One thing that I've been wondering lately is how do those of you with 100L+ tanks manage your water changes? For a 90% water change this means having 90L of treated water available at the right temperature before adding it to the tank and I doubt people have 9 x 10L buckets with heaters in them all to bring them up to temperature.
Water Changes - How Do You Do Yours?
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JoshuaA
Fish Herder
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I imagine a lot of people use the warm tap water, or they just get it at least close. Python systems sound like they will make water changes so much easier however I don't know how they get around the temperature shift when adding fresh water from the tap. Unless due to the quantities of the tank the shift really isn't noticeable.
aqua monster
Fish Crazy
At a guess i would say it does not make that much different to the temp...but hopefully someone can let us know forsure as i just filled up my 450 litre tank.... 
I had a 125l tank. I just emptiead using a syphon into a 12l bucket which I filled to the 10l mark each time. Then emptied, brought it back and repeated etc.
To refill it's just the opposite, and I used hot water to match the temp. Some people advise against using hot water from the tap because if your house has any copper pipes then you may be introducing copper into your tank but my house doesn't so it's not a problem.
Personally I used the shower head to refil the bucket. I then added conditioner and put it into the tank.
To refill it's just the opposite, and I used hot water to match the temp. Some people advise against using hot water from the tap because if your house has any copper pipes then you may be introducing copper into your tank but my house doesn't so it's not a problem.
Personally I used the shower head to refil the bucket. I then added conditioner and put it into the tank.
arobinson1984
Fish Gatherer
I use a python system on my 125L is so much easier than buckets.
When re-filling I just mix warm and cold water to get temp roughly right, it only has to be roughly the same so judging by hand is fine
Andy
When re-filling I just mix warm and cold water to get temp roughly right, it only has to be roughly the same so judging by hand is fine
Andy
Harlequins
***Corydora Crazy***
I have a 55 gal I have 4 x 10 litre buckets,i remove at least 5/6 buckets worth,then temp match roughly with my hand compared to whats in the tank,add dechlorinator then fill it back up again 
I was looking at a Python system but was concerned about the lack of ability to treat the water before adding to the tank and the fact that I dont think most UK taps have a screw attachment. I didnt like the method descibed in the video of generally squirting conditioner in to the tank as you go.
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
Excessively Detailed description:
First I take a small slightly-rough open-cell sponge and slowly scrape down all the inside glass (even if it looks clear.) I don't turn off any electricals, but I don't recommend that for anyone else, its not necessarily safe. The sponge has no stick so my arm goes down in the tank. I disturb my gravel around the edges as I get to the glass slightly below the gravel line. I then use my thumb underneath and this same small sponge on top of any leaves that show any algae and gently clean it off. This completed I move on the water removal.
My Python lives,coiled, directly underneath the sink its used with. I lift it out and set the brass adapter on the sink. I uncoil it 50 feet down the hall from the bathroom to my child's room where the tank is. A bucket (maybe 10G/38L?) is set in the tub and the non-cylinder end of the Python curled once inside it. An old beach towel is set down on the floor surrounding the tank cabinet. I turn off my extra powerhead jet.
I thread the gravel-cleaning-cylinder end under the middle tank brace (this prevents the hose/cylinder from ever flipping out of the tank during my work) and I plunge the cylinder under the surface of the left side of my tank. I fill the cylinder and then lift it in the air just above the tank. As soon as the water in the cylinder begins to drop I gently but quickly lower the cylinder back beneath the water and this always starts the siphon going (or can be done again at a slightly higher lift height.
I then work the cylinder through the gravel, often all the way to the bottom glass and watch any little clouds of debris rise up the cylinder as they are pulled out and off to the bathroom. I gravel clean the entire surface area I can get to that isn't heavily planted. This usually removes 50 or 60 percent of the water. If I were fishless cycling I could turn the filter off and do this right down to the gravel surface. My heater can stay on because its within the filter system and the filter stays running and creates a nice waterfall from the spraybar (unless this is a filter clean week.) The fish seem to love all this activity, its a chance to practice their tight schooling instincts, lol.
