armadillo

Hi fellow fish nuts

Do you have opinions/preferences/tips on how to best put the water back in the tank for a water change?

I used to be the brutal method - just splash the whole bucket in one go, then considered my poor fish.

Then I used syphon to slowly sieve it back in the water. That took ages.

Then I tried to very slowly empty the bucket in the tank, thus created welcome oxygen movement in the water. This was still stirring things up unpleasantly, so the current method:

I slowly empty the bucket in the tank, but put my hand in the way of the downward flow so as to break it in smaller streams.

Any clever ideas/preferences?

atmmachine816

That's what I do, I use gallon jugs and pour them onto my hand and it creates a little waterfall, though there are other methods.

armadillo

he he he. I love it when people come up with the same idea independently. Must be something to it.

Butterfly

I direct the stream of water down at one end of whichever tank I'm filling onto a rock.
Carol

sgould

I take water out by siphoning into 5 gallon buckets, then add fresh water back by siphoning from the buckets back to the tank. Someday I will splurge on a Python and then the world must fear me!

armadillo

Doesn't it take forever to syphon it back in? I also heard it was good to agitate the water some - thus perhaps beneficial to pour it in (slowly).

Sarcastic

Me too. The splashing effect may disturb the decorations a bit, but it does help aerate and distribute the water.

capekate

I syphon out water into a five gal bucket. I fill another separate five gal bucket filled w/ primed water. But I use a half gal pitcher to pour it back into the tank. This way I eliminate disturbing too many things. By holding the pitcher higher over the tank when pouring, the water doesnt reach down towards the gravel and plants, but disperses over the top 1/4. I then use the net to catch any floating debris that the water change stirs up. Been doing that every day... somehow, getting used to the routine!

armadillo

I really like the idea of the jug. Thanks, guys.

Luniyn

I also use a 5 Gal bucket when doing my water change. If I take out 1 bucket worth then I know I can put back 1 bucket worth. So I set the bucket on top of a high dresser I have next to the tank and start up the siphon and walk away. There isn't a chance of overflowing the tank because I just took out that same amount of water from the tank. But that's only for my 20 Gal tank or smaller. When I get a 75 Gal I will definitely be getting a python. I have a hang on back filter and airstone for aeration, so I don't worry about the flow of the water back into the tank adding more.

sgould

Not really.

armadillo

Well it takes forever for me. Must be American gravity!

sgould

Haven't you heard? We don't believe in gravity over here!

armadillo

LOL. Really? Me it's acceleration I don't believe in. I think it's just a myth. Especially when it comes to cycling tanks...

Bonochick

We buy RO water in 5 gallon buckets...which I can barely carry, let alone lift. :P I enlist the help of my boyfriend and his muscular arms...he can pour the water in without too much sloppy splashing.

If I'm just doing tap water, I use a large cup...and patience.

armadillo

Oh dear. Patience and muscular strength: my weakest points! :

tan.b

i use a bucket and a jug (specifically for tank purposes). then pour the jug onto the driftwood which pushes out all the bits of dirt in there and in my fry tank i aim the pour into one corner so the flow hits the glass and reduces the force. then the dregs in the bucket just get tipped into the tank slowly. the danios and guppies come to "dance" in the flow of returned water, the tetras etc go off and hide in a corner out of the way! my galaxy tank is only inches off the floor under another tank so accessability is limited and its nr impossible to pour water in so that get syphoned in. takes forever, but the only way really!
tan

griffin

i syphon out into a 5 gal container. and i have another 5 gal of aged water. syphon water out of tank into 5 gal container, and i pour the aged 5 gallon into a 1 gallon and pour that over my hand or into a filter. i used to pour it into my skimmer, but i changed the location of that, so it's not as easy to reach now.

i usually just keep an eye on it when it's syphoning, go change water in other tanks, prep fertilizers, laundry, etc