Using A Hose, Or Python To Fill Your Tank.

[Fwapp]

Since joining the wonderful world of fishies at the start of December, I've spent time looking and reading on the internet and wandering arounf the LFS's.

I've noticed a few people, with far, far bigger tanks than mine (a 60l!) use a python to perform their water changes, whereas I can get away with a 12l bucket!

Now, when refilling the tank, from the tap, how do the python users treat the tap water?

Do they add enough dechlorinator for the amount of water they are adding, before or after filling the tank from the tap? Do they do it during? Do they add enough to treat the entire tank volume?

It perplexes me, as adding untreated tap water to a tank seems like a good way of knackering up your filters bacterial balance, and the problems that would entail.

Anyone like to enlighten me?

 

[Tolak]

I use a hose to fill tanks. I use Prime, or sodium thiosulfate, depending on the tank. Prime states on the bottle to treat the entire water volume of the tank when doing a water change using a python or similar equipment. I have gone back & forth with other aquarists on this issue in the past. I treat the replacement volume, using 50% more than recommended. I change between 50% to 80% weekly on most tanks.

A lot of my water treatment methods depends on the previous weeks weather. My water comes from Lake Michigan. If there has been a lot of rain, or other weather disturbances the previous week, the water company treats the water differently. Bad weather means more runoff from storm sewers, as well as debris being churned up from the lake bottom. When this happens they add more chlorine & chloramine, as well as buffering agents. After a week with bad weather I use Prime on everything & treat the entire tank volume. Mild weather I use sodium thiosulfate. A friend of mine forgot about a big storm we had a few weeks back, lost half a spawn of black angels.

I have a seperate system for filling and draining, when filling smaller tanks I try to add dechlor every 5 gallons, larger ones get it added every 10 gallons. I've added dechlor before filling, as well as filling & then adding it, it doesn't seem to make a difference. Having seperate systems I can fill one tank while draining another. Sometimes I'll be cleaning a filter with a tank filling & another draining, so dechlor will get added when I have a free moment. Chlorine & chloramine take a little bit of time to affect the bio filtration, as well as the fish.

From the start, I would sugest treating the entire volume of the tank with Prime, and adding it every 5 or 10 gallons. When you get more experience you can try cutting back on the dechlor, or mixing your own.

 

[Fwapp]

Thanks for clear, concise reply.

I also happen to use Prime for treating my water, and have to use a whole 0.6ml each time I treat my replacement water !

I'll probably use a hose/python when I get my 4' tank (oneday,depending an the wife!)

For the moment, I'll carry on using the bucket, as 1 a week is hardly a struggle.

Thanks again.

 

[rdd1952]

I also use a python on my 29 and 75 gallon tanks. Have been using it for about 8 months without any problems. I use Stress Coat and usually squirt a little in before the water starts running and then some more after all the water is in. Obviously, if I use buckets like on the betta tanks, I just squirt the Stress Coat in the bucket before adding it to the tank.

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

I kinda had the same pondering. I'm a little 80 pound weakling, and lifting even 1 gallon buckets is a chore! Everybody kept suggesting Python, but I was worried about regular tap water in my tank. Somebody said "just add the treatment to the water stream".. so I finally bought a Python (which I love! Greatest invention ever!), and put AmQuell Plus and NovAqua Plus in the tank, whilest the tapwater is coming in. I do a whole tank measurement (5 teaspoons, for 50 gallons).
My fish seem fine!

 

[rabbit]

I use a 70l bucket and a length of tubing and my spare powerhead,sypthon water out with tube ,fill bucket up treat with usual treatments normally safe water, halofix,and a teaspoon of bicarb and pump bak into tank using same tube and power head do a water change 10 mins sorted.
luckily waters just about perfect out of tank for my boonas