I pull the cylinder up, breaking the siphon and balance the cylinder on the middle tank brace, locking it in place with the tank lid. I then proceed to the bathroom where I have a large plasic sports cup which I fill with a sample of tank water waiting in the bucket in the tub. I set the sample on the sink and run the hot tap water to make sure its fully hot. I then turn the tap lever to a usual hot/cold mix point and stick my hand in the plastic cup of tank water and adjust the lever until the running tap matches my cup sample. (This only takes a couple seconds, is easier than writing this.) I then remove the little screen on the end of the tap and put on the brass adapter. I pull the fill-end of the Python out of the bucket and dry it with the little towel that's always over my shoulder during all this and put that end of the hose on the brass adapter.
I go back to the tank and place the Python cylinder end back in the tank pointing to a corner where it won't hurt plants. I toss in a few drops of Seachem Prime into the waterfall from the spraybar. I go back to the bath sink and lift the tap lever (which is still pointing to the exact correct temperature) to full force. I walk back to the tank and watch it fill. It only takes a minute or two to fill and when the water line gets to my top tank frame line I walk to the bath and turn off the tap. I walk back to the tank, lift the Python above the tank and let the first 4 feet drain into the tank and then dry it with my little shoulder towel. I walk back down the hall holding the Python high and set that end in the tub. I remove the other end from the sink and let it drain into the tub while I recoil the Python (the Python hose is smaller and more flexible than garden hose and fits more easily under the bathroom sink) and put it away, along with its brass adapter, below the same sink. I feed the fishwater bucket to the garden.
I then re-scape the gravel etc. if it was disturbed from the way I want it to look. When we used to have a decoration I would replace it at this point from its having been cleaned in the sink. I then re-dose my liquid Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Trace and turn out the tank light after turning the extra powerhead jet back on.
(if your child read this, he/she gets a reading-readiness star
)
~~waterdrop~~
First I take a small slightly-rough open-cell sponge and slowly scrape down all the inside glass (even if it looks clear.) I don't turn off any electricals, but I don't recommend that for anyone else, its not necessarily safe. The sponge has no stick so my arm goes down in the tank. I disturb my gravel around the edges as I get to the glass slightly below the gravel line. I then use my thumb underneath and this same small sponge on top of any leaves that show any algae and gently clean it off. This completed I move on the water removal.
My Python lives,coiled, directly underneath the sink its used with. I lift it out and set the brass adapter on the sink. I uncoil it 50 feet down the hall from the bathroom to my child's room where the tank is. A bucket (maybe 10G/38L?) is set in the tub and the non-cylinder end of the Python curled once inside it. An old beach towel is set down on the floor surrounding the tank cabinet. I turn off my extra powerhead jet.
I thread the gravel-cleaning-cylinder end under the middle tank brace (this prevents the hose/cylinder from ever flipping out of the tank during my work) and I plunge the cylinder under the surface of the left side of my tank. I fill the cylinder and then lift it in the air just above the tank. As soon as the water in the cylinder begins to drop I gently but quickly lower the cylinder back beneath the water and this always starts the siphon going (or can be done again at a slightly higher lift height.
I then work the cylinder through the gravel, often all the way to the bottom glass and watch any little clouds of debris rise up the cylinder as they are pulled out and off to the bathroom. I gravel clean the entire surface area I can get to that isn't heavily planted. This usually removes 50 or 60 percent of the water. If I were fishless cycling I could turn the filter off and do this right down to the gravel surface. My heater can stay on because its within the filter system and the filter stays running and creates a nice waterfall from the spraybar (unless this is a filter clean week.) The fish seem to love all this activity, its a chance to practice their tight schooling instincts, lol.
