How do you thaw frozen cubes?

[StarGirl]

I used to just thaw them in warm tap water in a fine net. Then on FL I saw that you should thaw it in tank water. Does it really matter? Does everyone blanch their veggies in tank water? This is a very confusing subject that you always get different answers from. Just curious what everyone else does.

 

[Feohw]

I used to just mix it up in tank water in a little cup for a few secs. And then pour it in. Now I just hold it with some tweezers and swish it about in the tank itself. Easy peasy. I blanch veggies in tap water.

 

[StarGirl]

I used to just mix it up in tank water in a little cup. And then pour it in. Now I just hold it with some tweezers and swish it about in the tank itself. Easy peasy. I blanch veggies in tap water.

So why would you thaw cubes in tank water but blanch veggie in tap water?

 

[sparklepixie]

I thaw in garlic guard, That way I can use the same container for all the tanks, if I used tank water, I'd have to thaw 6 different times lol

Also to edit, I plan to blanch veggies in declorinated tap water for the Goldfish when I get them.

 

[Feohw]

So why would you thaw cubes in tank water but blanch veggie in tap water?

Because I had the cup and the frozen foods beside the tank. And because I poured all the water in the cup into the tank. Peace of mind in that way. I don't bother about the veggies. Boiling removes chlorine over time anyway. Likely not all of it in the time that it takes for the veggie to sink. But I've never worried.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

So why would you thaw cubes in tank water but blanch veggie in tap water?

I use tank water to defrost then dump it all in or I just put the frozen cube in, it defrosts fast enough and stays at the surface longer.

Edit: I don't use tweezers, I just use my hand, I got to feed my Moonlight Gourami and my "Shy" adult Three Spot Gourami by hand the other day

 

[kallililly1973]

I thaw my frozen foods in a cup of tank water and feed all 7 tanks out of the same cup. I buy bags of frozen zucchinI and take pieces and put in a cup and run lava water on it and let em sit till they all sink n take my tweezers n drop em in

 

[sparklepixie]

I thaw my frozen foods in a cup of tank water and feed all 7 tanks out of the same cup. I buy bags of frozen zucchinI and take pieces and put in a cup and run lava water on it and let em sit till they all sink n take my tweezers n drop em in

I'm so scared of doing that! I think I'm just paranoid about spreading things between my tanks lol

 

[StarGirl]

Because I had the cup and the frozen foods beside the tank. And because I poured all the water in the cup into the tank. Peace of mind in that way. I don't bother about the veggies. Boiling removes chlorine over time anyway. Likely not all of it in the time that it takes for the veggie to sink. But I've never worried.

When I blanch veggies I boil them then shock it in cold water. The cold water has chlorine. I get the whole thing... I'm just curious as to If it really matters....

 

[kallililly1973]

I'm so scared of doing that! I think I'm just paranoid about spreading things between my tanks lol

I've never had any issues.

 

[StarGirl]

I thaw my frozen foods in a cup of tank water and feed all 7 tanks out of the same cup. I buy bags of frozen zucchinI and take pieces and put in a cup and run lava water on it and let em sit till they all sink n take my tweezers n drop em in

So why do you use tank water for one but not the other?

 

[mattgirl]

I really don't think it matters one way or another. I just use what ever is the handiest at the moment. I do blanch the veggies in water straight from the tap and then drop them in ice water. Again straight from the tap with a couple of ice cubes in it. Even though my tap water has chlorine in it there isn't enough in a cup of water to cause any harm.

 

[kallililly1973]

When I blanch veggies I boil them then shock it in cold water. The cold water has chlorine. I get the whole thing... I'm just curious as to If it really matters....

If you haven't had any issues doing it that way I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm curious how people do their veggies when doing it for shrimp ( not to sidetrack your thread ) richie.p

 

[kallililly1973]

So why do you use tank water for one but not the other?

the cubes thaw faster than the veggies I guess. I've just recently started feeding frozen BW's brine shrimp daphnia. The veggies I let the lava water run over it n let the cup sit till everything sinks.

