Water changes

[jezebel32]

i have had my new tank up for just over two weeks and got my first fish a very cute gibbicep on wednesday. anyways when i need to do a water change how do you add in new water after removing the old? even at room temp it is not the 26C my tank is and i only have one heater. could some one explain how to safely change the water without upsetting the fish :help:

[Puffernewbee]

i have had my new tank up for just over two weeks and got my first fish a very cute gibbicep on wednesday. anyways when i need to do a water change how do you add in new water after removing the old? even at room temp it is not the 26C my tank is and i only have one heater. could some one explain how to safely change the water without upsetting the fish :help:
That is 79F. I am guessing that the room temp water is lower than the tank temp. If the temperature is only a few degrees off I would not worry about it. If you are changing 50% of the water, your overall temp change will only be a little over 1 degree which should not shock the fish.
You have two other choices:
1. Buy another heater to heat up the new water.
2. If you are using tap water, turn on the hot water till the water coming out of the tap is at the right temperature (26c). This is what I do. I then put it in my 5 gallon bucket, treat it, and then add it to the tank.

[wataugachicken]

the only problem with using hot tap water is if you have lead pipes or brass pipes with lead solder - the hot water will leach the lead out of the pipes at a much higher amount than cold water does.

also, what size tank do you have? a gibby will get about a foot long.

[Kasakato]

Hot water is fine. Dont worry about it. I would just fill up the bucket with the same temp (+/- 3*) and add dechlor, and toss into the tank.

[jezebel32]

the only problem with using hot tap water is if you have lead pipes or brass pipes with lead solder - the hot water will leach the lead out of the pipes at a much higher amount than cold water does.

also, what size tank do you have? a gibby will get about a foot long.

thanks for the thing about the lead i didn't know that. my tank is 18" by 12" by 12" i read up on the gibbicep and have a two foot and a half foot tank ready for when he gets bigger (he will also have other fish for company so i want plenty space) but i need a new cabinet as my current one won't take the weight.

this may be a strange question but in my neurotic mind a valid one, if the heater fails or there is a power cut how long would a gibbicep or other tropical fish like tetras, mollies, platys and guppys last at room temperature?
Are there battery powered or emergency heaters on the market?
thanks for any replies to such an odd question.

[Kasakato]

I lose 1*F per 1.5 hour in my tank. There was a power failer last year, and it was off for 3 hours. But it does help to cover the tank in blankets druing the time. They can live for a long time (days) at room temp, if it goes down every slowly. But if the power goes off you should try to keep the temp stable, with blanckets and hot water changes.

[Boohoo]

Where do you get hot water from when you have no power?

[Kasakato]

The tank. Theres enought water in ours for a few days. And its still warm after 3 das.