Can I use water from another aquarium for a water change?

This is kind of a weird question but I have a 10 gallon tank I need to change a quarter of the water a week. I have an extra 5 gallon tank laying around so I was wondering if I could put water in the 5gal, dechlorinate it and use the water from there when I need it. Is that ok?

 

Yes, that works.

 

The water in the ten-gallon is dirty and has very little if any beneficial bacteria in it. The water in your 10-gallon tank should already be dechlorinated, adding more dechlorinator won't clean the water. Standing water will get gross.

 

The water in the ten-gallon is dirty and has very little if any beneficial bacteria in it. The water in your 10-gallon tank should already be dechlorinated, adding more dechlorinator won't clean the water. Standing water will get gross.

He means fill the 5g up with clean dechlor water and fill the 10g back up or top offs etc with it. I read it weird too....lol

 

Yes, that works.

Ok good thanks

He means fill the 5g up with clean dechlor water and fill the 10g back up or top offs etc with it. I read it weird too....lol

He means fill the 5g up with clean dechlor water and fill the 10g back up or top offs etc with it. I read it weird too....lol

Yeah

 

oh. hm. Thanks for explaining!
I wouldn't let the water sit for too long, standing water is not healthy water for long. especially in a clear unsealed container.

 

oh. hm. Thanks for explaining!
I wouldn't let the water sit for too long, standing water is not healthy water for long. especially in a clear unsealed container.

I do have an extra sponge filter I can put in there. I’m planing to use all of it in the next three weeks.

 

If you can keep the water in the 5 gal flowing and oxygenated you will be just fine.

 

If you added the filter it would be fine !, Just sitting in there maybe 3 days/72 hours?

 

Letting the tap water sit in a container for a few days is a good idea. It gives the dechlorinator plenty of time to react. However, you do not want the water to become stagnant. Using an aerator or sponge filter is a great idea.

It is also a good idea to make sure your water used for water changes is similar in temperature to your tank. In the summer, that is not likely to be a problem, but in the winter it might be. My water container is in the basement where the temperature can get down to 58 degrees F in winter. That is far to cold to be pouring into the fish tank. I use a submersible heater in the container to keep the water temperature at the same temperature as my tank.

 

Letting the tap water sit in a container for a few days is a good idea. It gives the dechlorinator plenty of time to react. However, you do not want the water to become stagnant. Using an aerator or sponge filter is a great idea.

It is also a good idea to make sure your water used for water changes is similar in temperature to your tank. In the summer, that is not likely to be a problem, but in the winter it might be. My water container is in the basement where the temperature can get down to 58 degrees F in winter. That is far to cold to be pouring into the fish tank. I use a submersible heater in the container to keep the water temperature at the same temperature as my tank.

Ok thanks a lot! I put a sponge filter in there. I live in California so it doesn’t get that cold in winter but I will put a heater in there if I have to.