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Hi,

I’m wondering how other FishLore members go about doing a water change on their tanks. I know I tend to make things harder than they have to be and changing my water is sooooo much work. I usually do a water change once sometime every weekend.

I don’t use a python type siphon. I’ve considered it but I can’t imagine a way to add the dechlorinator to water coming from a hose directly into the tank before the water is in the tank.

Here are the steps I go through with each water change:

1. My 75 gallon is by a window so I put the end of the gravel vacuum out the window and drain about 6 inches of water out the window as I clean the gravel. I’m not sure what percentage of the water is but it’s consistent each time.
2. I have a big storage tote that I sit next to the tank. I run the hose through the window and fill the tote. I pour in two buckets of hot water to get the temperature right. Then, I add the dechlorinator to the water in the tote. This way only treated water enters the tank.
3. I put the intake of my canister filter in the tote and pump the water into the tank.
4. I have to do all this twice to fill the tank back up. (Sometimes an extra bucket or two of water is needed.)

I used to carry bucket after bucket of water from the kitchen sink to the tank but this way seems a little easier. I’m hoping for some replies that outline the steps people go through, especially on tanks of a similar size. I have some smaller tanks and they are a quick easy job. Maybe someone has an easier way of doing things.

DE88ROX

I have an old 27 lbkitty litter bucket (all cleaned of course) that I use. Like you , I use the vacuum to clean the substrate as well as remove the water. I cut a hole in the lid that came with the bucket to keep the hose in one place. (it popped out on me once)

After I remove the water I simply use that same bcuket to add the new. Adding dechlorinator in each bucket prior to adding it to the tanks.

I just read on here earlier tonight that those that use the python simply add the dechlorinator after the water is added. Adding the amount that is needed for the size of your tank. Others simply pour the dechlorinator into the stream of water that is being added to the tank.

Shawnie

sue with the python, you can refill with it and just add your dechlorinator to the tank as the water is going in

I Have to use the bucket method also as my sinks wont fit the python ...daily water changes for 9 weeks on a 75 gal was for the birds!!!!!!! LOL

agabr123

i just use the bucket method, a python won't fit on my sink and i live in a dorm. 2.5 gallon buckets to do changes on 8 tanks

Jess

I do the same, use a python for all 4 tanks and change the water about twice a week. I just add dechlorinator before I add water. Everyone is fine and it makes it a good deal easier than carrying buckets. I do like the out the window trick. That was what I used to do and think the flower bed outside benefit from extra water and fish waste.

sirdarksol

For those who say the python won't fit the sink: check your bathroom fixture. I discovered that there is a small removable part on the faucet output that has the same thread as the standard Python connector. It took a pair of pliers to unscrew it the first time, but it's easy now.

As far as the original topic goes, I have had no problems with adding dechlorinator as I'm adding water back in. There's little enough chlorine in the water that it takes awhile to start damaging the fishes' gills, and dechlorinator is almost instant.

I also have to use the bucket method on a few of my tanks because they are below the sink level and I don't want to keep the faucet running to vacuum them.

In the spring, summer, and fall, I still use the Python, but instead of draining it into the sink, I drain it into the gardens in my front yard, getting the most I can out of the aquarium water. You have to start the siphon manually, but it's easy to do.

agabr123

I'd remove it if i could, but I live in a dorm and i'd probably get fined

sirdarksol

I don't permanently remove it. It's the part that holds the little screen that spreads the water and increases the pressure, making it better for washing hands.
However, if it weren't my sink, I'd be afraid of losing the piece.

dvc_r

I had 8 tanks and was so tired of water changes! With many months of pondering, I found the solution!
I put a 50 gal garbage pail in my closet that I fill with RO water (I cut a hole in the wall to the bathroom to get the water). I have a coral life shut off valve inside the garbage pail to stop it when it fills up.

I threw an old 300 watt heater in the pail and had an extra temperature gauge to monitor the water. I bought a "Quiet One" 2200 pump, dropped it in the bottom of the pail with a garden hose connected to it. Then I got real fancy (rather creative) and plugged in the on-off switch from my christmas tree and...Bingo...easy water changes.

I still have to manually vacuum once a month but I do regular water changes twice a week for my Discus. I have a valve that I turn to empty the fish tank whenever I want. I can also pull it out and put it into any other tank I wish.

I'm real proud of my creation, believe it or not I'm not very organized and anything I try to fix, I usually make worse! But here is some pictures, I hope others try it.

