changing/adding water

[leksie]

Hi there


I have had tank for about 2 months and haven't changed the water!! I know, that's bad right?>!>!>>!

And the water level has gotten low so I at least need to top it up.

The reason I haven't done it..is well....I don't really know how...

I am worried about putting water in that is from the tap (with dechlorinator of course) as it might be a bit cold? Does it make a difference? But I don't have another way to check the temp out of the tank. Do I add the chloring remover to the water before I put it in, or the whole tank after? Can my fishies stay in there while I do it?

I have four platties, they have been doing so well though I know nothing and am soooo scared I might kill them, my boy and I really like them lol.

(ps, I know someone will ask..I don't have a test kit either, ~!) I can get water tested at the store but not now and need to get my filter working again (stopped because water level is too low I think)

 

[sarahw20000]

I'm not exactly an expert but depending on how much water you've lost you want to replace between a third and a quarter of the water. You must put the declorinater in before you put the new water in the tank and i usually just put a little bit of warm tap water in so the water is luke warm, aslong as you're not changing a huge amount it shouldn't make too much difference to the overall temp, just don't put ice cold water in! Hope this helps and anyone feel free to correct me!

 

[debiasir]

go to your LFS and buy a gravel vac (mine cost £9.99). this is the easist way i find to clean the gravel and change water at the same time. once you have removed about 20 - 30% of the water add the same amount of water back to the tank. they way i do this is add the water to buckets straight from the tap mixing cold and hot water unitll it feels the same temp (bit of a cowboy way of doing it but it has served me well for 1 year) then add in the required amount of dechlor as advised on the label. then what i do is use the gravel vac the other way around so the water flows from the bucket into the tank. usually water changes on my 40 gallon and 2 15gallons take about 15 all together.

I have never done a water change and removed the fish they have allways stayed in the tank.

The worst thing you can do is let the filter media dry out as this kills all the good bacteria needed. also depending on the filter if the water level is to low but the filter is still running and now water is going through the motor may burn out meaning you will hvae to buy a filter.

Oh yeah i do a water change once a week and sometimes mid week to if i am border and have nothing to do

 

[sarahw20000]

ooh and also when you pour the water in pour it onto your hand or something or it'll disrupt all your gravel

 

[abstract]

what do you mean you dont have any way to check the temp. outside of the tank? if you have a thermometer in the tank (which it sounds like you do) take it out and put it under the running water until the running tap water is the same temp as the tank

 

[leksie]

heh yeah I guess that is easy, I have a thermom/heater though so I would have to switch it off, wait for it to cool down etc etc..

Hopefully it should be ok, I wasn't hope and came to the filter not working, switched off now so I hope it's not burnt out, arg..

My tank is only 10 g so I hope it doesn't disturb things too much...there is maybe 1/4 or a bit less water down..how much should I change?

 

[debiasir]

i would change about 2.5 gallons at each water change but thats just me

 

[FalconStorm]

what do you mean you dont have any way to check the temp. outside of the tank? if you have a thermometer in the tank (which it sounds like you do) take it out and put it under the running water until the running tap water is the same temp as the tank

Actually, abstract, not all thermometers can be removed from the tank. All of mine are the kind that stick to the glass, so I have to go by feel as well.

 

[abstract]

what do you mean you dont have any way to check the temp. outside of the tank?  if you have a thermometer in the tank (which it sounds like you do) take it out and put it under the running water until the running tap water is the same temp as the tank 

Actually, abstract, not all thermometers can be removed from the tank. All of mine are the kind that stick to the glass, so I have to go by feel as well.

oh yea, forgot about those ...i don't use them because of the fact that they cant be easily removed, plus they are generally not as accurate as internal ones...although i do have one you stick on the outside that can be removed/moved if you want - but this obviously couldn't be placed under a stream of water lol

but anyhow, regular thermometers are $1-$2 ...surely you dont HAVE to go by feel

 

[FalconStorm]

I actually have very sensitive fingers. I can match temp almost exactly, to within one degree by feel, so I don't generally bother with them. I need to get some, though, because they ARE more accurate and they can be moved to various parts of the aquarium, which helps with my split betta tanks...

 

[abstract]

I actually have very sensitive fingers. I can match temp almost exactly, to within one degree by feel, so I don't generally bother with them. I need to get some, though, because they ARE more accurate and they can be moved to various parts of the aquarium, which helps with my split betta tanks...

yup i'm good at sensing temperature when i have to, but not as good as the thermometer *just teasin ya*

 

[FalconStorm]

Of course, lately, it hardly matters anyway, because I have to add water as cold as I can get it, because it's hot here and the tanks keep overheating. My 5 gallon likes to try to hit 84 degrees during the day when I'm at work and can't add cold water. Nothing in it has suffered too badly yet, but it worries me.

 

[leksie]

Well I just did it and all seems well

Hopefully in a few hours my fish will still be swimming

 

[kent]

that's good, i guess it's better to be very late than never right?

 

[abstract]

Of course, lately, it hardly matters anyway, because I have to add water as cold as I can get it, because it's hot here and the tanks keep overheating. My 5 gallon likes to try to hit 84 degrees during the day when I'm at work and can't add cold water. Nothing in it has suffered too badly yet, but it worries me.

just FYI FalconStorm, 84 degrees isn't gonna kill anything for a couple months of summer....i mean, if it is up in the high 80s, low 90s you have a problem...but it is really not an issue that your tank hits 84 during the day at all...not that much of an issue that you would need to float a frozen water bottle or anything like people experiencing 90 degree tanks! all of my tanks stay around 84 in the summer - it's beyond my control...