Water Changes

[dgwebster]

I have had a query about water changes I cannot find info on elsewhere.

I know that the water you are changing (the fresh stuff) should be dechlorinated, but water here comes out at roughly 10C here at the moment, and will only get colder untill March.

So my intention is to get/make a small tank, say 3-5 gallon (i currently have a 20gallon tank) and fitting it with a small 50W heater. But obviously this is room and cost. Would letting it get to room temp for a day in a bucket be suitable? PS room temp here can vary from 15deg C to 23 deg C depending on the time of day. perhaps leave bucket near radiator for 2-3 hours that is hot before switch as well?

My main concern is about making a sudden fluctation in temp through the water change.

 

[xautomaticflowersx]

I tend to just boil the kettle and add little tiny bits of hot water to the jug/bucket that I'm replacing the water with until the temperatures are more equal.

 

[dgwebster]

ok yeah good point, maybe i was being a little too thoughtfull to come up with the simple solution...

 

[rdd1952]

If you don't want to boil the water and add to the bucket to warm it (boiling can take some of the minerals out and lower the KH), you can get a good clean hot water bottle and put it in the bucket to slowly raise it. You can also just stick a small 25 watt heater in the bucket overnight to raise it to the proper temp. Letting it come to room temp would probably work depending on what room temp is and what temp you keep your tanks. If you do decide to do that, set the bucket up as high as you can. Hot air rises and room temp is warmer 5' above the floor than it is on the floor.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

I used to run warm water directly into the tank, but I have the same problem with the tap you do when it gets cold out, so I put dechlorinated water in plastic milk jugs (washed, of course ^^) and I leave them in a bin near the heater. This would be nasty for large volume tanks, but since I only change a few gallons at a time, it's not so bad and it's only for a couple monthes.

 

[dgwebster]

Im thinking a small 25W heater for 24 hours may be a suitable way to go as the room temperature here, esp in the winter fluctates wildly - last night my bedroom hit 13C. When the heating kicks in, it then raises to about 21C - I've tried convincing people many times to leave the heating on 24 hours a day and that it is just as efficient, if not more to leave the heating on 24 hours a day. Boiler has to do less work that way - once the place is warm, the place is easier to keep warm. Ah well.

Would a heater be safe in a plastic bucket or would it be advisable to rig it to hold the heater vertical in the water in the middle of the bucket?

 

[rdd1952]

If it's a normal heater that attaches with suction cups, I don't think it would be a safety/fire problem. It won't actually touching the bucket to melt it. I have done it before when I needed an emergency hospital tank. Used one for about 48 hours once without any problem. Also, if you go that route, it would probably help if you wrapped the bucket with a towel or blanket and also covered it. That would help keep the heat in and cut down on how much the heater needed to be on.

 

[dgwebster]

Some very good tips there rdd1952 and thank you regarding the heater issue. Will need to see if the local shop has 25W heaters and at what price

Whilst we are talking on the issue of water in tanks, thought I would update on the Fishless Cycle.

Although the guide in these forums mentions waiting a few days, thanks to the wonderfully beautiful water we get here (it doesn't even have flouride (sp?) in it and for those in the UK wishing to try some buy Strathmore Clear water - its the same stuff, the Strathmore is taken from a slightly higher reservoir near Kirriemuir) the tank is clear with no debri. Bonus. So off down to the local pharmacy I went, which delightfully stocked a 9.95% mix household ammonia with no additives at £2.50 for 500ml. and a syringe for 81p - but its really meant for administiring medicine to a baby.

So, it a nice aired kitchen sink, with the back door 2 foot to my left wide open, at about 16" from my face I opened the bottle - and a nice breeze drifted a huge odour into my nostrils. I've been smelling the flaming stuff all day and are acutely aware of a slight burning it has caused in my nostrils/sinus.

Cleared that cold out though.

So for anyone else who has yet to touch this stuff, an extra warning - make sure you are not down wind.