Water Changes & Some Other Info

[Skunkfu]

Hey guys,
Got my tank delivered yesterday and before i start, wanted to ask some more questions just to be sure, it might sound stupid, but i got to know :]

When doing water changes, do i need to dechlorinate water every time? Cant i just connect hose to my tap and just fill up the tank? :]
Once you add new/fresh water to the tank [with fishes], water temp will drop before heater heats it back to desired temp, i take this short period of colder water wont harm any fish, am i right here? Or should i try to mix hot & cold to get warm water?

Regarding background, i did read up on these forums that black is kinda good/best, what do you think about those called "3D" ones like "tree root" or "granite stone" efects, they quite expensive, but are they worht it? My tank is 180 litre.

I got an aye on this nice piece of mopani wood, its quite big, well very long branches, so it wont fit in any pot or bucked, so any advice on how to soak it to get lil bit of colour out before it goes into my tank?

Many thanks!

 

[Truck]

Hey guys,
Got my tank delivered yesterday and before i start, wanted to ask some more questions just to be sure, it might sound stupid, but i got to know :]

When doing water changes, do i need to dechlorinate water every time? Cant i just connect hose to my tap and just fill up the tank? :]
Once you add new/fresh water to the tank [with fishes], water temp will drop before heater heats it back to desired temp, i take this short period of colder water wont harm any fish, am i right here? Or should i try to mix hot & cold to get warm water?

Regarding background, i did read up on these forums that black is kinda good/best, what do you think about those called "3D" ones like "tree root" or "granite stone" efects, they quite expensive, but are they worht it? My tank is 180 litre.

I got an aye on this nice piece of mopani wood, its quite big, well very long branches, so it wont fit in any pot or bucked, so any advice on how to soak it to get lil bit of colour out before it goes into my tank?

Many thanks!

all water needs dechlorinating on water changes larger than 10%
you can add water then dechlor providing no fish are in their or bacteria already.
you can do cold water changes, but only if its a 15% WC, any larger and heating with boiling water to around the tank temp will be necessary.
i wouldnt bother with a back ground, a tank will look way better without one IMO.
soak the wood in a plastic storage container, if it still wont fit just give it a rinse and you will have to live with the tannins or you can remove them with GAC

 

[timbruun]

yes you need to dechlorinate every time. but if you're using a hose just put the dechlorinater in the water first according to how much you're putting in. you don't want the water to drop temp too much. but if you do it slow it should change too much. otherwise use a mix of hot and cold water from the tap.

 

[Skunkfu]

Thank you guys for quick response!

One more thing just to be sure, did i read it right that once i remove say 15% water during water changing, i can put dechlorinator straight into my tank with the fish and then add new/fresh water?

Cheers

 

[timbruun]

That's correct.

 

[waterdrop]

When using hose refills its better to dechlor as if treating the whole tank, not the amount of new water added. Why this is, particularly, I do not know, but a lot of people advise it and I've always figured its one of those things that better to be safe on, rather than sorry. I usually use a concentrated conditioner, so its hard not to dose at a whole tank level anyway.

I also agree with truck's details on temperature matching. They should be followed. The actual "matching" though, can always be rough, using your hand a few times is good enough, no thermometer needed.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Skunkfu]

Ok, last thing:
I do have 2 gold fish in small 5 litre orb shaped tank. I will be giving them away as we want tropical fish tank. Someone in another thread mentioned that i could do cycle in my new tank with those 2 fish [with heater off] What would you recommend fish in or fishless cycle?

Many Thanks

 

[arobinson1984]

Definately fishless cycle and rehome the goldfish as its not only kinder to them but also goldfish require 20-30 gallons per goldfish dependant on which type they are

Andy

 

[timbruun]

everyone here is goign to recommend a fishless cycle. you can easily regulate how much ammonia is in the water and in the end do a complete water change to start with good water and a cycled filter.

