Big Water Changes

[-=Joel=-]

Hiya folks,

How does one go about doing a large water change on a 400litre tank without effecting the water too much ?

In my planted tank I am going to have some fish and wonder if doing a large 50% water change would make the ph swing massive due to loss of co2 ?

Joel

 

[JamesC]

You could always use a python to do your water changes. You could also use a garden water butt that has a pump attached so that the water is pumped to the tank. Can be a bit problematic when the weather is cold though. Python is easiest and a lot of people seem to use it.

Ph swings contrary to popular belief do not cause problems for fish. In the wild they have to put up with large swings, probably more than they will encounter during a water change.

Python home page - http/www.pythonproducts.com/index.htm

 

[-=Joel=-]

Thanks James,

Just re read my post. doh.

I can do the water changes it was the effects I was worried about Lol. However you know what your talking about so I will trust you

Im lucky and am able to use a hose to take water out of the tank then attach it to a tap and to put it back in

Easy peesy water changes, only problem is when I need to hoover around the tank which I do once a month at present.

Joel

 

[JamesC]

The most you'll get a pH swing of is about 1 as this is generally what the CO2 will lower the pH by. This will be over however long it takes you to fill the tank so will be fairly gradual. In the wild fish sometimes have to put up with a 2 point pH swing between day and night. I think the misconception originally happened because people related pH to water hardness which fish don't like to be changed too much.

For cleaning I use one of those battery powered vacs and remove the bell shape thing at the end of the tube. This then allows me to get between the plants and suck up any muck. Works a treat for me.

 

[-=Joel=-]

thanks james

 

[plantbrain]

CO2 does not change the ionic strength of the solution, adding baking soda(adds KH), a salt, will.

CO2 is not a salt.

While it can lower pH, it does not harm fish.
Baking soda when added rapidly, can kill your fish ansd causes a rise in pH that is permanent, CO2 gas when you stop adding it, causes the pH to climb back up.

Takes time for the fish to adapt to the new ionic salt bath. Too fast and it'll kill the fish.
Folks have been doing massive weekly water changes for decades now with CO2 and never seen any ill effects on highly sensitive livestock such as wild Altums, Discus, Apisto's etc.

Once you have fish/plants that have been getting large weekly water changes, the stability of the KH and the tank in general is very stable. Unless the tap water source etc changes dramatically, this allows the aquarist to have a better, cleaner tank with less interactions with organic processes(many of which you cannot test for specifically) that occur in aquariums.

Amano, myself, David Oliver, CAU and most scapers tend to do large frequent weekly or more in some cases) water changes and basic cleaning methods.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[-=Joel=-]

Thank you for confirming the answer tom, appreciated.

Hopefully once I get started I will stop worrying Lol.

Joel

 

[jcosgrove]

Do they ship those python's to the UK?

 

[JamesC]

Aquatics Online sell them - http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z158327.asp#product1032