Siphoning Water Out of Aquarium
Transcript
Welcome to this training video on removing water from your Living Oceans aquarium during a water change.
Before starting, prepare the area by laying down towels to protect the floor from any spills.
If required, collect a water sample before disturbing the aquarium.
Use a clean, sealed container and collect approximately 50 to 100 millilitres of aquarium water.
Before any maintenance:
- turn off power to the aquarium
- wash your hands
- wear aquarium-safe gloves if you have sensitive skin
Remove:
- the light, allowing it to hang safely from its cable
- the mesh lid
We recommend changing 25% to 50% of the aquarium water volume.
Setting Up the Siphon
Place the 20-litre bucket inside the larger bucket.
This acts as a safety bund to help prevent flooding.
Attach the gooseneck to the aquarium with the valve in the closed position.
Position the hose approximately halfway down the aquarium.
This helps prevent excessive water removal if the siphon is accidentally left running.
Place the pump into the 20-litre bucket and check that the hose is free from kinks.
To prime the siphon:
- add approximately 3 litres of water to the bucket
- open the valve
- power the pump for 5 to 10 seconds
Once primed, unplug the pump.
The siphon will now begin drawing water from the aquarium.
While siphoning, remove as much:
- organic waste
- algae
- excess food
- detritus
as possible.
Caution
- Never leave a pump or siphon unattended while operating.
- Always monitor the water level during maintenance.
Allow the bucket to fill to approximately 15 litres.
Close the valve to stop the siphon.
Remove the filled bucket from the bunding bucket and dispose of the water.
Place the pump into the larger bucket.
The hose will remain primed and ready for the next bucket.
Repeat the process until the required amount of water has been removed.
To refill and restart the aquarium, refer to the saltwater mixing and aquarium refilling support video.
Thanks for watching.