 

[Skunkfu]

Definately fishless cycle and rehome the goldfish as its not only kinder to them but also goldfish require 20-30 gallons per goldfish dependant on which type they are

Andy

Yup, those goldfish will be rehomed to normal fish tank [i think it it will be 65 litre tank]. They still quite small, so i hope they will be comfy there :]

Thank you guys for all the info!

 

[arobinson1984]

The goldfish will very shortly outgrow the 65 litre tank.

What sort of goldfish is it? a fancy goldfish or a common goldfish?

Fancy goldfish require 80-90L each just for the 1 goldfish and no other fish and common goldfish require 120L each but really should be in outdoor ponds.

Both types of goldfish require double filtration as well as they both create heavy waste.

Andy

 

[Skunkfu]

Andy,
its 2 black telescope's.

Guys,
like most newbs i messed up a lil bit, started my fish-less cycle and added too much ammonia.... reads 8ppm. Shall i leave it as it is and wait till it drops to 2ppm and keep it that way or i need to do big water change!? please help.

Tank has couple cheap live plants and it looks that some tips went lil bit brow, is that due high amount of ammonia?

Many Thanks

 

[coldcazzie]

like most newbs i messed up a lil bit, started my fish-less cycle and added too much ammonia.... reads 8ppm. Shall i leave it as it is and wait till it drops to 2ppm and keep it that way or i need to do big water change!? please help

I did that Do a water change - you want it to read around 4ppm. 8ppm is too high and your cycle won't move forward. Do a 50% change and see what it reads then.

 

[mickspark81]

Hey guys,
Got my tank delivered yesterday and before i start, wanted to ask some more questions just to be sure, it might sound stupid, but i got to know :]

When doing water changes, do i need to dechlorinate water every time? Cant i just connect hose to my tap and just fill up the tank? :]
Once you add new/fresh water to the tank [with fishes], water temp will drop before heater heats it back to desired temp, i take this short period of colder water wont harm any fish, am i right here? Or should i try to mix hot & cold to get warm water?

Regarding background, i did read up on these forums that black is kinda good/best, what do you think about those called "3D" ones like "tree root" or "granite stone" efects, they quite expensive, but are they worht it? My tank is 180 litre.

I got an aye on this nice piece of mopani wood, its quite big, well very long branches, so it wont fit in any pot or bucked, so any advice on how to soak it to get lil bit of colour out before it goes into my tank?

Many thanks!

all water needs dechlorinating on water changes larger than 10%
you can add water then dechlor providing no fish are in their or bacteria already.
you can do cold water changes, but only if its a 15% WC, any larger and heating with boiling water to around the tank temp will be necessary.
i wouldnt bother with a back ground, a tank will look way better without one IMO.
soak the wood in a plastic storage container, if it still wont fit just give it a rinse and you will have to live with the tannins or you can remove them with GAC

Just a point pn the tannins from the wood.

I have a really nice big piece of circular bogwood and absolutely love the colour of my water. Its kind of a weak tea colour and fits perfectly with my amazonian theme. Whats more. I find it brings out the colours in my neon tetra. Not only that but it has also reduced my ph from 7.5 to 7.1 which is much better for the fish im keeping

I actually done a bit of research on the tannins before i got the wood and the impression i got was the fish seem to appreciate it more and honestly...my tank looks much better now

 

[mickspark81]

Ok, last thing:
I do have 2 gold fish in small 5 litre orb shaped tank. I will be giving them away as we want tropical fish tank. Someone in another thread mentioned that i could do cycle in my new tank with those 2 fish [with heater off] What would you recommend fish in or fishless cycle?

Many Thanks

If you have gravel substrate in your current tank you could always add this to the new tropical tank as some of the bacteria you need will be growing on it.

If you dont want to put it in view you could always add the gravel to a stocking or net of some sort and place some in your new filter.

Or if your current tank has a filter couldnt u exchange media?

Every little helps