Stupid Beginner Question

[Lizzie71]

When I do a water change, say 25% of the water, do I have to bring the temperature of the new water up to the same temperature as the aquarium by adding hot water into the bucket, or do I just put cold tap water in the aquarium and let the heater do the work?

 

[helterskelter]

i add some hot water to try to balance the temperatures.

 

[Samphire]

I always try to match the temperature.

 

[charlie4486]

Usually if the water temp difference is within 3 or 4 degrees it won't make too much of a difference. if it is anymore than that than i would try and match it a little closer. There are no stupid questions. that is actually a very common question. hope this helps.

 

[Lizzie71]

Thanks for the helpful replies and for not making me feel like an idiot

I want to get this right for my new little fishy friends.

 

[SJ2K]

Thanks for the helpful replies and for not making me feel like an idiot

I want to get this right for my new little fishy friends.

People that are truely interested in there pets best interests are always welcomed here! Keep up with those water changes and good luck with the baby fish

 

[fry_lover]

i heat the water by putting some on the gas stove

I never use water from the hot tap, although peeps will forever say "my fish are fine" from water changes that use hot water from the hot taps, its a fact that the water that comes out the hot water tap will sometimes, perhaps even usually, contain more lead and copper than water from the cold tap.

If you dont believe me, do some research, i cant be bothered to check for links and evidence, but suffice to say, i never use water from the hot tap for my fish

 

[Musho3210]

its true but it isnt exactly easy for me to heat 37 gallons of water a week for my tank on a heater or whatever..... So i just use hot from tap.

 

[fry_lover]

its true but it isnt exactly easy for me to heat 37 gallons of water a week for my tank on a heater or whatever..... So i just use hot from tap.

well loads of peeps do it, add straight from the hot tap, so i guess any metals are so smallin quantity it doesnt really matter i suppose

not sure if dechlorinator deals with it?

i might be wasting me time heating it to be honest, but my biggest tank is only 300 litres, so it only takes about 10 mins per tank to heat the water for a water change

 

[Tolak]

I've been using a hot/cold mix from the tap for years. I change out 400+ gallons weekly, stoves & buckets are out of the question. Every one I know of with more than a few tanks hoses it in, I can't think of anyone locally that heats water on the stove for water changes.

The component in water treatments that deals with metals is EDTA. I use A water treatment with EDTA, specifically Prime, not because of my pipes, but because of my water source.

 

[Musho3210]

kinda OT but what store do you shop at tolak?

 

[blue acara]

I've tested my hot/cold waters TDS (total dissolved solids) the cold is 400ppm the hot was 600ppm. So I only use the cold tap heated in a large barrel - I'm not changing out 400 gallons a week however!

If your changing say 20% of the tanks water each time with cold the tanks water shouldn't go down too much and non sensitive fish should be fine with it.

 

[Luketendo]

Well My water changes are only 10l so I use 2ls kettle heated water and 8ls cold tap water.

 

[tetraqueen]

I fill up my buckets with water and add the dechlorinator and mix, then I leave overnight our house is always warm and then I clean the gravel take the water of as this also skims the top. I add the same amount of new water to the amount I take away in the spare bucket. The temp has never dropped more than half a shade..

I do approx 5 black buckets a week/ 8 a fornight and that has kept the tank it great order.

I always use cold but that has been my choice. I occasionally use mineral water in the five litres bottles and restore tap water over night in them as I have very bad hands and find bucket difficult to manage. I also found these when jiggles about cause less gravel movement.


my little tank I do 50% about everythree weeks for the undergravel and this has been okay.

 

[**sarahp**]

I hosepipe in cold water straight from the cold tap. I have a 440 litre tank so change about 100 litres a week - doing all that with a bucket would drive me mental

One thing I have noticed now the guys are used to the system when I put the hose in and turn the water on they deliberately swin into the cold stream of water - in the same way as some mess about in the bubbles