 

[StarGirl]

If you haven't had any issues doing it that way I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm curious how people do their veggies when doing it for shrimp ( not to sidetrack your thread ) richie.p

That's my goal to figure this out. Does it matter is my biggest question.

I really don't think it matters one way or another. I just use what ever is the handiest at the moment. I do blanch the veggies in water straight from the tap and then drop them in ice water. Again straight from the tap with a couple of ice cubes in it. Even though my tap water has chlorine in it there isn't enough in a cup of water to cause any harm.

So a small thing like a shot glass really shouldn't matter? I thaw mine in tank water. I just thought it was curious that people do that but blanch in tap water. My guess is it really doesn't matter. I may be wrong, that's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[jpm995]

It doesn't matter.

 

[richiep]

If I do it fresh I do the same as mattgirl frozen bloodworm/daphnia and the likes I put in a tea strainer and run cold water over them until thawed then use, I don't put anything like this in as frozen if you want to know why just put bloodworm in a cup and leave it thaw and have a good look at whatd in that once thawed, the blood itself is enough to ruin your water, but it's just me

 

[Andyfischer]

I thaw blood wors with microwave. Works well

 

[StarGirl]

It is kind of like the soap thing to me. Oh don't use soap on aquarium stuff, but bleach other stuff (plants etc). If you rinse anything really good it is fine.

Has anyone ever had fish die because you thawed stuff in tap water? I doubt it.

 

[mattgirl]

So a small thing like a shot glass really shouldn't matter? I thaw mine in tank water. I just thought it was curious that people do that but blanch in tap water. My guess is it really doesn't matter. I may be wrong, that's what I'm trying to figure out.

You are on the right track. It really doesn't matter whether you use tank water or tap water. We are talking about such a small amount of water it doesn't matter. I've not fed frozen foods in a long time but back when I did I just thawed it in a shot glass and tap water. Once thawed I would pour the water off and feed the unfrozen food.

 

[StarGirl]

You are on the right track. It really doesn't matter whether you use tank water or tap water. We are talking about such a small amount of water it doesn't matter. I've not fed frozen foods in a long time but back when I did I just thawed it in a shot glass and tap water. Once thawed I would pour the water off and feed the unfrozen food.

Oh my fish adore the frozen food. I dump the water off all the time anyway. I really did not think it mattered I just wanted to ask what everyone else thought also. I just thought it was funny everyone would thaw in tank water then boil in tap water. You know?

 

[AcuarioAmazonico]

I have a few shot glasses for the tanks. Scoop tank water and pop in the cube. Wait or bit or if impatient swirl the stuff around a bit and then pour it into the tank. The reason I have many glasses is to ensure right amounts in each tank.

To be honest half the time I just throw the cube in the tank. It pretty much starts to separate immediately anyway and the fish have eaten like this for the longest time too with no issues.

Veggies are blanched in the microwave and rinsed with cold tap water and then thrown in the tank. To my mind the minuscule amount of drops of water on the zucchinI or spinach leaf are insignificant but a 60ml shot glass full requires more caution.

Probably doesn't make much difference to be fair...

 

[Wraithen]

I thaw all mine in about 176 gallons of tank water at 77 degrees.

 

[nobettasinbowls]

When I was feeding a lot (1 whole cube for community tank) I would take a cube in a fine fish net, and run it under the tap water til defrosted (didn't want to mess up water with all the liquid it is packed in), then wave the net through the tank to feed (or in a small container of tank water, then dumped in).

Since I am only feeding a betta now, I take a cube, and smash it with a hammer in a zip bloc. I take a plastic cup and fill with a small scoop of tank water, choose select worms/shrimp from zip block, and plop in. Then, I use blunt plant tweezers to give each piece individually. I can't imagine it would matter if I used tap water for defrosting though.