Water Changes

[ChilliPepper]

OK, I've had my 190L running for over a year now and am planning a second tank of around 400L in a couple of months. At the moment I do 25-30% w/c weekly on my 190L and Betta's tank using a bucket. I either use a jug to scoop water out or use the 'gravel' vac to syphon the water out bucket by bucket. This goes down the toilet or waters the garden in summer. I then take my empty bucket to the sink, add dechlorinator and refill the tank bucket by bucket. At the moment it takes me about half an hour to do both tanks, plus a lot of kitchen towel for spillages I am trying to find a quicker/better method, especially for use when I get my larger tank.
I know some of you use a hose to refill, this is fine, but when do you put the dechlor in? Also, any good ways on taking the water out?

Bit of a newbie question from a not-so-newbie, but think I've probably been making things difficult for myself and my back!

 

[fishyfeet]

I us a hose, put one end in the tank, shut the lid, take the other end out of the patio doors suck the other end,(taking great care )and water all my tubs, trasfering the hose to the second tank once enought if emptyed usually about a third, when enough has been taken out remove the hose and connect it to the outside tap flush through with clean water and add the other end back into the tank, i refil very slowly, adding declorinater a few seconds after the refilling has started. I usually find with the large tank the temp changes very little even in very cold weather. Hope that helps, oh i use the black pond tubing they have in fish shops, i used to have the clear tube but it twists and becomes a pain. di

 

[roadmaster]

I do the same as fishyfeet when the weather is nice.During winter,I run the Python to the bathtub. I add dechlorinator to the tank before adding fresh water and try to test the water by feel, to see that it is not too cold.
If I'm simply performing a water change, and no vaccuming is needed, I use a pond pump attached to a section of garden hose to drain off 30 to 50 percent of water from my aquariums. Pump is fitted with pre-filter sponge to prevent sucking up fish. Pond pump is much faster at draining the water than the Python, but Python is needed to vaccum the substrate.
I too used bucket brigade for many years and found that filling the buckets from the bathtub or shower was easier than using the sink. A few years ago, I bought a used 80 gal aqaurium that came with tank,stand,lights,glass tops,and filter. Also included was the Python. Honestly,,, I kick myself when remembering the bucket upon buckets of water I used to pack back and forth from tub to aquarium.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I do the same as fishyfeet when the weather is nice.During winter,I run the Python to the bathtub. I add dechlorinator to the tank before adding fresh water and try to test the water by feel, to see that it is not too cold.
If I'm simply performing a water change, and no vaccuming is needed, I use a pond pump attached to a section of garden hose to drain off 30 to 50 percent of water from my aquariums. Pump is fitted with pre-filter sponge to prevent sucking up fish. Pond pump is much faster at draining the water than the Python, but Python is needed to vaccum the substrate.
I too used bucket brigade for many years and found that filling the buckets from the bathtub or shower was easier than using the sink. A few years ago, I bought a used 80 gal aqaurium that came with tank,stand,lights,glass tops,and filter. Also included was the Python. Honestly,,, I kick myself when remembering the bucket upon buckets of water I used to pack back and forth from tub to aquarium.

Thanks, what's a Python and where can I buy one? My tank is in the living room so have to take trips from the kitchen to refill and downstairs toilet to empty. Shower/bath is upstairs so that would make it harder for me. I think I'll get me a Python/hose...!

 

[drobbyb]

Python

Greatest invention ever as far as aquariums go IMO. Definitely a back saver.

If you are adding directly to the tank, you must dose the entire volume of the tank as some of the organics in the tank water use some of the dechlorinator (at least that's what Seachem says.)

 

[fishyfeet]

They dont seem to have that python in amazon.co.uk, where else do they do them, anyone who is doing bucket water changes of more that 2 buckets a week should get one di

 

[ChilliPepper]

Python

Greatest invention ever as far as aquariums go IMO. Definitely a back saver.

If you are adding directly to the tank, you must dose the entire volume of the tank as some of the organics in the tank water use some of the dechlorinator (at least that's what Seachem says.)

Thanks, do they not do them in the UK? I am concerned incase the US has different tap fitments?

 

[fishyfeet]

thats my concern too, did you see my post grumpy? di

 

[ChilliPepper]

thats my concern too, did you see my post grumpy? di

Yeah I did. Seems we're both looking for one - they sound very handy

I've found a UK supplier but apparently they are out of stock for the foreseeable future.... http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/water-changers.asp#product2973

 

[minxfishy]

In the hardware section of the forum, there is a link to a DIY python, easy to make one, I found my python on ebay, but havent seen around lately, they are easy to attach to a UK tap, I attach mine to a mixer tap via a hoselock connector, found in most DIY stores, that way I can get the temperature where I want it prior to adding the water back to the tank and as already mentioned, I dose for the entire tank volumne with dechlor before adding the water back in.

Link for DIY python: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/250013-how-to-make-a-diy-python/

 

[fishyfeet]

thats my concern too, did you see my post grumpy? di

Yeah I did. Seems we're both looking for one - they sound very handy

I've found a UK supplier but apparently they are out of stock for the foreseeable future.... http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/water-changers.asp#product2973

I use a hose, the black pond one, but it doesnt clean the gravel obviously, and i can only add cold water when refilling, but i have a bad back and fibromyalgia, which is basically M.E.with muscle pain, so i cant do it with buckets any more, i did last week cos it was raining and freezing and i hadnt done a water change for about 3 weeks cos of the weather, so i did a small bucket change. I might get one of these though if i can find somewhere that does the reasonable. di

 

[ChilliPepper]

In the hardware section of the forum, there is a link to a DIY python, easy to make one, I found my python on ebay, but havent seen around lately, they are easy to attach to a UK tap, I attach mine to a mixer tap via a hoselock connector, found in most DIY stores, that way I can get the temperature where I want it prior to adding the water back to the tank and as already mentioned, I dose for the entire tank volumne with dechlor before adding the water back in.

Link for DIY python: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/250013-how-to-make-a-diy-python/

Thank you - I will show the thread to my boyfriend and see if he'll make one for me Actually, upon searching for the Python on Google, I came across an old post of yours minxfishy, on another forum