Is It Safe?

[aaronnorth]

Is it safe to add cold water straight from the tap to the tank via a hose pipe? Or i could warm it slightly so it isn't a massive difference, i will be keeping malawi cichlids @ 25C.

It will be quicker to fill up that's all.

Thanks, Aaron

 

[Davo86]

Is it safe to add cold water straight from the tap to the tank via a hose pipe? Or i could warm it slightly so it isn't a massive difference, i will be keeping malawi cichlids @ 25C.

It will be quicker to fill up that's all.

Thanks, Aaron

provided your adding no more than around 25% then it should be ok, I do it all the time with no ill effects to the fish, (my temp usually drops around 1 or 2C)

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, for normal WCs of 25% or less you should be fine. Even if the water you are addiing back is at 16C, you would only be changing the temp about 2C on a 25% WC.

 

[minxfishy]

Yes I do it on every water change, just remember to dose with dechlorinator just before or at the same time as you re-fill.

 

[dthoffsett]

I change up to 50% from the cold tap on my mbuna tank (75gal), it doesn't bother them at all. In fact, in my tank, most of the spawning occurs shortly after a water change.

Note: In the winter time I use both the hot & cold taps because the water here is a little too cold, even for me.

 

[aaronnorth]

Thanks, i was looking to change about 50% weekly.

 

[backtotropical]

I change up to 50% from the cold tap on my mbuna tank (75gal), it doesn't bother them at all. In fact, in my tank, most of the spawning occurs shortly after a water change.

Note: In the winter time I use both the hot & cold taps because the water here is a little too cold, even for me.

I do the same in my planted community tank. Up to around 50% has always been fine. Never any ill effects.

Also, as Dthoffsett says, it will encourage spawning in many species.

Beware though that sudden large temperature drops can be bad for fish so you need to be sensible about it.

Cheers

BTT

 

[aaronnorth]

Beware though that sudden large temperature drops can be bad for fish so you need to be sensible about it.

How would i go about this then? add 25% back in, then wait 10mins then add the other 25% back in?

 

[dthoffsett]

Beware though that sudden large temperature drops can be bad for fish so you need to be sensible about it.

How would i go about this then? add 25% back in, then wait 10mins then add the other 25% back in?

What kind of thermometer do you have? I have a digital and just keep an eye on it when filling the tank. If the temp drops more the 4 degrees while I'm filling, I just turn the hot tap on a little. In the late spring through fall I don't have much of a problem, in the winter though the water is freezing so I have to pay a little more attention.

If you don't have a digital thermometer, I'd just do a touch test, if the water feels too cold to you, add a bit of hot.

 

[aaronnorth]

Thanks, i jut have one that sticks on the inside glass, i have ordered all the parts for it yesterday.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

well a hose pipe is attached to a tap, so you can control the speed of the flow of water, so instead of having it on full whack just run the water in fairly slowly, this means the heater will soon kick in and start to heat the water as you're still filling so it reduces the drop in temp.

takes a little while this way but you don't have to physically do anything, can sit around watching tv or whatever while you wait for it to fill

 

[OscarWilde]

This question comes up every week. Someone need sto write a pinned topic for water changes!

 

[dthoffsett]

This question comes up every week. Someone need sto write a pinned topic for water changes!

I'm pretty sure there is a pinned topic on water changes, however, with water temperature drops it really depends on the species how well they'll tolerate it. I don't know about anyone else, but it doesn't bother me to answer the question, even if it is asked a lot.

People could use the search function to find the answer, but if they don't use search, they're unlikely to check the pinned topics either.