Hiya, can someone give me some advice on my first water change. I am going to do a 90% change. As i have a 200 ltr tank, what is the best way to put the water back in. If i use a hose the water will be very cold. Do i take the filter out and put it in a bucket of tank water while i fill tank and add de-chlorinator. I am a bit confused on the best way to get so much water back in the tank quickly, at the right temp and with no chlorine. Thanks for any help.
First Big Water Change
- Thread starter Bronson
- Start date
Tizer
Team TetraTEC
Why a 90% water change for a start?
You'd be far better off doing two 60 or 75% water changes than one 90% one.
Make sure you switch off your heater before you start!
You can fill with a hose; just syphon in (or pour very gently; make sure there's no fish underneath!) some buckets of hot as you go. I use three or four buckets for a 200l tank. Put the dechlorinator in (enough for the whole tank) before you start refilling and, if you're using a hose, don't rush things; there's too much of a risk of shocking the fish if you do. I normally take about an hour to do a 75% water change from start to finish; nice and relaxed
I wouldn't bother taking the filter out; just make sure it's swtiched off and that the dechlor goes in at the start of refilling and it'll be fine.
Make sure you switch off your heater before you start!
You can fill with a hose; just syphon in (or pour very gently; make sure there's no fish underneath!) some buckets of hot as you go. I use three or four buckets for a 200l tank. Put the dechlorinator in (enough for the whole tank) before you start refilling and, if you're using a hose, don't rush things; there's too much of a risk of shocking the fish if you do. I normally take about an hour to do a 75% water change from start to finish; nice and relaxed
I wouldn't bother taking the filter out; just make sure it's swtiched off and that the dechlor goes in at the start of refilling and it'll be fine.
I was under the impression that when the fishless cycle finishes that there would be so much nitrate in the water that a 90% change would be the thing to do. I am so glad there are places like this that us novices can go and get excellent advice. I thought about taking the filter out because of the chlorine in the new water, makes a lot of sense to put the de-chlorinator in first. Learning all the time !
Oh, well, if you've got no fish in, yes, you can go right down to the gravel
Do remember what I said about the heater though; I forgot to swith one of mine off and it came on, over heated and the glass shattered! I didn't kill any fish (oy myself!) but it was scary, and of course I had to get the spare heater out and wire it in to the cable tidy and everything; I was not a happy bunny
You'll need to switch the filter off too, as they'll burn out if they run dry; they probably don't go bang and throw out loads of blue sparks though (or mybe they do; it's easier to remember to turn filters off!)
Do remember what I said about the heater though; I forgot to swith one of mine off and it came on, over heated and the glass shattered! I didn't kill any fish (oy myself!) but it was scary, and of course I had to get the spare heater out and wire it in to the cable tidy and everything; I was not a happy bunny
You'll need to switch the filter off too, as they'll burn out if they run dry; they probably don't go bang and throw out loads of blue sparks though (or mybe they do; it's easier to remember to turn filters off!)
Tizer
Team TetraTEC
ah no fish, easy job then
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