Water change process?

I always thought that since I had city water and have to add a de-chlorinator I couldn't use this. I didn't realize I could add it to the tank as it's filling and not hurt the BB. Looks like I'll be getting a Python once I figure out which size I need...and watch a few DIY videos to save some money.
 

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Since you have the hose for filling just reverse the process add water to fill hose shut off tap remove hose from tap and it will start removing water from tank into drain. I like to fill a 5 gal bucket with old water to clean filter media. Than just drain bucket the same way.
 

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Do you have a sink or toilet or a floor drain on the floor drain were the fish tanks are. I can't do it alone. I ran a bottle over and had a mess in the kitchen. Could you please post a photo of your trap to catch the fish? I like the vacuum! I couldn't believe how much crud was in my tank.
Kyleaz
 
I've never changed water before (new tank) ... well, I've never changed water with FISH in it!

How do you change the water correctly? I've heard people talk about temperature matching.. is there a particular way to do that? I don't have a heater to put in the jugs I get the water from. Can I just let them sit out at room temperature for a few days to warm up (we get our water from a very cold spring...) and then add it in (water would probably be 68 F, tank at 76 F). Would that stress them too much?

Also, what's the best way to add water to the tank without it waterfalling in!?
 
Temperature shock can KILL fish.
68F and 76F is way too far apart.

I just take water from my bathub use my hand to make sure its not too cold or hot. Add dechlorinator- and into the tank it goes.
That's because my tap water and tank have the same parameter. (I guess, atleast my fish like it enough to breed :I)
 
Just to avoid confusion, because I was confused the first time I read it, when GlamCrab mentions getting the water from the tub they mean from the faucet in the tub, I guess because it goes through a different system than the kitchen faucet. For some reason I pictured water sitting in the tub
 

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I use a spare tank thermometer, only a few dollars at the pet store or amazon, if you can try to get one it makes it much easier. 68 to 76 is too much of a difference, in my opinion. What I do is use a gravel vacuum for my water change. I have buckets that are ONLY for water changes. I take out about 35-40% of the water. Once I get my new water ready in the bucket, I pour it into a 1 gallon Sterilite pitcher with a spout that is only for the tank as well, and gently pour it back in so as not to have a big waterfall effect.
 
Lol sorry, my bucket is too big to fit in the sink so I fill it up from the faucet in my bathtub sorry for any confusion.
 
Temperature shock can KILL fish.
68F and 76F is way too far apart.

I just take water from my bathub use my hand to make sure its not too cold or hot. Add dechlorinator- and into the tank it goes.
That's because my tap water and tank have the same parameter. (I guess, atleast my fish like it enough to breed :I)
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AHhh that's a great idea... HOWEVER... I do not use water from our house. I really wish we could... it has a high sulfur content. We're SUPPOSED to treat it (we have the system set up for it) but we haven't used it. We just deal with the smell. I've also read it's bad for the fish.

So, we bought several 6 gallon jugs and run to our natural spring to fill the water up. It's still hard water with a high pH, but it does NOT have the sulfur or chlorine in it.

So, the water is ICE cold when we get it. It'll have to sit out for days before it's even room temperature. I don't want to have to put all 12 gallons on the stove each week to warm up them.. that'd be so intensive.

Any ideas for my situation?
 
When I do water changes, I fill 5 gallon buckets and add the water conditioner. I let the buckets in my patio while I am taking water out from the tank, cleaning the decorations and so on. I always do this before noon, when it is not too hot. I have never had an issue doing it like that.

I put the water in using a plastic jar with a handle.
757109.jpg

When the water level is low, I put the jar against the glass and the water slides down slowly creating minimal effects on the sand. Once the water level is higher, I just insert the jar and turn slowly, that was there is only a current at the top of the water level.

Hope this helps.
 
I use a spare tank thermometer, only a few dollars at the pet store or amazon, if you can try to get one it makes it much easier. 68 to 76 is too much of a difference, in my opinion. What I do is use a gravel vacuum for my water change. I have buckets that are ONLY for water changes. I take out about 35-40% of the water. Once I get my new water ready in the bucket, I pour it into a 1 gallon Sterilite pitcher with a spout that is only for the tank as well, and gently pour it back in so as not to have a big waterfall effect.
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Ahh, I do like this idea of the spare thermometer. I guess I'll just stick the thermometer in the plastic jug, then once it's the same temp I'll add it in. Then put the therm on the next jug, wait, pour in. That's a bit tedious but it would work. Thanks for the suggestion!

I need a quarantine tank anyway... Maybe I'll try and set one up and use our tap water and see what happens with fish + sulfur. I just hate making fish be the guniea pigs on that!!!!
 

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When I do water changes, I fill 5 gallon buckets and add the water conditioner. I let the buckets in my patio while I am taking water out from the tank, cleaning the decorations and so on. I always do this before noon, when it is not too hot. I have never had an issue doing it like that.

I put the water in using a plastic jar with a handle.
View attachment 384142

When the water level is low, I put the jar against the glass and the water slides down slowly creating minimal effects on the sand. Once the water level is higher, I just insert the jar and turn slowly, that was there is only a current at the top of the water level.

Hope this helps.
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Oh great idea! Thanks for this!
 
