Water Changes

[willquinn]

I'm only new to fish keeping and because I have an uncycled tank have been changing water 10% daily. It takes no time at all. I remove about basin full of water using a small plastic tub. I replace with fresh water from tap. I heat the water to temp using boiled water in a kettle from the cold water tap as I have heard mixing warm water from tap isn't good, not sure why, probably something to do with the hot water is stored in a tank and can build sediment or bacteria or something. It has been keeping the tank very clear and fish seem to be a lot happier for it.

 

[arobinson1984]

There are a few reasons why warm water from the tap isnt good, it can be because of the tank it comes from and harmful stuff in the pipes but that depends on your house's heating system and also there is less oxygen in warm water.

I'm not sure if the oxygen thing also applies to boiled water but i'm sure someone with more experience will come along and let you know.

Buy a cheap heater, i got mine for £6 from ebay and use it to heat the water in a bucket before putting it into your tank.

Are you adding water dechlorinator because you didnt mention that?

Andy

 

[oswoldy]

Thanks for all the responses I have done a small water change earlier today.

Mike

 

[Tolak]

The safety of using hot tap water is very dependent on your hot water heating system. In the US the type that keeps hot water under mains pressure, heated by gas or electric, separate from any other heating or mechanical system is most often used. There is no contamination worth mentioning that would make this water any different from the cold tap water.

As I understand it, in the UK, a combi boiler uses the same water that has been recirculating in the heating system to provide hot tap water. This can pick up substances from the heating system. Another type of system stores hot water in an open tank in the loft, gravity fed to the hot water taps. Being open in the loft can allow contaminants to enter.

As far as hot water holding less O2, yes, it does, but by the action of pouring or otherwise adding it to your tank it will re oxygenate enough to where it won't matter.

 

[BenPursglove]

As I understand it, in the UK, a combi boiler uses the same water that has been recirculating in the heating system to provide hot tap water. This can pick up substances from the heating system. Another type of system stores hot water in an open tank in the loft, gravity fed to the hot water taps. Being open in the loft can allow contaminants to enter.

A combi boiler heats water for heating and water for washing etc seperately. There is no way you would want heating wate coming out of your tap!

There are no open tanks for hot water (to my knowledge). I think you are referring to immersion heater where a closed copper tank has an immersed element in it to heat the water.

Both in my opnion safe for use in tanks but some say that older copper tanks may leach copper into the water, never personally experienced this though.

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

As I understand it, in the UK, a combi boiler uses the same water that has been recirculating in the heating system to provide hot tap water. This can pick up substances from the heating system. Another type of system stores hot water in an open tank in the loft, gravity fed to the hot water taps. Being open in the loft can allow contaminants to enter.

A combi boiler heats water for heating and water for washing etc seperately. There is no way you would want heating wate coming out of your tap!

There are no open tanks for hot water (to my knowledge). I think you are referring to immersion heater where a closed copper tank has an immersed element in it to heat the water.

Both in my opnion safe for use in tanks but some say that older copper tanks may leach copper into the water, never personally experienced this though.

i do an 10% every other day using cold water when i was using warm to do bigger changes i use a declor that took out harmful metals to an extent

 

[AJ Tudor]

On the hot tap issue, I believe the biggest risk is to inverts, hot water will leach copper into the water which is toxic to most (actually I think all) invertebrates. It's not great for fish either from what I understand but I don't know what problems it causes for them.

 

[seanie112]

i do my water changes wky (tuesdays)around 30% in all my tanks

 

[pippoodle]

i get my slave (hubby) to do my water changes when i command it
every 7-10 days

 

[oswoldy]

i get my slave (hubby) to do my water changes when i command it
every 7-10 days

I wondered what that thing he had round his leg was, but just ignored it as I couldn't see a ball on the end of it, all makes sense now!

Mike

 

[pippoodle]

i get my slave (hubby) to do my water changes when i command it
every 7-10 days

I wondered what that thing he had round his leg was, but just ignored it as I couldn't see a ball on the end of it, all makes sense now!

Mike

you're not meant to mention that lmao