Water Changes In 60 Uk Gall Tank

[Eveshammoo]

Hi - We have just bought a 60 uk gall tank and it is maturing nicely (planted but not yet stocked). I know that I am supposed to do a 10% water change weekly and that is easy for my 10 uk gall tank. How do I prepare 6 galls of water, heat and dechlorinate it without having to have 3 or 4 x 2+ gallons buckets lying around the house and several spare heaters? Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

 

[morgan]

Hi, I have a 300litre (65 ukgals) and I also change 10% weekly. I have 3 buckets (I actually have 6 but they are full of spare gravel at the moment!). I put some large saucepans on the hob and put the kettle on. While that is all heating I turn off the electrics on the tank (except for the light which is waterproof on my tank) then remove 3 buckets of tank water (with a siphon). Then I see to any sponges that need rinsing and change the polypad (Juwel tank). Than one by one I take the dirty water buckets and empty the water (on the front garden) then I go to kitchen and fill bucket with cold water and top up with hot from the pans or kettle. Then when I have done all the buckets and I have 3 buckets full of fresh water at the correct temperature. I then add dechlorinator (Stress Coat in my case,I also use Stress Zyme). Then I carefully pour in the new water with a jug. Hope that wasn't too much detail! But you sounded like you wanted to know exactly. Hope that helps.

 

[Fat Boy]

That sounds very hard work Morgan, for what it's worth I just take water from the tap ( I have a mixer tap with hot water from a combi boiler ) that is close enough for me to the temp of my tank water, add the correct amount of stress coat and pour into my tank.

I never have any problems and all fish are fine, been doing it that way for 2 years. The hobby is hard enough without making harder.

Oh Morgan, I and plenty others on here think that stress zyme is a complete waste of money, it does very little for a new tank let alone an established tank. Do yourself a favour stop wasting GOOD money on it.

 

[morgan]

You're right it is quite hard work! That's the best way I have found to do it for me. It takes me about an hour in total. Using the saucepans saves me a lot of time waiting for the kettle as they are all ready at the same time. Good job I don't change 20%! Not trying to be argumentative, how do you know Stress Zyme is useless? I will stop using it if it is proved to be no good. No point chucking money away!

 

[Fat Boy]

Morgan, I'm sure stress zyme does SOME good but how much and is it really any good ( given its price ) is open to debate. API say it has millions of Bactria ( well so does an established tank) and also stops the build up of sludge and prevents ammonia poisioning, well that's the point of doing water changes isn't it?

By all means keep using it, I'm sure there are many fish keepers that do, but you can ask MANY members on here do they use it and I'd guess most experienced ones would say the same as me.

 

[Eveshammoo]

Thanks for the advice - I was pretty sure that using hot water from an emmersion heated tank was not a good idea (although it never harmed my goldfish!) but I wasn't sure about heating cold water just prior to use. Although we don't have a combi boiler I do have an electric shower which heats the water when you turn it on - I will try using it to warm the water for my 10 uk gall tank and see how I get on. At the moment, I get the water to room temp, treat it and then dribble it into the tank over several hours. Lots of fun and my husband gets a bit fed up of tripping over the bucket!

 

[annka5]

I wouldn't recommend using hot water tap if you've a hopt water tank (ie not a combi boiler)due to the metals it leaches out. I use cold water and boil the kettle..! it actually doesn't take me that long, I've a 70 UK gall tank and do 20% every second day (I keep discus...)

 

[karlp]

I've recently set up a dosmestic plastic water tank in a cupboard for water changes with a submersible pump in it, aquarium heater and length of aquarium grade hose. Makes big water changes a doddle.

 

[SamUK]

if you in the UK then head on down to B&Q or somewhere like that.


i jus bought myself an 80 Litre bin that i fill each morning of or evening before the day im gonna do a water change.

chuck a spare heater in, add aqua safe and your sorted!

 

[trace1]

you could always just use a hose pipe, i fill both my 55 & 60 gal tanks up with just cold water & add dechlorinater after i fill it, fish don't seen to mind & it doens't change the temp to much.