Python question

[Fiddlesticks]

Im so excited. I have been wanting one for so long. But had too many other things draining my cash. Now that we have a tank that is way to tall for me to lift the buckets up my hubby has to do it. So I have convinced him (and myself) that is is a neccesity now. Im going to pick it up tommorow so I just have a question. I was just wondering if anyone has had problems adding the declor to the tank. What I mean is can you just drop it into the spray or does it have to be mixed first. Also I was wondering has anyone had any other disasters from using one.
ie sudden tempurature changes of the water ect.

Thanks

 

[Rubicon]

On second thought... *deleeeeeete* .. not sure I comprendez the question.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Sorry I may have been rambling. The question is has anyone had anything disasterous happen in the tank that was directly related to using a python?

 

[smithrc]

no major problems...

the temp drop is not that bad - if you have a mixer tap, use that to get a similar temp.

add lots of declorinator to the tank and add the water to the area. make sure its away from the filter ans if the chlorine gets to the filter it will cause problems with the bacteria. we have seen ammonia spikes after learning the hard way not to point the water at the filter (its right next to the heater in the bedroom tank and pointing it at that seemed like a good idea)

 

[MXPX4318]

nope no problems with my python, just mix the dechlor in a little at the time into the water coming out of the python (fill up a teaspoon or whatever you use to measure your dechlor, turn on python, slowly pour the dechlor into the water coming out, it's that simple and I haven't had any problems. The temp change is minimal and if you can adjust hot and cold do so and just stick your thermometer (if you have one of those floating/suction cup ones) under the running water before pushing the green knob up and letting it flow into the tank, but even without adjusting I ahve more temp problems with this inconsistent a/c in my dorm room then I do with water changes.

 

[yhbae]

As mentioned above, dechlorinator can be added as you pour water into the tank directly from the tap (mixed with hot and cold water). I usually put dechlorinator into a cup (pre-measured based on the water change), and fill the cup with tap water. This way, it is easier to drip the content of the cup consistently throughout the water fill.

I prepare a second cup if the tank requires any other additives. In my case, it is the mix of baking soda and epsom salt for the mbuna setup.

Initially, you may want to use a thermometer to get the right mix of hot and cold water. Eventually, you will get them pretty accurate with your hand only but I remember I consistently got it too hot for the first few changes.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

JThanks for the replys. Hey does anyone know if dechlor is toxic to the fish if too much is added?

 

[yhbae]

If you seriously overdose it, I suppose it won't be healthy for the fishes but if you x2 or x3 times, it isn't harmful. In fact, I put x2 just in case there isn't sufficient amount...

 

[Def]

Erm, maybe I'm not the first to point this out but surely this isn't great advice? The reason it's recommended to use cold water boiled in a kettle to bring up the temp of your water change water is because water from the hot tap has sat in the tank and gone along copper pipes, causing metals and other junk to leak into it?

If you even have your hot water boiler replaced, ask the plumber to pour it out into your bath. When it gets to about 1/5th full, sand and all sorts of crap starts coming out.

 

[Cavafish]

I do have to agree with Def a bit on this one. The hot water from your tap has either come from a cylinder which is fed from a tank in your roof space where all sorts of nasties could have got into it, or the cylinder is fed directly from the clean cold water in the house but will pick up contaminants on the way to your tap (as Def said).

Otherwise it has come straight from your boiler which should have a treatment fixed to it to stop the elements in the boiler furring up like your kettle does. This additive is not good for you or fish which is why you dont drink hot water from the tap. The only time the hot water from your tap is safe is if it is not treated because you live in a soft water area.
Maybe this is not true in Canada though

P.S. Say Hi to my brother who is over in your city for the next couple of days.

 

[yhbae]

If you have other facility to provide that much hot water into the tank, great!

For many aquarists who own large tanks, I don't think there's much practical ways of doing this without draining water directly out of the hot water tank. Personally, I have done this for about 2 years without any ill effect, and while ago, I even pointed out that I didn't want to switch from stress coat to another conditioner because it detoxifies heavy metals. The advise I've got was that the amount that comes out of your hot water tank is so small that it wouldn't make any difference. So now, I use conditioner that doesn't detoxify metals and I'm not getting any ill effect there either...

On the other hand, this is MY experience, and I feel comfortable doing it.

People have been doing this for years, so I trust their experience...

 

[smithrc]

it all depends on your setup and what you use.

our hotwater is the same as the cold - but heated. (eg its mains feed direct to the boiler).

Our dechlorinater also removes heavy metals aswell.

copper pipes are used as they are mostly inert. if you have lead pipes still - worry about your own health before your fish!

as for temperature, we dont have a mixer tap that we can use with the python, and after a quick bit of maths - the temp drop can be worked out.. measure the temp of the cold water being used (in our case it was 20deg C) and roughly the amount being changed (25%) and the tank temp (ours was 27deg)

so with 75% at 27deg and 25% at 20deg the tank will be at about 25degC.
not a problem