I pull the cylinder up, breaking the siphon and balance the cylinder on the middle tank brace, locking it in place with the tank lid. I then proceed to the bathroom where I have a large plasic sports cup which I fill with a sample of tank water waiting in the bucket in the tub. I set the sample on the sink and run the hot tap water to make sure its fully hot. I then turn the tap lever to a usual hot/cold mix point and stick my hand in the plastic cup of tank water and adjust the lever until the running tap matches my cup sample. (This only takes a couple seconds, is easier than writing this.) I then remove the little screen on the end of the tap and put on the brass adapter. I pull the fill-end of the Python out of the bucket and dry it with the little towel that's always over my shoulder during all this and put that end of the hose on the brass adapter.
I go back to the tank and place the Python cylinder end back in the tank pointing to a corner where it won't hurt plants. I toss in a few drops of Seachem Prime into the waterfall from the spraybar. I go back to the bath sink and lift the tap lever (which is still pointing to the exact correct temperature) to full force. I walk back to the tank and watch it fill. It only takes a minute or two to fill and when the water line gets to my top tank frame line I walk to the bath and turn off the tap. I walk back to the tank, lift the Python above the tank and let the first 4 feet drain into the tank and then dry it with my little shoulder towel. I walk back down the hall holding the Python high and set that end in the tub. I remove the other end from the sink and let it drain into the tub while I recoil the Python (the Python hose is smaller and more flexible than garden hose and fits more easily under the bathroom sink) and put it away, along with its brass adapter, below the same sink. I feed the fishwater bucket to the garden.
I then re-scape the gravel etc. if it was disturbed from the way I want it to look. When we used to have a decoration I would replace it at this point from its having been cleaned in the sink. I then re-dose my liquid Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Trace and turn out the tank light after turning the extra powerhead jet back on.
(if your child read this, he/she gets a reading-readiness star
)~~waterdrop~~
arobinson1984
Fish Gatherer
Lol WD, I dont know how you find the time
I bought the actual python system and got it shipped over from USA, It came with an attachment that fits pretty much any mixer taps, they dont need a screw fitting. There is a guide in the hardware section of this forum explaining how to make a DIY version.
Link to DIY Python
I add my dechlor to the tank before re-filling, enough to treat the whole tank which isnt that much as I use pond dechlor, much more cost effective.
Andy
I bought the actual python system and got it shipped over from USA, It came with an attachment that fits pretty much any mixer taps, they dont need a screw fitting. There is a guide in the hardware section of this forum explaining how to make a DIY version.
Link to DIY Python
I add my dechlor to the tank before re-filling, enough to treat the whole tank which isnt that much as I use pond dechlor, much more cost effective.
Andy
Excellent walk through, maybe have to use some of your tips.
arobinson1984
Fish Gatherer
I've never found one, I bought mine from the link below:
Python
They aint cheap though so you may be better making a DIY one
Andy
Harlequins
***Corydora Crazy***
Good info WD
Its amazing how many of us are pre armed with towel over shoulder when heading towards out tanks
Its amazing how many of us are pre armed with towel over shoulder when heading towards out tanks
bulldogsimon
New Member
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i have a hose which goes directly from my sump to the garden through a hole i drilled in the wall. this is consatntly syphoning about 1 litre every 3 minutes.
i have a hma filter ( a hma looks a bit like an ro filter, it has 3 pods which remove metals chlorines etc)near the outside tap which is connected via airline hose to a floatvalve in my sump. this hose runs through walls etc.
so i just sit back and enjoy the tank whilst knowing i am changing about 3300 litres a week. i have a 1500litre tank which is still cycling with fish in.
once the cycle is done i will reduce flow to around 500 litres a week
i have a hma filter ( a hma looks a bit like an ro filter, it has 3 pods which remove metals chlorines etc)near the outside tap which is connected via airline hose to a floatvalve in my sump. this hose runs through walls etc.
so i just sit back and enjoy the tank whilst knowing i am changing about 3300 litres a week. i have a 1500litre tank which is still cycling with fish in.
once the cycle is done i will reduce flow to around 500 litres a week
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