Confused About Water Changes

[gogfumble]

OK

I was just wondering how you do large water changes with regard to water temperature and chlorine.

If the tank has no fish in it (the large water change at the end of a fishless cycle for instance) then am I right in thinking you can add water straight from the tap with use of a hose and then add the dechlorinator. Then wait for the tank to get back up to temperature before putting any fish in.

But I don't get how you would do it with fish in the tank?

The tank I am setting up is 200 litres, say I had to do a 50% water change at some point when there are fish in the tank. I have no where to store 100 litres of water for 24 hours or so to get the temperature up and add dechlorinator before adding it to the tank. The only thing I can think of is filling the bath up. But then, how do I get the water from the bath to the tank?

If you add water straight from the tap via a hose when there are fish in the tank surely the drop in temperature and adding water that has not been dechlorinated would not be good for the fishes? Sure you can add dechlorinator to the tank before or during adding water but would this be enough to neutralise the effect the chlorine could have? And what about the temperature of the water?

When I had a biorb this was easily done by filling a couple buckets, adding declorinator, leaving them for 24 hours and then using a tube to syphon the water, but I have no idea how I am going to do water changes on such a larger scale.

Am I just being thick?

 

[pippoodle]

you dont need to leave it standing for 24 hours dechlorinator works right away
we just do buckets with all our tank dechlor in the buckets then put in tank
add a bit of boiled water to each to raise the temp then add to the tank

a couple of degrees difference in temp wont damage the fish

 

[gogfumble]

I meant leaving it stand for 24 hours to get the water temperature more up to room temperature than tap temp as water straight out the tap is quite cold.

 

[Macko1968]

I just mix warm & cold water from the tap in to a watering can, drop a thermometer in to ensure Im close to the tank temperature & the jobs done.

 

[gogfumble]

I just mix warm & cold water from the tap in to a watering can, drop a thermometer in to ensure Im close to the tank temperature & the jobs done.

That makes sense! I had a feeling I was over complicating things and just realised I was

I was thinking that if I did it with a bucket, firstly I would be there all day going back and forth with buckets of water and secondly, I can just see me getting the water everywhere but in the tank when poring it in.

At least with a 10 litre watering can for example, even doing a 50% water change that is only 10 trips and you have the spout so there is less chance in 'missing' the tank.

Cheers, as I said, I know I was over complicating things.

It's just me worrying about doing it right. I am sure once I get used to it I will be fine.

 

[OldMan47]

I use a 4 gallon bucket and use my gravel vac in the bucket to put the water back into the tank. Lay a board across the top of the tank and you will have a good spot for the bucket to sit while it drains into the tank. Even my 120 gallon only needs less than 6 or 7 full buckets to be finished. The 120 sits behind my computer chair so I can sit here and read through the forum while the water puts itself into the tank using the gravel vac.

 

[Mikaila31]

I use my hand to check water temp. As long as its close I just dump my bucket in. A bucket of slightly cooler or warmer water is not going to harm most fish.