Water temperature

[leafs]

I was wondering how do you make sure that the temperature of the water you put in your tank during water changes is close to the temperature of the tank water? I know that it's not good to have a big change in temperature. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[gadazobe]

Use a thermometer. You will find that with time, you will be able to judge the temperature, but until then, use a thermometer. Also, a change of a degree or two either way, will not harm the fish.

 

[Tolak]

I hold the thermometer under the stream of water coming from the faucet, and adjust the hot & cold on the fly. By the time the 5 gallon bucket is full, it's the same temp as the tank.

Tolak

 

[leafs]

Thanks for the advise. I was originally going to leave a bucket of water sit for a week or so, but I guess as long as I add conditioner to the new water it should be o.k.

 

[gadazobe]

Leafs, I don't know where you are, but just make sure that the water conditioner that you use negates the chloramine as well as the chlorine. Chlorine will dissipate after the water stands for 24 hours, but chloramine will not - it stays in the water untill conditioner is added.

 

[yhbae]

For those who have chloramine in your water, do you use the conditioner that also removed ammonia? (e.g. Prime as oppose to Stress Coat) Otherwise, I'd imagine you will get a small ammonia shock each time you perform water change as chloramine gets broken down....

Luckily, I don't have chloramine in my tap water, but I may need to relocate to the area where they will probably have some.

 

[gadazobe]

Where I live there is no chlorine in the water but there is chloramine. I use a dechlorinator that negates base chemicals, including chloramine. I add the recommended amount for the amount of water that I'm changing, and add the new water straight to the tank without letting it stand at all.

 

[yhbae]

Where I live there is no chlorine in the water but there is chloramine. I use a dechlorinator that negates base chemicals, including chloramine. I add the recommended amount for the amount of water that I'm changing, and add the new water straight to the tank without letting it stand at all.

Ok, so which conditioner do you use? Most conditioner "frees up" chloramine but they don't take care of ammonia - don't you detect any levels of ammonia after water change?

 

[lsmall]

I don't like to use water from the hot water source, because it generally will have more minerals and other contaminants in it from the hot water tank. I usually fill up a closed 5 gallon container with cold water, condition it and then run hot water in the bath tub over it. I let is sit in the water for about 10 minutes. This usually works pretty well.

 

[yhbae]

I don't like to use water from the hot water source, because it generally will have more minerals and other contaminants in it from the hot water tank. I usually fill up a closed 5 gallon container with cold water, condition it and then run hot water in the bath tub over it. I let is sit in the water for about 10 minutes. This usually works pretty well.

Isn't your bath tub made out of plastic? If so, they have tendency to absorb soap substances and release them again - this is one of the reason why you never use buckets that have been used during cleaning before...

 

[lsmall]

I don't use the water from the bathtub. I fill the bathtub with warm water and leave the container with cold water in the tub so that it warms up.

 

[yhbae]

I don't use the water from the bathtub. I fill the bathtub with warm water and leave the container with cold water in the tub so that it warms up.

Oh... Misunderstood big time... Sorry.

 

[Tolak]

I don't like to use water from the hot water source, because it generally will have more minerals and other contaminants in it from the hot water tank. I usually fill up a closed 5 gallon container with cold water, condition it and then run hot water in the bath tub over it. I let is sit in the water for about 10 minutes. This usually works pretty well

I changed 110 gallons on Sunday, I would still be changing water today if I did it like that!

Tolak

 

[G_Sharky]

If you could get your hands on barrels or platic containers strong and big enough to store water then used that to store water overnight so it will blend in with the room temp. But if you want it to be the same as your tank water put a heater on it set with the same temp as the tank and put an airstone on it. this way you don't have to put dechlorinator on it unless your tap water contains other chemicals on it such as chloromine. If you do this the water's parameters will be a lot stable and you could do huge water changes safely....I hope this helps....