Water Change In Big Tanks

[Michelleuk]

Hi

when you do a water change How do you add water so that it is the same temp as the water in the tank?
I can not use the buckets as i use them when doing the water change.

 

[adrock]

I am very happy with the Python syphon. I did have to buy some cheap tubing to extend it, cause I'm to frugale to spend 70.$ for the Long one, but 25 for the 25" syphon was OK by me. Plus 5$ in tubing to get the 40 feet from my sink to my tank. Then you can use water pressure to Venturi or suck for a syphon, and then close the valve to re fill.
I use a cheapo childrens thermometer under the tap, and hope it remains close to constant while filling.

I use my wrist as a fail safe. stick arm in tank, stick under new water, adjust till I can't tell a differance.


I hope this helps!
Adam


http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...030062&Ne=2

 

[andyt_uk]

i would suggest in a tank that size if you make small water changes it should not matter too much about the temp of the new water.
i have 1 * 10litre bucket exlusively used for the fish - i prepare water in that
use another general 'house' bucket to collect the old water, i then siphon new water in so it trickles in quite slowly rather than dumping new cold water in suddenly.

some might say a 10lt change isnt enough, but 10lt every day or so amount to 25%-50% a week in my case and only need take a few minutes each day

reading a recent thread about a failed heater someone suggested placing a plastic drinks bottle full of warm (hot) water into a tank to help keep it warm, you could try something similar in your prepared water, plastic bottle with hot water could warm it up nicely.

 

[SamUK]

i just pump it straight back in with a hose from the outside tap.

only been doing that a couple of months tho cos i thought the temp had to be the same in the bucket as in the tank but my fish really dont mind the slow temp change that it causes.


and ive done it with fish from neon tetras to oscars and not noticed any effect on any of them.

 

[CFC]

Those of us who have big tanks (myself having 200, 180, 150 and 80 gallon tanks ammongst others) dont worry about keeping the temperature stable when doing water changes. Even when doing 40% changes the temperature only drops by a few degrees at most which in most cases is absolutely fine for the fish, the exceptions here would be when keeping species which need it hot and dont tollerate temperature swings such as Discus and Uaru. I simply drain my tanks via a hose and then refill them straight from the coldwater tap with not hot water added at all.

 

[DarkEntity]

I use my elbow (dont laugh u gits)

 

[Michelleuk]

I only worry because my heater takes a while to heat up to the correct temp. When i put the new water in its make the temp about 22/23.

 

[andyt_uk]

I simply drain my tanks via a hose and then refill them straight from the coldwater tap with not hot water added at all.

a few have suggested similar here, i always treat my water with dechlorinator / stress coat and let it stand for 12hrs or so.. you saying its ok to dump straight from the tap and treat in the tank?

 

[littlelegs]

I was gonna ask the same question.
I tend to do a 15 or 20 litre water change ever other day. I treat the water in the bucket and then syphon back into the tank slowly.

 

[SamUK]

I simply drain my tanks via a hose and then refill them straight from the coldwater tap with not hot water added at all.

a few have suggested similar here, i always treat my water with dechlorinator / stress coat and let it stand for 12hrs or so.. you saying its ok to dump straight from the tap and treat in the tank?

yea its fine.


and people leave water to stand when they dont have dechlor. theres no need to do both and dechlor is the better option as it gets rid of the metals which dont evaporate when left to stand.


think thats right anyway lol. im crap at the science of all this.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

unless, of course, you use an old-fashioned brand of dechlorinator that says to let the water stand in the instructions

i really don't worry too much about temperature changes unless i'm changing more than 30% at a time. just leave the lights on for a couple of hours after you're done and the temperature should be back to normal pretty quickly. (especially if you have a heater in there)

 

[bmcelfresh]

New to the site. Our biggest tank is 75gl. We always fill the 5gl jugs (like come to the office), treat them and then let them sit for a few hours. So, the word is we don't have to wait for the water reach room temp or treat? We live in the southern USA, so we do not need or use heaters. Everything is room temp.

 

[Tolak]

Dechlorinator works almost instantly. Within seconds it's doing what it's designed to do. I add it on the fly when doing water changes before, during, or right after filling with a hose.

As far as temperature goes, cooler water changes are used to induce spawning in many fish. If you do a 20% water change with water that is 10 degrees cooler, you have dropped the tank temperature 2 degrees, not counting the heater heating the water some as you fill. If you are doing large water changes, 50% or greater, it's a good idea to warm it if the water is coming out of the tap 20 degrees cooler, as this would cause a 10 degree temp drop. A little common sense is needed. If you fill slowly giving your tank heater a chance to heat the water, straight cold tap water is fine.

 

[BINKSY]

after all the above replys if your still worried take a look at this link http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=105769 this will allow you to mix hot and cold water, and cheaper than buying a python

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

I use a Phython for my water changes and it is well worth the 25-30$. Makes changing the water quick and easy. All you do is hook it up, suck the water out, add dechlorinator, reverse the water flow, then fill the tank back up. No need to mess with the big jugs full of water sitting around for days.

Also I do weekly water changes of about 40-50% in my 55 gallon tank straight from the cold water tap, the temp barely changes and my fish are fine. I've been doing this for about a year now. Unless your cold tap water is really freezing cold then I wouldn't worry about it.