mixing large amounts of water

I've been using tap water for the last 5 months on my tank and I've seen nothing but slow growth and algae blooms so I'm switching to RO/DI water. It was recommended to me by a fellow hobbyist to do a 50% water change with RO water and then another 50% change two weeks later and I'd see improvement right away. I have enough 5-gallon buckets to do a 50% change but I don't have enough heaters and pumps to mic that much salt water at once, any suggestions?

 

buy a brute garbage containeer and mix it all at the same time.

 

won't I need a large pump then to move the water from the container to the tank? I don't really want to invest that kind of money just to do a water change

 

I am switching from grocery bought RO water to RODI water myself after a nasty algae outbreak.

I only have the pumps and heats for one five gallon tank, so I am planning on doing a 5 gallon water change every other day (or maybe every three days) until I've replaced between 50 and 75%, then going back to my normal water change cycle after that.

 

A pump definitely makes things easier, but it doesn't have to be a lot of money. I bought a nice pump off of amazon for $35 shipped.

When I upgraded from a 36 to a 75 I was still trying to do my water changes in a couple5 gallon buckets, mixing them separately. It sucked. Getting them all to the same temp & salinity, buckets in every corner - you will be better off getting a big bucket & pump. I got my bucket at home depot - maybe check walmart or other large department stores to save some $$.

 

I don't pump, I store in one brute, when I want to mix I use a bucket to move it to my mixing brute, and I take it to the tanks with buckets. My brutes have ball valves near the bottom of each to get the water into the bucket.

 

You can always get a maxijet 1200 for like 30 bucks not a major investment by any means.

 

Problem for me with pumps is i'm not going to pay for a pump that can pump water from a basement where I store water to a first story where my two tanks are. A lot of head pressure and tubing to go upstairs just isn't worth it personally.

 

Ahhh, makes sense.

You can always just make it in the brute and siphon to buckets. Takes a while but definitely do-able. (just realized you aren't the O.P.) Your bulkhead/valve in the bottom is probably the easiest way for you to do it.

 

On my 125reef + 50g sump, I started with mixing tap in a large squareish trash can that has as top, and WHEELS! It says 32g on it, but I've never put more than 20g and rolled it.

Then I got my RO/DI and still use the squarish trash can for my mixing, etc.

You don't have to have a pump! I started with, and often still use a 1 gallon rubbermaid
pitcher- has a nice handle on it. I just scoop and pour. 15g- scoop about 16 times. It doesn't take that long- quicker than a small pump anyways.

I also use a Majijet 600 that runs water thru my UV filter.

Good luck, my method works for me!