have no sump and didnt want to drill my tanks.
ran a 2" line from the plumbing in the crawler into the garage for a drain, with a p-trap to keep the stench contained, which my overflows run into.

thats it!

SOME NOTES FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO DO THIS IN THE FUTURE-
the cheap plastic regulators sold at hd/lowes/walmart etc... suck! they will leak, and once you fix the first leak they will start leaking somewhere else. i have yet to buy a good brass one, but will soon.
the cheap plastic 3/4" to 1/4" tubing compresion adapters also leak, buy the brass one and a metal sleeve that goes inside the 1/4" tubing to prevent the tubing from crushing when tightened.

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Very interesting mopar, how do you regulate the volume of water drip? I guess it's constantly filling/emptying since you are not using a sump?
 
irrigation drip emmiters meant for watering plants, they are available in 1/2, 1, 2gph etc. the 1/4" line runs to the tank with the emmiter at the end of the line.

yes constant in/out.
 
Nice job!
 
How much water does it change each day? What size tank..?
 
johns;3214760; said:
Nice idea, But speaking as a Plumber I would consider some kind of a back flow or check valve at least on the drain line If not on the supply also.
Click to expand...

so you also put backwater valves on all the plumbing fixtures in the house? not too shure on your reasoning for this, other than the off chance the septic backs up, the sewage water rises to the point of my tank drains, then the bacteria makes it up the drains, though my overflow, and finally into my tank.

i could see more of a concern for the backflow on the supply because its tied into our drinking water system, but still a massively unlikely chain of events would have to happen.

im also a journeyman plumber, more concerned about catching diseases from playing in my tanks over a nuclear meltdown of my dwv/water systems.

BigJ;3214814; said:
How much water does it change each day? What size tank..?
Click to expand...
i only got my 100 going at the moment with 1gph drip, have the aqualifters and overflows done for my 180 and 75, just wanted to run the 100 for a few days first to make shure the fish are all good. always leary of trying out new things on the tanks so am testing on my least valuable players.
 
How is the temperature holding up? Any concerns there, particularly when winter rolls around? 1gph probably not enough to change anything...
 
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