You don't need to heat the whole 12 gallons! Just some of it and then mix it with the cold water to bring the temperature up a few degrees. It doesn't have to match the tank temperature exactly, just be close enough.
 
I would invest in a small heater to heat the water. How big is the tank and how much water are you changing at a time? If you're changing 10 percent and using 12 gallons, do you have a 120 gallon tank?
 
Suspend a colander over the tank and pour the water in. It will be like it is raining to the fish.
 
I wanted to do a 50% WC but I don’t know if I should take my fish out and turn off my heater? And then add the Prime Seachem? As well as siphon my rocks? And sorry for so many questions but if the fish stayed in the tank and I added new water wouldn’t they be stressed out from the new water temperature? Please help!
 
Turn everything off. Filter, heater, lights, what ever else is in the tank. Unplugging is even better in case you spill Water. I syphon my gravel (sand actually) every week and leave everyone in. When adding water, just make sure it’s similar to the old temperature, and treat with Prime for the whole tank, not what you just added.
 

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Keep your fish in, unplug your heater if it will be exposed to air during the water change. Add prime to the water before putting it into the tank, and do your best to match the temp of the new water to the old.
 
So before I put the new water in, add it to one of my buckets?
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That or straight into the tank. I use a hose to fill to I just dump it in the water. Just don’t forget to plug everything back in.
 
That or straight into the tank. I use a hose to fill to I just dump it in the water. Just don’t forget to plug everything back in.
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Okay thank you!
 
I don't unplug anything. As long as the filter intake and the heater are kept below the water line, you don't need to turn anything off. Turning off the lights would make it hard to see when you're siphoning waste out. I've also heard of too many people forgetting to plug things back in, and harming or killing their fish.
 
I don't unplug anything. As long as the filter intake and the heater are kept below the water line, you don't need to turn anything off. Turning off the lights would make it hard to see when you're siphoning waste out. I've also heard of too many people forgetting to plug things back in, and harming or killing their fish.
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I've absent-mindedly burned out a few heaters though, so I always unplug them just in case
 
So before I put the new water in, add the Prime to one of my buckets?
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I'd do it before you put it in. That way your fish doesn't get a dose of chlorine before you add the prime.
 
I’d always advise turning everything off when doing tank maintenance, I learned that the hard way getting shocked by a faulty heater! better safe than sorry.
 
Does anyone have suggestions of some type of media for cloudiness that you personally know works?!
 

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That probably will not work.

What kind of cloudiness is it? Green? White? Did it cloud after you messed with the substrate?
 
That probably will not work.

What kind of cloudiness is it? Green? White? Did it cloud after you messed with the substrate?
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The cloudiness is like whiteish and no happened before I added the media.
 
White is a bacterial bloom. They will often settle on their own.
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How long will it last? Because I have had other chemicals in the tank such as stuff to make the pH stable.
 
How long will it last? Because I have had other chemicals in the tank such as stuff to make the pH stable.
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Why is the ph changing? What chemical are you adding. Messing with ph is dangerous because of how easily and quickly it can swing and kill everything.
 
Why is the ph changing? What chemical are you adding. Messing with ph is dangerous because of how easily and quickly it can swing and kill everything.
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I added the chemical while cycling my tank. It was recommended by someone in PetSmart.
 
I added the chemical while cycling my tank. It was recommended by someone in PetSmart.
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Can you find out what your ph is? Rarely do you ever have to mess with PH unless you have crazy low ph (under 6) or you have super touchy fish. The ph HAS to stay stable, what ever number it is at, because a swing is the easiest way to wipe out a tank. I managed to whipe out my shrimp because the water in my tank is 8.4 and the stuff coming out of my tap is 7.2.
 
Can you find out what your ph is? Rarely do you ever have to mess with PH unless you have crazy low ph (under 6) or you have super touchy fish. The ph HAS to stay stable, what ever number it is at, because a swing is the easiest way to wipe out a tank. I managed to whipe out my shrimp because the water in my tank is 8.4 and the stuff coming out of my tap is 7.2.
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Like I said it was a couple months ago when I had no fish in my tank. I can’t remember what my pH was but my pH is 8.2 right now, at least that’s what it was before I cleaned the tank and did a WC. I can check again if you would like me to.
 

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People at Petsmart are trying to sell you things. They rarely seem to be truly helpful or knowledgeable.

Your pH of 8.2 is fine. Don't add anything to change it.

What all have you added to the tank? Don't add more chemicals yet. Throwing chemicals at simple issues usually makes things worse.

Cloudiness is normal in a cycling tank. It will go away eventually.
 
People at Petsmart are trying to sell you things. They rarely seem to be truly helpful or knowledgeable.

Your pH of 8.2 is fine. Don't add anything to change it.

What all have you added to the tank? Don't add more chemicals yet. Throwing chemicals at simple issues usually makes things worse.

Cloudiness is normal in a cycling tank. It will go away eventually.
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Alright, that explains why this process has taken us so long. And I only added the pH and the Tetra cloudy helper stuff. Okay I’ll try and be as natural as I can when I have a problem. And okay that sounds great!

What Tex said.
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lol xD
 
Yes. The water changes will remove both the lower pH water and the chemicals that were added.
 

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