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midnightwolf

in my first bucket load for the tank i add all the dechlorinator for all the new whatever first and then put in the rest.

namehater

i have the same wireless switch from a christmas tree dvc_r, i have it hooked up to a lamp, but i really like how you have yours setup. now i need to do something more genius than using it to control a lamp!

DE88ROX

Its just a simple screen that goes inside the fitting. Its a difuser so the water comes out nice and "soft" YOu can buy a bag of them at lowers for probably 2 bucks.

David593

That's what I do. I remove the little faucet part and put in the adapter for the python. The python is so easy to use. My tank is in my room so I just lead the hose, only 20 ft needed to the bathroom. I drain the tank water into the toilet (it drains as it fills with water). I then just attach to facet, set the tem right, twist the part that let the water go through the hose, and fill up the tank. In terms of the water conditioner, I just use a plastic cup. I measue the water conditioner and put it in the cup (usually over-dose a little just in case ). Then when the hose is on, i hold the cup over the tank and let the water run into the cup and overflow out into the tank. After a while I just empty the tank and just let the tank fill. It make water changes a breeze and there are no more spills due to heay or over-filled buckets.

allwet1

I use a Python water changer connected to the kitchen faucet to clean and drain. But am setting up something similar to dvc_r to refill the tanks with conditioned water. I have a large trash can filled with water with a heater/thermometer. I want to use a pump to refill water in the tanks. I have a question for dvc_r: are garden hoses safe for aquarium water and how did you attach the hose to the "Quietone" pump outlet? Thanks

SWilkins

I use the vacuum of course to clean gravel and the bucket method unless I have a window close by then I run the hose out the window. My hydrangas love fish water.

You can buy those plant watering hoses in the garden department that hook up to your sink and they come in different lengths, great for filling things back up and I just add the declor before I add the water.

As far as the hoses go you can get hoses in the camping deparment that are safe for drinking water so I would think those would be safe for fish.

grump

Hi everyone any good garden hose not the cheep ones will work fine for your tanks I use a green one from home depo I paid about $35 for 50'... But don't use the black rubber ones there is something in them that leachs out and will kill the fish...

wakingupnow

Okay, this is what I do. One thing is that I use 5 gallon plastic bottles that were used to bottled drinking water so they are pretty heavy. If you have a bad back, my way is not the way to do alone.

Okay, so I first fill up two or one 5 gallons with water before hand so the temp stabilizes and the stress coat has time to work. I just take of the plastic siphon end of the vac and use the rubber tubing to fill them up.

Then I obviously use the other 2 ( or 1) bottles to take out 10 gallons and fill them up with the fishy water.

To put the clean water back in, I put one bottle on the counter next to the tank and take the same tube, and clip on the tube to the tank (it usually comes with a vac I think) and then stick the other end right down in the bottle to the bottom. I take a turkey baster and put it in the end of the tube to the tank and it comes right out on the first suction.

As the water goes down in the bottle, I get a big stack of phone books and put the 5 gal bottle on top of them so the siphon doesn't stop. And then I do this again with the other bottle.

It's the easiest way I have found to do it and the gravel vac has become a great friend to me.

docB

dvc_r this appears to be a great setup!
I am setting up a discus tank at the office and 10 buckets twice a week were not going to make it.
Since it is an office everything has to be totally mess free.
This will make water changes mess free, the water will be preconditioned and totally safe before going in. I love it! I suppose the storage tank could be a quarantine/emergency tank in a pinch.
I have a few ideas to refine it slightly.
I'll race you to the patent office
I'll name one of the models after you when I'm rich

Glad to hear your doing discus. We will need to talk.
My water here is very hard and high pH. I'm thinking putting a little peat in the "preliminary tank" will help.

prairielilly

I have a couple of buckets, a cup, a small jug and a gravel vac (and lots of towels). I vac the tank into a bucket, which I set on a small stepladder so it's easier to access and so I don't trip on it (yes, I would and have) and keep vaccing until IMO the gravel's clean (using a mini vac and a 12L bucket). I dump the bucket as necessary, first setting aside enough to water the plants (my flower beds are going to be the best on the block this year!) Then I use a cup to dip and pour out enough water for the water change as that's much much faster than using the vac to siphon. I set the bucket in the sink and refill to measure line so I know how much Prime to add, dechlorinate, use small jug to dip and pour water into tank. I used to just dump the bucket into the tank, but found that the sudden strong current wasn't wonderful for tiny fish, and I had a tendency to sometimes 'miss' the tank and dump it all over the front and on the floor...bit of a mess.

If I had a tank bigger than 20g, I'd be looking at a Python or similar. That would be far too many buckets.