Changing the water. A concerned question.

[nursie]

I have to ask..
How do you folks that put the water in a reservior to age then get it into the tank? I understand how with the 1 gallon jugs... , but if you are changing out 25% of a 50 gal tank..that would be roughly 12-13 gallons of water. I'm a weenie arm...I can't lift that much at once, and and not quite sure where/how to store that much...can you tell how you do it? Do you have a pump thingie to pump out of a reservior back into the tank? What do you use for a reservoir? A python will only work with either gravity or pressure fromt eh water faucet.
I have used the python drain and refill method and add the chemicals as the water was going back in method. I adjusted the water temp to be close to tank temp...by feel, not scientific, but better than all cold. I think it is better to do it this way than not at all, but I'm open minded...I'd like to hear just how this other way works. maybe I'll like it better.
I just can't figure out how to make it work outside of 12 clean milk jugs sitting around all the time.

 

[bluejay]

Yes I just got a powerhead just for water changes. I also got a rubbermaid storage bucket it's 18 gals and only 4 bucks. I actually got a second bucket so I can first have my water conditioned and upto temp. then siphon out the water into the second bucket and refill using a powerhead and 10' hose from the 1st bucket. Then just put the powerhead in the dirty water and pump it back to the sink. I don't have to move any buckets full of water during this process which is great. The python method would be easier probably but I use ro water for the tank(sw) so can't.

 

[illiswiller]

One thing, I'm not sure people mentioned was pH. I use Prime (we are on Chloramine-treated water) and would probably feel OK adding prime as I added the water.....however, our water comes out at a pH >8.5! So be careful of the pH as well as the chlorine/chloramine! Additionally our water utility does 10 months of chloramine treatment and 2 months of chlorine treatment (something to do with the pipes) so I always have to be aware and test the tap as well

 

[nursie]

Ok...time to display more ignorance....I thought powerheads were what you put on top of the tubes to undergravel filters to circulate water under them...how do you use this to pump water?

I will admit that this idea is growing on me. I have moved my tank from an area in direct line of sight with my kitchen faucet to another room...out of direct sight. And since both my kids have left for college, I have less help available to "spot" the water levels for me around the corner.

 

[gsk177]

I will have to ditto the poster who said "If it works for you, do it."

Before I got my Python, I used the bucket method. Drain the water into the bucket, pour the bucket into the sink and so on and so forth.
I then poured the water from the bucket into the tank. I did not need to treat my water in any way because, AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING, found that my WELL water was PERFECT for my Cichlids. The PH, Gh, and everything was perfect for them.
When I got my Python, nothing changed.

Now, since I have moved, I have had to alter my methods slightly.

I now have city water AND a water softener. Although I no longer have the high Ph loving Cichlids I once had, I still have to use chemicals. I say must....I prefer to use chemicals....it works for me anyway.

I have 3 tanks in my house and each one takes different methods.

My Oscars like a Ph of around 7.0 to 7.6 and a Gh of around 10. Since my tap water has a Ph of 7.6 and a Gh of 0, I only add Prime and the directed amount of Cichlid Lake Salts to maintain a Gh of around 10.

My Convicts like a 7.3 Ph and a Gh of around 12. Again, 7.6 from my tap is fine for them and again, i use Cichlid Lake Salts to adjust my Gh.

My White Clouds like 7.0 but are very happy with the 7.6 they get from the tap. They too take a small amount of Cichlid Lake Salts to help keep their stable Gh of around 3.

But to get to the question of WHEN to add your chemicals:

Since I use a Python, no matter which tank I am maintaining, all addatives are added directly to the tank as the tank is filling with water.

Again, when I used the bucket method I had no need for addatives, but if I did, I would add them to the bucket.