Water Change Question

[camtheram]

I did my first water change today (20%) and I was wondering about technique. I pretty much took a cup and removed the water I wanted to remove, then I slowly added the new water and then added API stress coat after I was finished. I did all this with my fish in the tank. Does it matter when you add the water conditioner to the tank? i.e before or after you add the new water Is it bad to do water changes with the fish in the tank?

 

[5teady_2012]

i always add all meds etc before putting the water in to the tank...

you want to get a gravel cleaner (if you have gravel) or if not, some clear tubing to siphon the water, its much quicker and easier..

When i fill my tanks up, i use a bucket and just poor it straight in, not too quick though or all the gravel spreads, just gently does it

Gravel cleaner

 

[shroob]

How big is your tank? A 20% water change with a cup?!

 

[5teady_2012]

How big is your tank? A 20% water change with a cup?!

lets just hope it aint a 6ft one

 

[shroob]

I just can't imaging doing a 20% water change with a cup, it would take forever. Even on a 20G that would take ages, let alone bigger tanks.

Or, quite abit funnier in some ways, his tank holds the volume of 5 cups! So really, not that hard.

 

[BigC]

The way I do a water change is
2 gallon bucket
syphon pipe
plastic measuring jug.

Syphon out 2 gallons of water, refill bucket with new fresh heated water add stresscoat and blackwater extract (to correct amount) stir. Use plastic measuring jug to slowly pour in new water to aquarium.

Nothing fancy just quick and easy

Regards
BigC

 

[andywg]

Spare Eheim pump to pump water out of the tank. Add dechlor to tank, connect end of hose to cold water mains tap, blast water back in the tank.

Simple, quick and easy.

 

[The-Wolf]

almost the same as andy only I let gravity syphon the water out