Opinions on how to put the water back in after a water change?

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?

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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! ;D

 

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).

 

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.

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

 

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 doesn't 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!

 

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

 

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 . 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.

 

Doesn't it take forever to syphon it back in?

Not really.

 

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

 

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

 

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...

 

We buy RO water in 5 gallon buckets...which I can barely carry, let alone lift. 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.

 

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

 

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 aI'm 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

 

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

 

Why do you age the water? Should I do that? I just mix the conditioner/salt in from the tap, measure the temperature and off I go. Am I making a big mistake?

 

Why do you age the water? Should I do that? I just mix the conditioner/salt in from the tap, measure the temperature and off I go. Am I making a big mistake?

If you only have chlorine in your water you can let a bucket sit out and it will evaporate off after a few days. If you are looking to save time, then no don't bother. Or if you have chloramines in your water, it won't work. So if you are ok with using conditioners in your water, then just keep doing what you are doing. If you want to try the more natural approch, then contact your local water company and have them send you a report of your water and what's in it. If it doesn't say chloramines, then it will work for you. Just be careful where you put the bucket because you could end up with all kinds of things in it before it's ready to be used in your tank.

 

Oh, I see. That's a good idea. But of course, there's also my pipes adding toxins to the water (the house is > 100 y.o.), and the water board won't know about that. I think I'd like to play it the familiar (for me) way and continue conditioning the water.

Thanks for the answer, really informative. I lurve learning.

 

Oh, I see. That's a good idea. But of course, there's also my pipes adding toxins to the water (the house is > 100 y.o.), and the water board won't know about that. I think I'd like to play it the familiar (for me) way and continue conditioning the water.

Thanks for the answer, really informative. I lurve learning.

I do it your way too and my fish seem happy! the bucket aging water theory would mean me having at least 8 buckets standing about for me to fall over!! also, my other concern is.....although i've checked the water company report online and it said they use chlorine rather than chloramine, what if one day they change it to chloramine? I don't fancy checking the water report every time I do a water change, and if I did.....how long til the water report is updated? I am a bit of a worrier at times!! so I'll still with the conditioner....just to be sure for the sake of a few £!...also I like the water temp matching that of the tank which I achieve by running hot and cold water into my bucket! you're not alone with your theory armadillo!
EDIT: btw, shouldnt worry about the toxins in your pipes.....if you've not come to any harm from it, your fish wont! plus the water your fish get wil be better than that in the wild with fertiliser/pesticide etc leaching into waterways!!

 

Oh, I see. That's a good idea. But of course, there's also my pipes adding toxins to the water (the house is > 100 y.o.), and the water board won't know about that. I think I'd like to play it the familiar (for me) way and continue conditioning the water.

Thanks for the answer, really informative. I lurve learning.

I do it your way too and my fish seem happy! the bucket aging water theory would mean me having at least 8 buckets standing about for me to fall over!! also, my other concern is.....although i've checked the water company report online and it said they use chlorine rather than chloramine, what if one day they change it to chloramine? I don't fancy checking the water report every time I do a water change, and if I did.....how long til the water report is updated? I am a bit of a worrier at times!! so I'll still with the conditioner....just to be sure for the sake of a few £!...also I like the water temp matching that of the tank which I achieve by running hot and cold water into my bucket! you're not alone with your theory armadillo!
EDIT: btw, shouldnt worry about the toxins in your pipes.....if you've not come to any harm from it, your fish wont! plus the water your fish get wil be better than that in the wild with fertiliser/pesticide etc leaching into waterways!!

HI Tan. Yeah, it seems OK to stick with conditionning. Easier for temperature too, as you're saying. And indeed, to be really sure, you'd need to be able to trust that you have the very latest info from your water board at each water change + loads of buckets hanging about. Glad I don't have to feel too guilty about choosing conditioning over resting.

Not sure that a quantity of lead enough to kill a 4cm fish would hurt a human, though. I reckon they'll be way more sensitive.

 

Not sure that a quantity of lead enough to kill a 4cm fish would hurt a human, though. I reckon they'll be way more sensitive.

no expert but most heavy metal poisoning such as mercury for instance is cumulative. so while you as a human are bigger, you've had it building up in your body for 30+ years.....a fish has only been exposed to it for 2 years or so. so don't feel guilty. also luniyn did a post on lead an how it doesn't react with water. will try and find it...

EDIT:
sorry, wasn't luniyn, was ssh_condor on a post you started!!



"Ok lead aquatic plant wieghts.  Lead is a wonderful substance.  You can swallow lead balls and they will go straight through you withoug doing damage.  Lead is only poisonous as a compound ie lead oxide, lead sulphide.  Lastly lead metal is totally unreactive in water and won't poison the water.  This is proved by the fact that they already use them to weight the plants, which to me suggests that they are safe.  Oh and I suggest poking the lead through the flesh, this makes it harder for the vegatation to detach itself from the wieght.  Sorry about the rant but science is my passion."

