Water changes how do you do yours ?
This is how i carry mine out. I just open the back door, lift the manhole cover, unravel the hose pipe one end into the tank, suck on the other end and let it flow straight out into the drain, nice and easy no mess Not as easy going back in to the tanks though All the water is prepared at the kitchen sink, in 5 gal (uk) buckets, its at this time where i add the prime and i mix hot and cold tapwater to take the chill off i then pump the water back to the tanks. I allways change about 25% of the water, durring a water change, all my tanks are done every two weeks.
So how do you do it ?

I use a python for the bigger tanks. You hook one end up to the faucet and use the other end to siphon. I've got an extra deeo sink in the basement bathroom and I installed a fitting to mesh with the python. Turn the water on and start siphoning. It is wasteful of water but I haven't found a better way to do it that works for me. For the smaller tanks, particularly the ones with juvies, I use the old 5 gallon bucket and siphon method and carry the water to the bathroom. That way I get to have a second chance to see if I've siphoned up any juvies by mistake. For returning the water: I have two trash cans in the basement utility room that are resevoirs. I've got a siphon rigged from the first into the second and another hose drain a little higher up. In the second can, I keep a utility pump and use it and a 50 foot garden hose to refill the tanks. Basement temps are pretty constant at 71° F. (about 21.66° C)
mike

Hi mpp do you not declorinate the water or have i misread your post ?

All 7 of the tanks that I HAD up and running (I am down to 3 for now) got/get a 50% water change once a week. I use a gravel vac and a bucket. 50% of the water is drained and hauled away and dumped into the toilet by the bucketful. I age my water for 1 week with Prime in 1 gallon milk jugs (which takes up ALOT of space). I keep the conditioned and aged water in 2 closets that are near the tanks--which means that there is no need to guess on water temperatures, but I am sure that is soon to change with cold weather coming through, which means I am just about ready to get the heaters out. Any who, I add the water to the tanks by simply pouring water over my hand, which creates a raining effect in the tank.

The water for my 30 gallon NEEDS to be aged and conditioned because of the shrimp which are more sensitive than fish. This also helps keep a steady 7.0 pH in the tank. The pH straight from the tap is about 8.2 or 8.4, possibly higher.

Sorry Clunkster, the trash cans are reservoirs for my R/O. Sorry for not being clearer.
mike

No sorry my not understanding Must admit i did not think you of all people would not condition your water first, as i know you have been keeping fish longer than you call to remember, just like me

As I do 2 to 3 50% to 60% water changes per week, I've tried to develop a faster system.

I used to haul 5g buckets down the stairs (mpp has seen the house) which was HORRIBLE. Including the two small tanks, that amounts to about 270lbs of water at least 2x per week. Yikes.

Recently, I've gone to a Python & the clothes washer's water outputs in the basement. I just figured out the hot/cold mixture & it's working ok.

I fill a big 20g bucket, two 5g buckets and a 2.5g I have with water about 10-15 degrees hatter than I want to go into the tank. By the time I dechlorinate it, buffer it drain the tank & fill it back up, it's cooled to the right temp.

I pump it back in slowly with a small powerhead & .75" hose.

Since there's no sink downstairs, I disconnect the Python & drain it into a floor drain. Maybe it sounds like a lot, but it's actually a pretty smoothe process.

Some of you are crazy!! I was doing 5g buckets for my 46 gallon and was getting sick of the haul and it was taking close to an hour. Got a Python and now my 50% weekly water change takes me maybe 10 minutes total. Start the water up, drop in the Prime, and do some pruning while I am waiting for it to fill up.

Of course this shrimp tank I am setting up with RO water will be different, not sure what I will do there.