The Bucket You Clean With

[bigdave2009]

When vaccuming gravel or doing water changes, is it ok to use the same bucket that holds the dirty water, and then use it to refill the tank with clean water?

 

[Luketendo]

When vaccuming gravel or doing water changes, is it ok to use the same bucket that holds the dirty water, and then use it to refill the tank with clean water?

I use two different buckets.

 

[dwarfgourami]

If you've got only the one tank, I'd say that's fine. I've got 5 (soon to be 6) so I prefer to have a separate bucket for clean, to avoid transferring any potential infections from one tank to another.

 

[jennybugs]

With my 7 tanks I have 2 buckets and use one for dirty and one for clean. The reason I do this is it saves running back and forth to the sink and also I found I was contaminating my other tanks with ramshorn pest snails from the dirty water from the filter and media so now use one for dirty water and one for clean.

The dirty water bucket is bright orange as I once siphoned up two fish and didn't realise til it was too late...I couldn't see them in the black bucket and missed them when I tipped the dirty water down the drain Now I can see everything and that mistake won't happen again (I also NEVER clean out the tank without a guard on the siphon now).

 

[juwelfan]

Just the one for me. I clean it after i've used it for the old water.

 

[tropicaltink81]

just one bucket for me 2 although it would save time having 2 i just rinse it out tho,

 

[Squid]

I have buckets for clean and buckets for dirty. Mainly because when syponing with sand you enevitably suck up some of it mixed in with other poop etc from the tank. Now being a lazy wotsit I can't be bothered to clean that bucket to the level that i would feel happy pouring water from it back into the tank.

If you are less lazy and it is the same tank you are dealing with then I don't see a problem with it. The previous posters have pointed out some good reasons with regards to multiple tanks and contamination as to why it would be best avoided there.

At the end of the day, i'm lazy and buckets are 99p at B&Q.. end of story.

Squid

 

[smithrc]

I don't use buckets any more...

use a hose, its loads easier!
(or 5 if your worried about cross contamination...)

 

[Squid]

I don't use buckets...
use a hose - loads easier!

I would too, but the most convenient tap would be at the kitchen sink. The missus hates the idea of fish poop in the kitchen sink. Can't think why.

Squid

 

[smithrc]

I don't use buckets...
use a hose - loads easier!

I would too, but the most convenient tap would be at the kitchen sink. The missus hates the idea of fish poop in the kitchen sink. Can't think why.

Squid

When syphoning out - poke it out of a window into the flower beds or lawn the nitrates your removing will be good for the plants.

When filling up - turn the filters off and add de-chlorinater to the tank - then fill up from the tap

 

[Squid]

Good idea. Are you literally just using a hose then, or do you use a Python or the equivalent. if you are using a python, how long is the part of the hose from the tap connector (bit that provides the vacuum or however it works) to the bit that has the output when syphoning from the tank? (not the bit from the tap to tank)..

Does that make sense or am i talking jibberish?

Squid

 

[smithrc]

I bought a python originally - but the only real difference between a normal hose and a python, is the tap connector that allows you to suck the water out of the tank...
But If you can get the end of the hose lower than the tank you don't need it anyway!