I am new to fresh water fish and i was wondering when you empty 20% of the tank water do you just feel up with normall tap water and let it go through the filter? does it have to be warm tap water? thanks for help.
20% water change
- Thread starter daniel364
- Start date
The day before a waterchange is due I set a bucket of dechlorinated water beside my aquarium. This helps some of the chlorine gasses to escape from the water, plus it brings the water close to the same temperature as my tankwater, because my tank is not heated. Next day, I siphon out 25% of the tank's water (using a gravel vacuum) and I pour the clean dechlorinated water into the tank (not the filter).
Last edited:
I add declorinator, then add it straight to the tank. I try and match the temp of the new water with the temp. of the tank water by "feel".
Please note: I change 50%, not 20%, and, I do thourough gravel vacs when I drain the water.
Please note: I change 50%, not 20%, and, I do thourough gravel vacs when I drain the water.
I adjust temp by feel as does DF, then fill straight into the tank. I do not use dechlor because of my water source, but when I had to, I put it in to the tank as I began the refill.
30% minimum, usually 50%, weekly.
30% minimum, usually 50%, weekly.
You shouldn't try and make the water 'warm' by using a mixture of hot and cold water from your tap... this is because most water heaters use copper piping and therefore the water coming out of the hot water tap will have more heavy metals in it than it should.
Leaving a bucket out for a day is a good idea, especially if you put an air stone in it, but for those of us who have larger tanks this isn't practical as we'd need to leave out lots of buckets, also doesn't warm the water enough for those of us with tropical tanks of around 25c.
Personally, I take out the 25% or whatever, and then just slowly add the water back in over the next day to maintain a consistant temperature. A few litres/gallons or two every hour or so is fine in my 400L/100Gal tank.
Leaving a bucket out for a day is a good idea, especially if you put an air stone in it, but for those of us who have larger tanks this isn't practical as we'd need to leave out lots of buckets, also doesn't warm the water enough for those of us with tropical tanks of around 25c.
Personally, I take out the 25% or whatever, and then just slowly add the water back in over the next day to maintain a consistant temperature. A few litres/gallons or two every hour or so is fine in my 400L/100Gal tank.
Sorry, but this just isn't true anymore.QldRobbo said:
Unless you have a very very old water heater (unlikely if you live in North America) heavy metals like copper will not leach into the water from pipes or tanks.
There are many of us who fill directly from the tap, hot and cold, with absolutely no problems.
I fill all my tanks via the tap, adjusted to the correct temperature (+-1), with my Python. Always use dechlorinator that deals with chloramines if you are on city water, unless you know they only use chlorine. Call and get a water report and find out if they use chloramine in the winter; many switch over in the fall.
Roan
Ah, while copper piping in hot water systems started around the 1900's, it became very popular in the 1950's and continued for a long time... I don't see that as a very very old water heater... and why would living in north america or not affect how old your water heater is?
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/watersewers/water/quality/faq.htm#7
Or more specifically
Not only is this in 'north america', but it also states that copper leaching can occur, even if it is for only the first gush of water from your tap.
And if you don't trust those crazy canadians
http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/enh/pbcuwatr.htm
If they reckon you shouldn't drink it, there is no way I'm going to give it to my fish. As stated in above link, lead was only made illegal for soldering in plumbing in 'north america' in 1988. Thats definately not very very old.
Granted, lots of people use water from the hot tap without any issues... granted not everyone will have copper leaching into their water from either cold or hot water pipes. However, given the wide audience this forum gets, and also my penchant for doing whatever I can to protect my fish, I would personally say that I am not going to use any water from a hot water tap.
if you have tropical fish, what you'll want to do set aside a large bucket or container just for water changes in your fish tank and nothing else. fill it with desired amount of water, add appropriate amount of water conditioner and leave overnight. this allows for the water to adjust to room temperature as well as evaporation of gases. the next day, you'll be able to vac out the water in your tank, and have the replacement on hand, safe, and ready to fill back in.
A lot of homes here do not have any copper. While probably not the majority, I'll bet most all new construction uses plastics/pvc. Finding water heaters over 20 yrs old is also rare. Most people do not do the required maintenance on them and the rust out at a critical spot and leak, and get replaced.
I give credit to the possible leaching that occurs in hot pipes in 6-8 hours. By the time you adjust the temp, it is long flushed out and not an issue.
I give credit to the possible leaching that occurs in hot pipes in 6-8 hours. By the time you adjust the temp, it is long flushed out and not an issue.
However, you neglect the pipes that carry the water - many houses in the UK still have copper pipes (my parent's even have lead ones!). It's all dependent on the age of your house - anything build after the eighties in the UK should be fine. Anything build before that, I'd use a water conditioner (although I'd still use a water conditioner for houses built after the eighties as the water companies over here love using chloramines!)
Guess it depends on the countries building regulations at the time of construction ultimately.
Guess it depends on the countries building regulations at the time of construction ultimately.