water changes

[reddeerhobbiest]

what are the dangers, if any, of adding hot tap water to your fresh water. ( to bring it to correct temperature before adding it to your tank.) ive always been hesitant to do this.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

well, there's no real difference between hot and cold tap water if you add dechlorinator... its actually advised to try and match the temperature of the new water to the old in order to reduce thermal shock and heater loads.

 

[littlefishie]

Just make sure you do it in the bucket and not in the tank.

 

[Matty]

Yeah..I usually try to match the water of my tank because why would you want your small heater to warm the water when your home water heater has already done so?

 

[Def]

well, there's no real difference between hot and cold tap water if you add dechlorinator

Sorry, disagree. Hot water in 99% of houses comes from a boiler tank. This tank is full of crap - sediment, dirt, metals etc. If you ever get a plumber to change out your hot water tank ask him to pour it out into your bath. You'll be disgusted, and will never fill a kettle from the hot tap again.

Do not do water changes with hot tap water. Use cold tap water and boil it in a kettle to bring it to temp.

 

[leafs]

I've never had a problem using hot tap water. I start with cold water and then I add some warm water to get it up to temperature. I just let the water run for about 5 minutes to clear anything out first. I check the temperature with a thermomator as I'm filling my bucket so my fish won't be shocked. I wouldn't worry about sediments in a hot water tank.

 

[morgan]

Agree with Def. Hot water from a combi boiler is ok, water from tank in roof not ok. Up to you though, if your fish seem ok with it.

 

[SirMinion]

Hot water from the tap is fine.

A decent water conditioner neutralizes more that just chlorine, it will also remove the dangerous metals (mostly copper) from the water.

Do be aware that water from the hot tap will have a significantly lower carbonate hardness though.

Personally hower, unless I'm doing a water change of 50% or more, I just add cold water to the tank and have never had problems with doing it. *shrugs*

 

[MyDogIsJealousOfMyFish]

I keep a 25 gal plastic garbage can in the utility room. I fill it with cold tap water right after a water change (Saturday). Then I toss in an air stone and turn it on and I have a power head with an attached 20 micron filter and activated carbon insert. On Thursday I turn on the heater (set to the same temp as my tank) so that it is ready for Saturday then I start all over.

 

[keane]

Personally hower, unless I'm doing a water change of 50% or more, I just add cold water to the tank and have never had problems with doing it. *shrugs*

ditto

20% water change every week with cold water only (dechlorinated of course).

I make sure i spread the fresh water across the tank so no one area takes the whole lot of cold in one go but I have never had any problems.

steve 8)

 

[jimbooo]

i have a combi boiler so i just mix both hot & cold to get the right temp.

piece of cake..

 

[Paul_MTS]

I let the hose run in then add buckets of hot tap water at the same time.

when doing water changes on large tanks you have to add some hot water to make sure it doesn't drop to low.

I used to boil the water but this took ages so started using tap water and just got a better dechrorineator that deals with heavy metals aswell.

 

[GrullaQuarters]

I don't know about most of you, but from all of our faucets in the house except the kitchen one, the hot water is 'soft' water....

Does softened water affect fish? Something to consider......

 

[novamadcars]

i wouldent use hot tap water as the water runs throu a copper pipe this may lead 2 copper poisioning in your tank

 

[keane]

I used to boil the water but this took ages so started using tap water and just got a better dechrorineator that deals with heavy metals aswell.

care to advertise any brand names Paul??

steve 8)