help on water change please

[hilldaddy71]

just took my water out and need to know,,,,,
my mop bucket probally has too many chem traces or can i clean it real well
and do water change w/ it
have a ice chest could use but ive cleaned it w/ chlorox bleach all purpose spray before....
also kindve worried about me trying to guess the temp from my faucet..

 

[YoFishboy]

You really do need a clean bucket - do you have any large pots? You might just have to make several trips. Just stick your finger in the tank and match it as close as you can by feel to the water from the faucet - that's what I have done for over 35 years - works fine!

 

[TONO]

don't clean anything you want to use to put stuff in your tank with bleach or soap, with out washing it out completely. DON'T USE SOAP

 

[Beeker]

You can use a saucepan for now. What size is your tank? Maybe you should look into getting a Python. They are the best!

 

[hilldaddy71]

used my 5 gal empty kentood bottle

thanks to a friend, he said hey do u have any empty water jugs... duh why didnt i think of that?????
the thermo kept reading same temp so guess i guessed well....
how ever i think i may have used just a drop or 2 too much aqua safe for tap water should i be worried???
thax for all the help

 

[YoFishboy]

Naw, its ok... its hard to overdose conditioner...better a little more than not enough! Take care!

 

[hilldaddy71]

thx fishboy

having this forum makes this much more easy....
the first time i had this aquarium set up i had tiger barbs 2 kissing guarmis, and a couple of orange guarmis...they did well for a couple of yrs then they all started getting ick or something and dying off ( very depressed about it i put the tank up). if i had this site i wouldve known to do alot of water changes, instead i just put ick out in tank and it never really helped...
i have a couple of inches to maybe 3 inch of gravel at the bottom is that too much.

 

[YoFishboy]

If you have an undergravel filter than about 2 inches is fine..otherwise, my personal preference is only about 1 inch for my show tanks and none for some of my breeder/grow out tanks.

 

[Kasakato]

I would loose the UFG. It always ends up beeing a pain the the rear end. It will clog up, and to clean it up, you need to take the tank apart. I would go with a HOB or a Canister.

And for your buckets. I would get a new one. There might be some left over chemicals in the bucket that will hurt your fish. And with the new one be sure to write: "FISH ONLY." For water changes I say get a Python. It makes them super easy.