heather84

We dont have all the nifty little gadgets some of you do lol so normally i fill buckets with fresh water and allow them to sit at room temp until the next day then do my water change.

well im in ohio and currently its freeeeeezing were I am, and our landlord hasnt turned on the heat yet so im worried that even if I let the water get room temp its gonna be to cold.

I dont know what the temp outta faucet is and I dont have another therm. to check it. What should i do? And even if i did and the water is to cold I dont have a extra heater or anything to warm it up.

Our tank is set to 79* or 80* and the heater in it is almost always on right now.

Shawnie

I think its time to check out www.craigslist.org and get some supplies at a great cost....unless you have cold water fish, tropicals will have some serious issues with cold water....im confused as you say your tank and heater is 79-80 but then you say you dont have a heater? after time, and enough water changes, you can finger touch the tap water and get it pretty close to your tank temps ....
also, you need some water conditioner for your tap to get out minerals and such that could hurt them....you have no aquarium info filled in , so I cant help more with the types of fish and such

heather84

Supplies arent in the budget at the moment. I said I dont have a extra heater, I have the one in my tank and thats it (meaning i cant heat the water in the buckets first) I have water conditioners.

this isnt my first water change we have had our tank for months. This is the first time its cold in the apartment and im worried about the water being to cold if i let it get room temp.

I have plecos, cory cats, mollies, platys, and tetras

btate617

Water sitting at room temp will normally be around 4-6degrees cooler than the room temp.

Brian

Shawnie

Sorry about that confusion about the conditioner..I was assuming you were letting it sit because of lack of the conditioner....(allot think that cleans the chlorine and such out) but again, if you had filled in your aquarium info, I would have know that

those fish will not make it all winter with air temps..even with your heat on in the house...they need a heater...hence why I gave you the link as you can pick one up for $5 or so

TedsTank

What size (gallons) tank do you have? If you don't change too big of a % at a time your fish will probably be ok...for now just change less water at a time and do it over a couple of days. When your budget allows you might want to a get a higher wattage heater (it will run less) and a thermometer. Hope this might help you.

I understand budget problems...it's tough. I lost my job this year and am still searching.....so many people are looking for work.

heather84

LOL lemme try this again..I HAVE a heater in MY TANK......but i dont have a EXTRA heater LOL

There is a heater in there tank

I normally let 2 buckets of water (equal to what i take out usually) sit in the bathroom and get room temp (because i figured its warmer then what comes ou the tap) but now its cold inside (heats not on yet) and I was worried that if i did that the water might be to cold and shock the fish. So i was looking for a better idea.

Shawnie

why arent you using warmer tap water?
im really having brunette moments tonite ..sorry

heather84

I dont think i have a choice do i? lol what comes out is what i get.
And I was always told not to turn on the hot water to make it warmer (to refill the tank)
so since its really warm here in the summer i usually just let it sit at room temp.

Basically this will be my first winter with a fish tank.

Shawnie

absolutely you have a choice....you use hot water mixed with cold! it gets in the high 90s here and I still cant use just cold water..I have to turn the hot on so its tepid...use some of your hot water and take the thermometer out of your tank and set it in the bucket for 10 mins or so..after a bunch of bucket refillings, you will have it perfect in no time..

aquarist48

Hello Heather! Hope you're dong well. Some great tips above.

Just want to let you know I've moved your thread to the "aquarium water/Temperature" section of the forum.
Thanks!
Ken

Lucy

I got lost for a little while until this post. lol
No need to let the water sit over night, just try to get the tap water about the same temp as your tank water and be sure to add conditioner.
You might want to start saving for extra equipment in case you ever need a quarantine tank.