Practicalities Of Water Changes

[gsaunders]

Hi,

I am currently thinking about the practicalities of my first water change. Having grown up with cold water fish this was not difficult as there was only one main factor to consider.

I have now graduated to tropical fish where it appears to be a bit more complicated with more factors for consideration. The replacement water obviously needs to be treated before I add it which is not too difficult. However it also needs to be at the correct temperature. Is anyone able to offer practical advice on the best way to prepare the water (which requires chemicals to be added 24 hours before hand), preferably without having to buy a second heater?

Thanks

Graham

 

[Truck]

If you're doing a 20 -30% water change, just dump it in cold, dechlorinator is optional.

 

[shelaghfishface]

yes im with Truck, have never had any ill effects due to using cold water for small changes.. big ones are a diff matter tho, havent ever really used dechlorinator either.. certainly have never purchased an extra heater to heat the water.
just out of interest,do you havea combi boiler? if so, then you could just use warm water from the tap, care needs to be taken if not as if your hot water is stored, then there is always the risk of adding copper back into the tank,

shelagh xxx

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hi,
to prepare the water (which requires chemicals to be added 24 hours before hand), Thanks

Does it?

 

[OldMan47]

The dechlorinator acts in the time it takes me to carry the bucket from the kitchen sink to the aquarium. The reason people let water sit out over night is that they are not using dechlorinator and are hoping to have most of the chlorine gas off while the water is sitting out. There is some evidence that the small water changes that are truly needed does not harm the fish with the chlorine present if the water where you are located does not have high levels of chlorine in it. Some people get away with not using dechlorinator over long periods of time. On the other hand, my water company varies the chlorine they add depending on what they feel is reasons to shock treat the water system for line breaks etc. Since they never bother to tell us when they are doing that, I take the precaution of not using water without dechlorinator in it. If you know that your particular water company is using only the minimum dose of chlorine and you know that they don't change it around without telling people, you might get away with no dechlorinator. I always figure that at less than two dollars a year for the dechlorinator for all of my tanks, it is worth the cost to use it.