Faucet question

Sigrid said:
One of my tanks is 30 some feet away from the faucet in a different room....I end up dashing to and fro to make sure the temp is proper.

I also keep an eye on the setting of the faucet where I receive a mix of water - warm/cold - ...am making sure that the hose is already filled with this warmed water, and then procede to filling the tank. After 5 years of doing this on that tank, I have not experienced any problems. Having to lug the gallons for the 55fer would kill me.

Good luck.
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I do it all the time on a 55, 45, 29. Just do 25% 2x per week. Changing the water takes me less than 1/2 hour.

As for the water temp. I too am on a well. I add enough hot water to temper it. But it is still lower than the tank temperature. Been doing it that way for 30 years in 2 different states and 4 different houses. Have never had a loss or outbreak because of temperature. Your temperature can change also depending on whether the pump is running or not. Your pressure on a well isn't constant like it is for utility water. It will vary from 35-60 depending on the setting of the pressure switch's turn on/turn off range.
 
Thanks but that's not helpful as I don't have the ability to do it in a bucket above the aquarium. And if I'm going to be filling a 45 gallon aquarium, I don't want to mess with buckets. I want it straight from the tap.
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actually... it is very helpful information if you take it for what it's worth and what it was meant to be. my use of buckets has absolutely nothing to do with your situation. my use of cold water is just affirmation that you could use water that's a little on the cool side so you don't risk burning your fish if you can't keep your temps steady out of your faucet.

also... yes you absolutely do have the ability to do things in a bucket above the tank. just because you can't lift a full bucket or your tank can't hold one doesn't mean you couldn't place an empty one somewhere above your water line and fill it with a hose/python. for example... on my 50 gal., i don't have a shelf to put the bucket on... so the bucket rests on the corner of the tank for refills.

you have options if you think them through... that's all.
 
Not sure if this will help, but I have a few things I do while I run my water changes to keep the temps constant.

First, I preheat the hot water pipe by running HOT first, then I cut the full flow of hot back and start mixing cold. Otherwise, as my water pipes heat up, the metal pipes stop acting as a heat sink and the water temp changes.

Also, I do not allow anyone to use hot water that may change the hot water pressure which would adjust the flow rate of the hot water mixing with the cold water. If you are doing very large volumes of water changes, your hot water tank will cool off. I have a large hot water tank, so I do not see issues until I have used about 30 gallons.

I also keep my hot water temp much higher then most people. That way, most of the water coming out of the faucet is from the COLD water. I believe that to make my water about 80, I have about 60-70% cold water mixing with the hot.

Summary: Preheat the hot water pipes, set your hot water tank to higher setting and limit the amount other water use while you change the water in your tank.
 
this is all very interesting
 
My guess is your hot water heater is either undersized or not operating correctly. I replace about 100 gallons weekly and although it varies a few degrees from beginning to end its never that much off. I do the same things drdud suggested.
 
I can't set my hot water heater to higher settings but I might be able to convince my dad to. I think it's set too low right now b/c my bathtub faucet has to be pretty much all the way to the right in order for the water to be hot. Even to the right of the middle, it's COLD.. The good news is that we just replaced our hot water heater so maybe once it's set higher, the fluctuations won't occur. It's a large one, as was our old one.
 
I just did the cold water thing tonight and starting to think it killed my two largest Keyholes. They are the only ones that seem affected but they were swimming upside down and laying flat on their sides. Right now they are laying around barely breathing. :(
 
captmicha said:
Sounds like a recipe for spills.
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hahaha... you couldn't move that tank with your vehicle ***a LITTLE exaggeration, but you get the point***... the glass and seems are thick as is the trim also... trust me... my bucket isn't going anywhere!!! not one spill in the years this tank has been up due to the bucket on top. can't say that about most other things, though. with the kids playing around it, knocking into the tank while it's filling, etc., i'd say it's safe to say it's a pretty solid spot... aside from the fact they can't reach it....

Taysius said:
I just did the cold water thing tonight and starting to think it killed my two largest Keyholes. They are the only ones that seem affected but they were swimming upside down and laying flat on their sides. Right now they are laying around barely breathing. :(
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cool NOT cold... add the water sloooooowly the first few times... increase the speed you fill the tank back up over the course of several w/c's... etc., etc. ... but you should still be matching the water temp as well as you can, imo. ... the reason i posted up at all about that, is that micha COULD turn the temp down a little and fill a little slower without having to worry about frying fish in their own little heavenly puddle. if the temp is uneven, it's best to be a little cool instead of a lot hot....

just because someone else says they did it doesn't mean you don't have to be careful. i use airline tubing for a siphon to the tank sometimes... and it's a 50 gal. if the water's real cold and i'm in a rush, i'll siphon with a 1/2 id hose and add an extra 450 watts of heaters by the filter intakes and monitor. once the temp starts getting ~2 degrees off ambient i slow things down immediately.

surely other folks who do the same do it entirely differently. you'll have to find what works for you if you're going to try again... but be sure to keep a keen eye on things until you know how your fish react.

now, if your temps are pushing the limit on the low end for your species, obviously this wouldn't be the brightest thing to try. it's all relative to the person and tank in question as is almost everything in this hobby.

sorry about your luck. hope all turns out well. please don't mind my random jotted thoughts.
 
Well they made it through the night and seem to be ok now. I figure that you're right that cool water is ok, I just took cold water to the extreme and shocked their systems. Either way, I am just thankful that they are still alive.

Sorry for any derail, Captmicha.
 
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