What is the best method for a water change?

[chickenball z]

I try to put as little water from the warm faucet as possible as hot water has more mineral contents....

a slight change in temperature difference doesn't do too much for the fish... think about what happens when it rains (this only applies to rivers/ponds and not large bodies of water such as lakes)

 

[Z Man]

What more mineral content?

 

[jec0995]

a slight change in temperature difference doesn't do too much for the fish... think about what happens when it rains (this only applies to rivers/ponds and not large bodies of water such as lakes)

This is simply not true. I'm not trying to cause a fight but a major temp change will hurt your fish. My guess...you've been lucky thus far.

In nature, ponds/rivers do not change temp that much, that quickly. Extremely heavy rains in some parts of the world will most likely change the water temp that much and maybe more however, it will be gradual. It could potentially take a week if not more.

All fish have the ability to acclimate themselves to adverse conditions. However, if these conditions are changed quickly (i.e. water change), they could be detrimental to your fish.

I would advise whenever possible to place a thermometer in the tap water to match temps as best as possible.

That's all I have to say.

Jimmy

 

[cyberbeer65]

What I do is after the water I want to remove is out, I add the dechlor to whats left and then just add water from my basement sink that is the same temperature. I have been doing this for 20 years now & no problems.

That's my method alsnly I hook up my gravel washer up to a garden hose and siphon into a floor drain.

 

[Bristlenose Chuck]

a slight change in temperature difference doesn't do too much for the fish... think about what happens when it rains (this only applies to rivers/ponds and not large bodies of water such as lakes)

This is simply not true. I'm not trying to cause a fight but a major temp change will hurt your fish. My guess...you've been lucky thus far.

In nature, ponds/rivers do not change temp that much, that quickly. Extremely heavy rains in some parts of the world will most likely change the water temp that much and maybe more however, it will be gradual. It could potentially take a week if not more.

All fish have the ability to acclimate themselves to adverse conditions. However, if these conditions are changed quickly (i.e. water change), they could be detrimental to your fish.

I would advise whenever possible to place a thermometer in the tap water to match temps as best as possible.

That's all I have to say.

Jimmy

I agree with jec0995. This is not true. Even a slight temp (2 degrees) change is a good way to stress out your fish and invite health problems.

Putting slightly warmer water in the tank is better than putting colder water in. Ive been using the hot water from my faucet for years with no deaths.

 

[LesbianChap]

Some species require the slight temperature drop to stimulate breeding...

I can a 10+ degree temperature change in a matter of time it takes to fill a tank to be stressful, but 2-3 degrees isn't gonna be bad for them unless you have really delicate fish.

 

[echoofformless]

My super anal method of water changes:


Start my cold tap water, let it run for about a minute.
Fill my buckets and empty spring water gallon jugs with the tap water.
Let it age for at least a week.
Dechlorinate.
Siphon the tank water.
Do whatever maintenance is necessary. (Filter, plant pruning, etc)
Place the first bucket of dechlorinated water onto a stand that I use especially for this purpose - it elevates the bucket.
Drop a narrow airline tube with a weight on the end into the bucket.
Route the tube across the top of my PC light, thus providing a small degree of heat to the water as it passes through.
Place the tube so that its output goes directly into my Penguin filter. (The vents on the lid hold it perfectly in place.)
Pour additional water into the bucket so that the siphon action continues without me having to start it again and again.

The water is now run through heat, and my peat filtration. It enters the aquarium very, very slowly and thus causes the fish almost no stress at all. My water parameters remain remarkably stable as well.

 

[Z Man]

As far as water temperature, it depends on how large the tank is and how much you are changing. If you remove 4 gallons from a 78* 20 gallon tank and replace it with 4 gallons at 70* you are not going to get much of a water change at all. I always figured a 4* difference never causes any problems.

 

[attiladahun]

when you do a water change, do you vacuum the crap out of the gravel with the change water, or do you just let water siphon out of the tank from the mid-range?

 

[Aqualung]

I agree with jec0995. This is not true. Even a slight temp (2 degrees) change is a good way to stress out your fish and invite health problems.

Putting slightly warmer water in the tank is better than putting colder water in. Ive been using the hot water from my faucet for years with no deaths.

No, a slight decrease in temp is not an invite for health problems. In fact, many fish enjoy the cooler water and can be induced to spawn that way. Putting warmer water in is far worse than using water that is a bit cooler.