Water Change Help! Ammonia And Python

Hello everyone,

I have a 75 gallon African Cichlid Peacock tank. I am currently doing fish in cycling. There are eight of them right now. I am off for summer break until next week when my internship starts. I have been doing water changes to bring the ammonia down. As of this morning, the ammonia was .50/1.0 ppm and the nitrites was .25 ppm. As of a couple days ago, there were no nitrates so I didnt bother testing for them again this morning.

I have two python water changers/gravel vacuums. One is the very large one designed for the 75 gallon tank and my other one is the one inch gravel vacuum that I used to use for my 10 gallon tank. Unfortunately, my sink is not really compatible for the 75 gallon vacuum python. As a result, I have been using the other python to suck up water and waste into my 5 gallon bucket. I then go outside and empty out my bucket and repeat. Once I am done, I fill up the bucket in my sink and use seachem prime to dechlorinate that water. I always dechlorinate any water that goes in my tank before it enters the tank. I know it would be easier to just fill up the tank and then dechlorinate, but I feel that the chlorine would keep the little beneficial bacteria that I have and/or harm my fish since I leave them in the tank when I do these Water changes.

Anyways, my brother said that he would help with the water changes. I don't want him to be lugging buckets back and forth so I went outside and tried hooking up the python to the hose and it worked. Assuming the water is drained, can I just use the python attatched to the hose and run that hose water directly into the tank and after the tank is full, would I THEN be able to add the Seachem Prime, or would the chlorine destroy the bacteria that's in the tank? That would make water changes much safer, but I am confused on the purpose of the python water changer.

Thank you so much for reading and ask any questions if I was not clear enough

 

Are you able to get warm water from the outdoor hose?

 

Wait.. if its a python then it has a bell drain valve on it and you don't need a bucket.

You can make a rig thatbwill work. 3 10 or 15 foot garden hoses. A y connector with ballvalves on it and a sink faucet adapter. You just start the water with one hose in the tank and one hose in the toilet toilet hose valve shut. One the water is flowing open the toilet hose valve and secure the water. Boom suction.

 

Yes, I can get warm water. Navychief I have no idea what a bell drain valve is. But would my idea work in theory or would the chlorine destroy everything

 

I've been chlorinating after adding water, but I only do 25% at a time normally every week in my 55 gallons. I haven't experienced any issues aside from plants not growing extravagantly, but that could be due to my lighting as well. I find it incredibly tedious to try to add chemicals to the water beforehand, unless you intend on investing in a large barrel and adding a spigot onto that.

 

I've been chlorinating after adding water, but I only do 25% at a time normally every week in my 55 gallons. I haven't experienced any issues aside from plants not growing extravagantly, but that could be due to my lighting as well. I find it incredibly tedious to try to add chemicals to the water beforehand, unless you intend on investing in a large barrel and adding a spigot onto that.

Do you still have your cycle? That would make everything much easier for water changes if so

 

Do you still have your cycle? That would make everything much easier for water changes if so

Yeah, I haven't had any crashes in a while. As long as i'm persistent with the water changes.

 

Yes, I can get warm water. Navychief I have no idea what a bell drain valve is. But would my idea work in theory or would the chlorine destroy everything

That's a bell drain valve. Its the part of a python that allows for the vacuum to function. You can dose with seachem post fill though to answer your question.

 

I

That's a bell drain valve. Its the part of a python that allows for the vacuum to function. You can dose with seachem post fill though to answer your question. View attachment 560985

have that valve but I don't know how to use it. Just to be clear, it is 100% safe to dose after I fill the tank with all of my peacocks in there?

 

I

have that valve but I don't know how to use it. Just to be clear, it is 100% safe to dose after I fill the tank with all of my peacocks in there?

Provided you use the right amount for your volume yes. Also the base of the valve pulls down and turns to shift between fill and siphon.

 

Provided you use the right amount for your volume yes. Also the base of the valve pulls down and turns to shift between fill and siphon.

watched a youtube on it. The sinks are not compatible. Maybe it would work with the hose. Ill try tomorrow

 

hose worked to add water. Not sure how to drain using bell valve and hose

 

I drain my tank (via python), add my Prime, then refill the tank (again, via python).

 

hose worked to add water. Not sure how to drain using bell valve and hose

Does your bell valve connect to your sink?

 

I don't think so because the sink is a different size and the adaptors don't work