Eugenereef Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I am looking for hose to do water changes and was wondering if folks here could share their experience with me. Years ago, I used garden hose for water changes in my fresh water tank. DOH! And killed fishes after every water change DOH! Could not figure it out until I changed it to clear plastic pipe. Now need at least 60' of hose (too lazy to lug buckets ) Thanks for your input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschwarz Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 you can go to home depot and buy some. but it cost alot! i just got some for a small 6' siphon and cost me $18. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 You can get plastic tubing at Loews that you can buy by the foot. It is pretty cheap there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I was in home depot about 2 weeks ago and i found out my LFS had it cheaper :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Check online, most sell by the foot. Look at the Black vinyl pond hose (forget the name) comes in all sizes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Pacific rubber on 5th and conger...wholesale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danik Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I used a garden hose for 4 year for water changes and never had any problems. What kids of problems would it cause? Now I am just interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 I used a garden hose for 4 year for water changes and never had any problems. What kids of problems would it cause? Now I am just interested. I think the problem with mine was that it stayed outside on the patio (but out of sun). It still had water left over from previous water changes. As Dumb A** I was, I never flushed the old water out and went directly to adding water to my tank. The poor things in the tank would suffer for a few days and then I would find then floating on the top :( (This was in the beginning). I then went to plastic hose, read up and had planted tank for next 6 years and never lost a fish! That said, plasticizers in a common garden hose can be pretty toxic! I think if the hose was flushed properly, this might not be a problem. But with my past experience and guilt of putting fish to sleep does not allow me to even touch garden hose :( for adding water to my tank!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trautman Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Lafishguy uses a garden hose for all of his tanks, and he doesnt have problems. just sayin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Lafishguy uses a garden hose for all of his tanks' date=' and he doesnt have problems. just sayin'[/quote'] Like I said, there my be no problem with using garden hose, I am just biased from previous exprience! JMHO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellowithgills Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I use a garden hose that said it was safe for drinking water. I never use the hose for anything other than fish stuff and it stays inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 I use a garden hose that said it was safe for drinking water. I never use the hose for anything other than fish stuff and it stays inside. perfect! Thanks for posting. That's what I am looking for. Where did you buy this and what is the make? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGooseWhisperer Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I use a garden hose that said it was safe for drinking water. I never use the hose for anything other than fish stuff and it stays inside. Good advise for everyone really. Some folks dont know that there are actually different garden hoses. Please don't let your kids or yourself drink out of hoses that aren't specifically labeled as safe for drinking. God only knows what could be in there otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Regular garden hose has carcinogens, etc. in it. You get that strong plastic taste when you take a drink on a hot, summer day. A lot of safe hose is white and sometimes labeled as RV hose. It will always say potable or safe for drinking on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 +1 on RV hose, it's made to drink from. It is white and most of the time has a blue stripe. The guys here at Guaranty in the Rv department say it comes in 25' lengths. I can purchase them for $10 each...$30 to make a 75 foot run. Let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 +1 on RV hose' date=' it's made to drink from. It is white and most of the time has a blue stripe. The guys here at Guaranty in the Rv department say it comes in 25' lengths. I can purchase them for $10 each...$30 to make a 75 foot run. Let me know.[/quote'] Dude!!! (clap) Just logged in to post this but you beat me to it here's what I found in Lowes: My question is: are the metal coupler bad for saltwater? Do I have to replace them with plastic ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellowithgills Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I don't think the metal is going to make a difference. Just don't leave it in you tank permanently, you might rinse it afterwords too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks for the input from all of you!! I was inspired and finally put together my water prep station last night. Is filling up with RO water right now. Takes a long time to fill a 30 g container! (whistle) here are some pictures: Hmmm.. cannot load pics from this computer! is somebody else has this problem where the manage attachment page is half displayed. I'll try other computer.. the pic here shows the quick disconnect installed at both ends on the transfer hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 gave up! too much trouble to add pictures here (scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 You have to post them in your photobucket account then get the img tag from the drop down then copy it and come back to the forum and paste it in your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugenereef Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Thanks for the tip Jon! So I started an account and now here goes the pics of my water prep station: The top container is for DI-RO water and lower container is where I prepare saltwater. The pum is used for mixing and then the same pump moves the water to my tank! First pic is of the whole setup and the second one showes plumbing details. The photo in previous post is the quick connect I have installed that is easy to handle. besides this quick connect also has autolock, so it prevents the drip of the salt water on carpet and floor while moving the hose in and out of the home! [/img] [/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I thought you were waiting hahaha....remeber, nothing reef happens quickly! Good job getting it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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