 

Not sure that a quantity of lead enough to kill a 4cm fish would hurt a human, though. I reckon they'll be way more sensitive.

no expert but most heavy metal poisoning such as mercury for instance is cumulative. so while you as a human are bigger, you've had it building up in your body for 30+ years.....a fish has only been exposed to it for 2 years or so. so don't feel guilty. also luniyn did a post on lead an how it doesn't react with water. will try and find it...
sorry, wasn't luniyn, was someone else on a post you started!!

"Ok lead aquatic plant wieghts. Lead is a wonderful substance. You can swallow lead balls and they will go straight through you withoug doing damage. Lead is only poisonous as a compound ie lead oxide, lead sulphide. Lastly lead metal is totally unreactive in water and won't poison the water. This is proved by the fact that they already use them to weight the plants, which to me suggests that they are safe. Oh and I suggest poking the lead through the flesh, this makes it harder for the vegatation to detach itself from the wieght. Sorry about the rant but science is my passion."

But if we've been exposed to it for 30 years, perhaps a sign that we are habituated and it was a gradual thing. If they go from one type of water to another, really lead-intoxicated type, I can't imagine that's good for them. There is in human a type of lead poisoning called saturnism which hits kids and old people in particular when their plumbing is old and therefore their water is contaminated. The debate goes on.

Went to a LFS today and he told me our local water was perfect (no chlorine, even). He's been the most knowledgable guy so far. So I guess I have to look for another reason for my mollies' discomfort.

 

wonder if there's a way to test the water out of the tap for its lead content? that'd be interesting....

 

Went to the pet store to ask if they had lead tests for my kit but they didn't. Maybe the really fancy kits have them?

 

no idea :-\ if I see one I'll let you know!

 

sorry for the slow response.

I age my water because I prefer to do that over using conditioner. currently limited on number of tanks allowed, so I don't have a whole lot of water to age. I also don't do all my water changes on the same day, so I don't really have a lot sitting around.

as for the lead tests - i've seen some around (but really really really expensive) but of course, I can't remember the brand right now

 

That actually isn't true about lead at all. Yes lead as a large object will have a hard time actually getting into your system before it is passed, but it is far from harmless. Lead dust (which is more common then you think) can enter into your system in many ways. Ohio State University wrote a great paper about it, and if you are interested . Those lead weights may be safe and not cause a problem in many peoples tanks, but I sure wouldn't use them for anything more then then transportation of plants. To feed my fish veggies, I bought an all plastic clip (i.e. no metal spring) and a old fish net. I cut the netting off the stick and put some of my stone substrate in it and tied it off with nylon fishing string. Then with the same string I tied the bag to the veggie clip. An all plastic system that I never have to worry about. As to a lead test kit, .

 

Thanks, Lunyin.

I also heard of associations between excessive presence of lead particles in the air and lung cancer.

Those lead kits are really expensive. Ouch!

Really? You don't trust the plant weights. Mmmmm. Never saw the plastic clips in our stores. I'll try to find some.

 

I usually have, at least, 5 gallons of water sitting around. I always make too much when going through the motions of making tank water. As a result, I always have some sitting. When I pour it in....I use the rock method. My crawfish hates me using her home to bounce water off of, but...she always gets spoiled afterwards. LOL

But, when I was filling my 55, I used an open mouth gallon container, put the water in the container and the container in the tank...No splashes. LOL But, once I have fish in there I won't be doing that. Of course...then I'll have rocks and plants, and stuff....everywhere. LOL

 

Ooo, but you could have this really tall glass, and still do it I guess. Although the volume displacement of such a big glass might not be ideal.

Just had a brainwave here. Why don't we just use watering cans? (feeling very smug!) ;D Added advantage is that it can make fish think it's raining, and that makes some want babies!

 

Just had a brainwave here. Why don't we just use watering cans? (feeling very smug!)   ;D Added advantage is that it can make fish think it's raining, and that makes some want babies!

sounds like an excellent idea. only prob is I think that would be a job for my hubby as i'd get arm-ache holding a full watercan 4 foot in the air several times!! if I didnt have chlorine in the tap water a hose pipe with the rose sprinkly thing on the end would be good!

 

Oh, so there was a flaw. Back to the drawing board.

 

Just had a brainwave here. Why don't we just use watering cans? (feeling very smug!)   ;D Added advantage is that it can make fish think it's raining, and that makes some want babies!

sounds like an excellent idea. only prob is I think that would be a job for my hubby as i'd get arm-ache holding a full watercan 4 foot in the air several times!! if I didnt have chlorine in the tap water a hose pipe with the rose sprinkly thing on the end would be good!

I'm a guy. I can say we are easily convinced to do this kind of thing.

 

Yeah, my guy certainly is, the angel. Say the word and his arms will do the carrying. I secretly think men really enjoy carrying heavy things for us. Sometimes I make fake requests just to keep him happy.

