Water topoffs and changes

Sregnar35

Sregnar35

The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Aug 21, 2003
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MY 75g FO tank is about 2 and a half weeks into a cycle, and I've topped it off maybe 3 or 4 times. I've been putting some of my tap water into a bucket, adding a teaspoon of stress coat, and letting it sit overnight so it can come up in temp and aerate. Is this all I need to do? Should I add a heater? Should I use stress coat to purify the water, it is supposed to neutralize, chloramines and chlorine? My real concern is water changes, how do most people go about prepping their water for water changes. I don't have room to put a garbage can full of water in my house, so what are my options??
 
So noone in all of these message boards ever tops off or does water changes??? You must all have something to add, because I don't know where to start!!!!!
 
I have a garbage can that I filter water into, and store for use as topoff. If you can make space for 3-4 jugs, this will work as well. Open mouthed containers work well for chlorine, but do nothing for chloramine.

I wouldn't use Stress Coat. It adds stuff that your water does not need in addition to neutralizing chlorine/chloramine. There are many water treatments that will do just that, without aloe vera and other additives.
 
Do you heat and/or circulate the water with a powerhead in the garbage can?? Would I have to heat and/or circulate my water in every jug?? Do most people use a garbage with tanks my size (75g)? Is it as important to add topoff water at aquarium temp even though it's typically a small amount of water in relation to total tank volume?
 
I'll usually add my top-off water straight from the tap...without treating it. Such a small amount of water, and it's concentration of chlorine/chloramine, is not harmful to the tank(though I would be a bit cautious if inverts/corals are present). During larger water-changes, however, I use Prime to treat the water. As far as temperature is concerned, I adjust the tap until it feels about right on the back of my hand. Sometimes, if I have any left over treated water from my water changes, I'll save that for top-offs.
Generally with reef tanks, however, I'll use RO water exclusively.
 
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Nope, I don't heat or circulate the water in the bucket.

I'm not sure what most people use. For me, the garbage can is becoming inadequate, since I also use this water for FW changes. I am going to buy a 110 gallon agricultural tank to store water in. Much easier, gravity fed valve, etc.

BTB--this thread was here all of 3 hours without a response. A little patience please--none of us are paid for our efforts, and few of us live here full time.
 
Sorry about being impatient, I get bored at work sometimes! This webboard was slamming when I joined back in august, I used to get responses every 5 to 10 minutes on almost every thread. Now it takes hours?? Am I the only one who has noticed this??

About using tapwater Slappy*McFish, I'm planning on having some shrimp, crabs, snails, and starfish to keep my tank clean, and my house has alot of copper water pipes, should I be concerned??
 
It goes in cycles--sometimes it's really busy, other times it's slow. This close to a major holiday, it's going to slow down, as many people are taking days off, traveling, and spending time with family.

You can get a copper test to see if the pipes are impacting your water. I've never had a problem, but can't gaurantee there's no risk.
 
Great, my lfs is open tomorrow, i'll go get a copper test. Sorry about my earlier impatient post, I'm a very sarcastic person, and sarcasm doesn't carry into text very well!!!
 
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