bilblio

Hi, first post, and it seems like such a trivial question but I really don't want to kill my fish.

I've had my tank for about 6 weeks, it finished cycling last week but I left it an extra week to be sure. I'm about to do my first water change. I filled a bucket with water this morning, it's been sat in the sunshine trying to warm up, then in the house to try to get to room temperature but it's still COLD!
I've got 2 zebra danios and I really don't want to kill them by freezing them to death. Will a drop of a few degrees hurt them or am I going to have to unwire my heater to get this bucket warmed up.

The tank temperature is 25degrees at the mo and the water I want to add is just over 17degrees. It's 10gallon tank (ish) too. I'm in the UK, we don't do gallons.

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore

First thing to remember, there are no trivial questions.

I just adjust my tap to around the same temp as my tank water (tested by touch). Others use a thermometer. A couple of degrees off shouldn't hurt them.

Some members put the water in a bucket and use a spare aquarium heater to heat it up.

Good luck You know, after all this time, I still worry a bit every time I do a water change so your apprehension is understandable.

Beth1965

The c of 17 is a big difference between a c of 25 (not degress, right?). i would not add that water yet. You really ought to let it warm up more.
Beth

aquarist48

Congrats on the having a completed cycle. You should get several ideas on how to heat your water. What I do is bottle my water into gallon jugs, fill a sink with hot water and place the jugs in it. Take the thermometer from the tank, put it in the jug, shake the jugs a few times and match the temperatures. Some members just use the touch and feel method. Some use a Python to go right from the tap to the tank getting the temperature as close as they can.

bilblio

Ahh so I could use water from the hot tap too... I had in my head that that would be a really bad idea...
Right I'm going to mix up another bucket of water that's the right temperature.

I was thinking I was going to have to leave this bucket lying around the house for days until it warmed up, and with a very inquisitive toddler that was a terrifying thought.

Lucy

Just make sure you use a good dechlorinator.

I agree, having a toddler around, that would make me nervous too.

bilblio

Hurray, water is now changed, and I'm pleased to report I'm alive (had a little mishap with spilling water a leeettle too close to plug sockets!!)
And the fish seem fine too, a little friskier than normal but that's probably because they're chasing bits and hoping they're food.
Fingers crossed they survive they weekend then I can think about getting a few more to keep them company.

Thanks for all the help. No doubt I'll be back asking more questions soon.

aquarist48

Glad to hear everything went well for the most part...buzzzzzzz I'd say a few of us have had the scare of water and electrical sockets. Be careful! Good luck with your fish. Keep us posted.

Martin Rose

Hi, I run a hosepipe directly from the mixer tap in the kitchen. Also, when I fill the tank I fill it with the hose at different points to limit the cold spots.

Good luck with your new fish, one mistake I made was putting a few too many fish in too early. Learn from my mistake!

Cheers

Mart

How near to Manchester are you? I'm in Halifax but used to Bolton and Manchester city centre.

bilblio

Hi Martin, I'm in Stalybridge, just east of Manchester. I don't really know Manchester very well, I'm not from here originally so I stick to the little market towns in Tameside for shopping rather than getting lost in Manchester.

Don't worry I'm only going to be adding fish a couple at a time. I'm off to look round a different LFS tomorrow as I've had really dodgy information at 2 of the 3 I've tried so far. Hopefully I'll come home with a couple more danios of some variety to keep the 2 I have now company, then in a couple more weeks at add 2 more so they'll be a happy school at last.

DE88ROX

Just like what Lucy said. I get the water to the same temp as my tank. (78) I have an extra thermometer I bought just for that reason.