Water change how?

[aibo210]

Hi

im doing a 50% water change today and i want to get the temps up in the new water. I have a large water tank with a screw cap can I add cold then top it up with hot tap till I get the right temps on a thermometer that matches my tank?

Please post ASAP.

Carl

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

i dont really know but i'm sure it wouldnt hurt.

 

[ddm18]

Hey,

Hot water should be OK, except for one thing. People tend to consider that water straight from the mains (usually the cold tap in your kitchen - but it could be other cold taps as well), rather than water that's been sitting in a hot/cold water tank for some time, is 'cleaner' because there's no way to be certain what's 'lurking' in a hot water tank. It's VERY unlikely that there will be anything harmful to either you or your fish, but if you want to be absolutely certain, I'd stick with just mains water (dechlorinated, of course).

Possibly a safer option would be to use mainly cold water and add a little boiling water from your kettle, to get the correct temperature - you will, most likely, have filled the kettle from your mains tap.

The way I avoid a big sudden temperature change, however, is just to siphon the water into the tank very slowly. This takes longer, but isn't a real problem, because I can do other stuff while it's happening.

Just a thought,
Dave

 

[clutterydrawer]

The way I avoid a big sudden temperature change, however, is just to siphon the water into the tank very slowly. This takes longer, but isn't a real problem, because I can do other stuff while it's happening.

how do you get the container of new water at a higher level than the tank water? i always have trouble with that.

 

[Cavafish]

Thats what I'd like to know too Clutterydrawer. My tank stands to shoulder height there is no way I can get water up above that.

I need to change 80litres at a time in my tank so I have a brand new dedicated plastic dustbin and 3 buckets used only for water changes. While I am hoovering/syphoning out the tank I have two large saucepans on the hob heating up mains water. (All the hot water in my house is treated (cos its soooo hard) so I dont feel its safe to use.)
The water is normally hot/boiling by the time I've ferried 8 buckets of water to the garden (plants love it )
I dont worry so long as the temp is with 2 degrees of the tank temp. i just sploosh it all back in again to refill. After again syphoning it all into buckets and ferrying this from kitchen to tank, kitchen to tank etc.

Hope that helps - got all carried away there, sorry

 

[ddm18]

Ah well clutterydrawer, no special system, I'm afraid. My hood is flat and strong enough that I'm able to put the bucket on top of the tank and siphon the water from there.

If you can't do that then I guess you'll just have to improvise...(!)

Sorry not to be of more help,
Dave

 

[aibo210]

Hmmmm! what about a small submersable pump like they use in water features and put it in your bucket with a tube atached? what do you think?

Carl

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

Yes, I just use a maxijet pump to pump the water out of the container into the tank. Done in about three minutes

 

[FishNoob]

Hmmmm! what about a small submersable pump like they use in water features and put it in your bucket with a tube atached? what do you think?

Carl

I've been thinking about doing that very same thing, just don't want a pump that will disturb the fish/water/gravel/decorations too much.

Ed

 

[konrad05]

thats what I used when I had to use buckets, attach a powerhead with a tube that will run into the tank. You just have to watch the water level in the bucket so that the powerhead doesnt run dry. The system worked great! HTH

 

[clutterydrawer]

Ah well clutterydrawer, no special system, I'm afraid. My hood is flat and strong enough that I'm able to put the bucket on top of the tank and siphon the water from there.

If you can't do that then I guess you'll just have to improvise...(!)

Sorry not to be of more help,
Dave

My hood is really thin plastic and the bit that the light lives in is about 2" higher than the rest...*sigh*...i used to just lift it up and hold it while it siphoned, because im obviously superhumanly strong but i broke my thumb so now i can't.

 

[ddm18]

but i broke my thumb so now i can't.

What about your other hand???

Dave

 

[Dorsal]

The way I avoid a big sudden temperature change, however, is just to siphon the water into the tank very slowly. This takes longer, but isn't a real problem, because I can do other stuff while it's happening.

how do you get the container of new water at a higher level than the tank water? i always have trouble with that.

I use a babies bath which holds about 40 litres. It's just the right size to sit on the tank. When I've got the water to temp, and mixed with the dechlorinator, I just pull the drain on the bath, and it takes about 10 minutes for the water to fill the tank. It's all about perfect for my tank I think And the best part is that the baby has already grown out of the bath, so I'm getting value from something that woiuld otherwise be sitting around

 

[clutterydrawer]

but i broke my thumb so now i can't.

What about your other hand???

Dave

You think I can lift a 10L bucket to shoulder level with only one hand? I was taking the mick when i said i was superhumanly strong, I'm a weakling really. maybe you know a lot of strong people....or a lot of flying buckets.

 

[StanTheBetta]

but i broke my thumb so now i can't.

What about your other hand???

Dave

You think I can lift a 10L bucket to shoulder level with only one hand? I was taking the mick when i said i was superhumanly strong, I'm a weakling really. maybe you know a lot of strong people....or a lot of flying buckets.

10L is like 3 gallons right? Thats not even 25 pounds I don't believe. I think most people can lift 25lbs. above there head with one hand? Of course there might be balance issues depending on what you're using. Am I wrong?