Getting a Bristlenose pleco from Maidenhead aquatics

[Fishkeeper123]

I currently use a 2l measuring jug however for a 200l tank that will take such a long time I might consider using a plant pot. I might also use plant pots as caves for the kribensis and garras. How many caves should I add? Also could I add one or 2 more garras or should I just have one or 2 garras with a pair of kribensis as the garras might leave them alone but the more of them the more they might be territorial.

 

[Essjay]

I use those builder's buckets for emptying the water. I only have to lift them just high enough to clear the floor to carry the full bucket outside.

For refilling I use a 10 litre bucket, filled to the 8 litre mark. My dechlorinator dose rate is 1 drop per 4 litres so I have to make up multiples of 4 litres. I can lift that amount onto a stool then use a 1 litre jug to ladle the water from the bucket into the tank.
I can't use a hose to refill as we have a heat only boiler (not a combi) so I can't use hot tap water to get the temperature right. I have to boil water in a kettle to warm it, which is why I use buckets. At the moment it takes ages to boil enough water with the cold water being so cold

 

[CassCats]

For water changes I've gotten a 50 foot vinyl hose that I use to drain the water from the tank directly into my bathtub (you could also drain to outside garden too, but I'm on a 2nd floor apartment, so you could imagine the chaos that'd be out my window). I put a fine strainer in the tub under the draining end of the hose for "accidental fish water slides" but haven't had that issue since I usually use old filter intakes on the part inside the tank that's smaller than my fish, with exception if the pangio loaches, I don't trust them buggers not to get into anything.

To refill, I use a drinking water safe garden hose, (I use a 25 foot one as my kitchen is located middle of my home to where all my tanks are), attached to my kitchen sink with an adapter. I dose dechlorinator for full tank volume after draining the tank before refilling. Utility clamps are great to clamp hoses to side of the tank to drain after vacuuming and while refilling.


Cheaper than a python system and less back breaking and time consuming as buckets are. I've got arthritis in most my body, I ain't sitting around draining 300 gallons plus of water a week.

To know how much hose you'd need, take some yarn, spread it from your bathtub and kitchen faucet to your tank with some slack on it, cut it and measure that cut portion of yarn.


I've got multiple tanks, but even for 1 larger tank this method would be better than buckets.