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[777james777]

My kitchen sink and fish tank are only about two meters apart, separated just by the kitchen door, which doesn't even have a door on.
Its quite handy for doing any water change. My bucket for changing the water holds 10litres which im more than capable of lifting.

However @CaptnBarnacle is Warm water from the tap okay for a fish tank? Iv always been told not to drink the warm water thats been through a boiler...?

 

[Essjay]

That depends on your hot water system.

Combi boiler - safe to use (and drink) as it's made instantly from fresh cold water.

Hot water cylinder with a header tank in the attic - not safe to use. This hot water comes from a cold water header tank in the attic which could be contaminated. I've read of dead pigeons being found in there. We keep getting wasps nests in our attic, so we get the council to remove them (they're cheaper that private pest control). I've found dead wasps in the header tank - were they contaminated by the insecticide the council man used? I'd rather not risk it.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

My kitchen sink and fish tank are only about two meters apart, separated just by the kitchen door, which doesn't even have a door on.
Its quite handy for doing any water change. My bucket for changing the water holds 10litres which im more than capable of lifting.

However @CaptnBarnacle is Warm water from the tap okay for a fish tank? Iv always been told not to drink the warm water thats been through a boiler...?

You have tagged the imposter CaptainBarnicles (WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE, MODS! )

As above, I have a combi boiler so it's all good....I just thought I'd share my water change method with you as a newbie. You may want to consider it in the future because I can almost say with certainty you'll find the lifting of a bucket over 100 times a week very tedious indeed it takes forever and is a pain in the butt

 

[777james777]

That depends on your hot water system.

Combi boiler - safe to use (and drink) as it's made instantly from fresh cold water.

Hot water cylinder with a header tank in the attic - not safe to use. This hot water comes from a cold water header tank in the attic which could be contaminated. I've read of dead pigeons being found in there. We keep getting wasps nests in our attic, so we get the council to remove them (they're cheaper that private pest control). I've found dead wasps in the header tank - were they contaminated by the insecticide the council man used? I'd rather not risk it.

Yeah thats exactly what I got told about dead pigeons haha. We do have a 6 month old combi boiler. I dont know why anyone would want to drink warm water personally, what about cold water and then a few boiled kettles, i presume that's okay. - Also with the testing, should I stick to 3 days apart or go to 2 days as you did at this stage?

 

[Essjay]

You can use either to warm the new water. I have to boil kettles as we have a hot water cylinder/header tank system.


In theory you should stay with every third day testing but there's nothing to say you have to, except making the tester bottles last longer.

 

[Essjay]

you'll find the lifting of a bucket over 100 times a week very tedious indeed

Luckily for me it's not that many buckets. Main tank - 7 large buckets out, 12 smaller buckets in. I can lift the larger buckets a couple of inches off the ground to carry them outside, but I can't lift that much water onto a stool to ladle into the tank. The shrimp tank is 3/4 bucket out, 1 1/4 buckets in.


I put just under 8 litres water in the small bucket as the dose rate for my dechlorinator is 1 drop per US gallon = 3.8 litres. So 2 drops in just under 8 litres. OK, I use 2 drops in 8 litres and the fish seem OK with that.

 

[777james777]

You can use either to warm the new water. I have to boil kettles as we have a hot water cylinder/header tank system.


In theory you should stay with every third day testing but there's nothing to say you have to, except making the tester bottles last longer.

Well I guess thinking about it i cant go chucking cold water in then pouring boiling water in whilst the fist are in there (its okay no because theres no fish in it.

We have quite a "fancy" tap in the kitchen whidefinatly will not connect to a hose.

My wife always has a nap on the sofa with the dogs on a sunday afternoon for a few hours and its the perfect time for me to do a water change. I think for me it will be fill up my 10 litre bucket with warm water from the combi boiler to the right temp and pour it in. took me about 30 mins last time as its only 3 feet away from the tap!

 

[777james777]

You have tagged the imposter CaptainBarnicles (WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE, MODS! )

As above, I have a combi boiler so it's all good....I just thought I'd share my water change method with you as a newbie. You may want to consider it in the future because I can almost say with certainty you'll find the lifting of a bucket over 100 times a week very tedious indeed it takes forever and is a pain in the butt

My apologise! i didnt realise there was an imposter!

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

My apologise! i didnt realise there was an imposter!

No worries, it's a new member with the same name.. (which as you can imagine I'm not thrilled with as there will now be confusion etc)

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Luckily for me it's not that many buckets. Main tank - 7 large buckets out, 12 smaller buckets in. I can lift the larger buckets a couple of inches off the ground to carry them outside, but I can't lift that much water onto a stool to ladle into the tank. The shrimp tank is 3/4 bucket out, 1 1/4 buckets in.


I put just under 8 litres water in the small bucket as the dose rate for my dechlorinator is 1 drop per US gallon = 3.8 litres. So 2 drops in just under 8 litres. OK, I use 2 drops in 8 litres and the fish seem OK with that.

The benefits of having smaller tanks/water changes! I've always used buckets but after the first week I was over it

 

[jaylach]

The benefits of having smaller tanks/water changes! I've always used buckets but after the first week I was over it

Think outside of the tank.

Ever had a water bed? If so did you have the unit that would fit on a faucet that was actually a water powered pump? I've never actually done as my little 20 gallon is fine with a gravity siphon and a 3 gallon bucket but such a water driven pump seems ideal as to draining on a water change for a large tank. These units can also be used to fill a water bed so why not a tank? The only problem I can see is how to introduce water conditioner to the new water.

 

[TropicalBarnacle]

You have tagged the imposter CaptainBarnicles (WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE, MODS! )

As above, I have a combi boiler so it's all good....I just thought I'd share my water change method with you as a newbie. You may want to consider it in the future because I can almost say with certainty you'll find the lifting of a bucket over 100 times a week very tedious indeed it takes forever and is a pain in the butt

Mods asked me to change my name...it will happen as soon as an admin is able to. However, maybe you need to chill the F out. It's not like I chose the name on purpose to mess with you

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Mods asked me to change my name...it will happen as soon as an admin is able to. However, maybe you need to chill the F out. It's not like I chose the name on purpose to mess with you

No need for that at all, you're new around here so I'll assume you're actually a nice person. Thankfully folks around here know me and understand that the above comment was in jest and a bit of banter. Having 2 members with the same name does create some confusion however which isn't your fault and I'm not behaving as though it is maybe you ought to heed your own advice? And many thanks to you Sir for being kind enough to change your name much obliged

 

[777james777]

Hurrrrrayyyyyyy - what a wild Friday night!!
@Essjay

We have nitrite!

 

[Essjay]

Great news!

Wait till ammonia is under 0.75 and nitrite over 2 and tell us - that's the next stage and we'll help you with that. It shouldn't be much longer now you have a nitrite reading.