It doesn't seem to extend to pushing broken down cars with the handbreak on (I figured it was safer in case the car rolled back on him). He got really annoyed. Didn't help that it was minus I don't know what temperature outside! :

 

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

That's what I do...I direct the water onto the top of the cave.

 

Yeah, my guy certainly is, the angel. Say the word and his arms will do the carrying. I secretly think men really enjoy carrying heavy things for us. Sometimes I make fake requests just to keep him happy.

It doesn't seem to extend to pushing broken down cars with the handbreak on (I figured it was safer in case the car rolled back on him). He got really annoyed.  Didn't help that it was minus I don't know what temperature outside! :

I think it makes them feel manly and useful! my hubby likes to do the fetching and carrying of water when he's home when I do the water changes. any diy things I say i'd like to do it, but he always insists on doing it himself!! its the way no matter what needs doing (a simple job like re-wiring a plug) and he has to go in the garage and bring out his toolbox! I think carry the tool box makes him feel manly and required!! so yes, we have to keep finding plenty of jobs for the men or they may think we don't need them anymore and get unhappy!! although I think pushing a car in sub zero temps with the handbrake is pushing it a bit (no pun intended...pushing your luck, not the car!!!). anyway, i'm rambling... again : tan

 

'Pushing it a bit'. Just chuckled out loud!  ;D ;D ;D

 

'Pushing it a bit'. Just chuckled out loud!  ;D ;D ;D

glad you enjoyed my ramble!!! it seemed to be making less sense the more I typed!!! happens to me a lot that!! ;D :

 

Well am a fellow rambler, so great minds and all that. Right, better help bf with non-fish stuff now, like washing up. 

Small side-note. I used our flat sauce serving spoon to re-arrange the gravel in my pleco tank after adding plants in there. Was on the pile of things to wash up but he didn't realize it had been used. He's been using a pleco-poop fillled spoon to mix his food in the pan! Yak! He wasn't impressed.

 

Well am a fellow rambler, so great minds and all that. Right, better help bf with non-fish stuff now, like washing up.

Small side-note. I used our flat sauce serving spoon to re-arrange the gravel in my pleco tank after adding plants in there. Was on the pile of things to wash up but he didn't realize it had been used. He's been using a pleco-poop fillled spoon to mix his food in the pan! Yak! He wasn't impressed.

lol

 

Well am a fellow rambler, so great minds and all that. Right, better help bf with non-fish stuff now, like washing up. 

that's no fun!! bet he prefers washing up to pushing cars though!

Small side-note. I used our flat sauce serving spoon to re-arrange the gravel in my pleco tank after adding plants in there. Was on the pile of things to wash up but he didn't realize it had been used. He's been using a pleco-poop fillled spoon to mix his food in the pan! Yak! He wasn't impressed.

oh no!! that's so...wrong, yet I couldnt help myself rofl!!! sorry!! hope you didnt eat any of the pleco poop garnished culinery delight!!

 

Well actually I was punished too as, for once, he was cooking! That meant I ate pleco poop too. Ah well, you live and learn. Kind of tasted like andouillettes!

OK, I went and bought a watering can anyway (3 euros, that's nothing in comparison to my overall fish budget!), and it worked a treat, Tan!

It was great. Same capacity as my bucket (I chose a 10L), hardly any spillage while transporting water from the tap, and the fish loved it. They shot up to the surface and followed the streams. + it's no heavier than a bucket, and has a handle. Well I for one am never doing a water change with anything else. No sirree.

 

I just dump the water in with a 5 gal bucket. if I stir up the dirty and poo I just net it, another way of cleaning the tank and getting it in to the filter I see. helps keep the tank clean

 

But I found that disturbing the substrate left the water very cloudy for a long time (about 2 days), and am sure my fish don't like that. I tend to disturb the substrate by vaccuming, then all the goo comes up the tube.

 

I see the fish will have to deal with it haha there is a chem you put in the tank put like 1 or 2 drops in with in and hour its clear. its not the best on the fish but as long as you don't use a lot your fine with it put some in the water your putting in it will be fine. I used it on my tank it was cloudy for like 6 days I stired up the water put in 35 drops and it was clear in 2 hours. that's about how many drops I needed for my tank size of the chem haha. there was no fish in it though made it a little safer.

 

Yeah, I tried one of those crystal clear things on an empty tank and it really worked wonders! I do try to avoid chemicals on stocked tanks, though.

Pouring water back in with the watering can really doesn't take that long (well, granted, longer than just the bucket). Actually, it's become one of the nice parts of the water routine. They all come up to the surface to see what's happening. They really seem to enjoy the 'fake rain'. It only cost me a couple of euros too! Bargain!

 

yup yup, my fish do he same thing with the 1 gal milk jug in my 10gal tank its funny to see them swimming there hearts out trying to see what's going on.