whats the best way?

Question

can some one tell me whats the best way of doing a 50% water change in the tank as im new to this and unsure ive done some reading but didnt find out much. how keep keep/ make the right temp etc

Answer 1

The best way I have found is to use a gravel vacuum style siphon available from any pet store to remove the old water. This cleans the gravel as you go and is very simple to use. Then using a bucket, premix the new water to be within a few degrees of the tank water. I would do this directly on the tap and leave it running between bucket loads. Dechlorinate the water before adding it to the tank and all should be well.

I would also advocate doing a 25% water change once a week instead of a 50% change. It leaves the tank more stable over the long run and is usually adequate to clean the tank.

As a safety note, unplug your heater if your water schange will expose the majority of the heater to air. They can and do turn on out of water and can heat up hot enough to crack when the water level comes back up. This can lead to electrical shock. At the very least unpleasant.

MM

Answer 2

I do the old-fashioned gravel vacuum and bucket of water. Since my tap water is really good (no harmful chemicals or anything), I just put tap water straight into my tank. FYI: Do NOT do this if you have not had your tap water tested. I had my water tested two times before I put fish in there; first, straight from the tap, and second, after my tank water had been cycling with decorations, heater and filter. The only thing I do is make sure the temp is really close between tap and tank. To do that, the last bucket I take to the faucet, I turn on the faucet and dip my hand back and forth between the bucket and the faucet water until they are very close to the same temp. My fish have not had a problem with this method. In fact, they usually come over and play in the water stream from the bucket. I am thinking about getting a gravel vacuum that you can hook up to the faucet in the near future, but this is what method I use for now. It works for me.

Since your tank is new, you may have to perform water changes more frequently (every 2-3 days) until the helpful bacteria builds up and the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels get to safe levels.

Answer 3

Hi,when i do a 50% water change,i always put a plate on the gravel,that way when you pour the water back in it hits the plate and doesn't disturb the gravel,making your tank look murky,also with a 50% water change,just top up with cold water,they don't mind the temperature change,as cold water is more oxygenated and seems to make the fish more active,as long as its not freezing cold,you can add water cleanser,but i never have and ive kept fish for 8 years.Your heater will kick in when you add the cold water and should get back up to temp fairly quickly.

Answer 4

Hi,when I do a 50% change i do the same has for a 25%
run hot water with cold keep testing it try to keep it close to the temp in your tank & add fish & tap water conditioner this gets rid of anything bad in tap water.I know exactly how you feel has I was terrified when I cleaned mine.Eventually you will gain confidence.Good Luck

Answer 5

the day before you want to do the water change fill a large bucket (one that has not been used with any type of cleaners) and leave it to sit this will bring the temp to room temp and any chlorine or metals in the tap water will have dispersed and is safe to use for fish then syphon the water out of your tank and replace it with water from the bucket hope this helps

Answer 6

For my piranhas, I usually do a 75% water change but vacuum half the water. Add room temperature water or the same temperature water as the original water if you have finicky fish like discus.

Then adjust it back to normal conditions, i.e. pH, water softness, etc.

Answer 7

put a balloon in the tank and put a jug full of water in the balloon, then take a jug full of water out of the tank repeat until 50% of the water in the balloon heating up.

Answer 8

water for tropical fishes doesn't need to be changed ofter every 2-3 months or longer because i changed mine and it died of all the chlorine you take 30 percent of the water out and put a new amount of water and add the chlorine remover only for that 30 percent and 2 hrs later add the bacteria because the chlorine will kill the bacteria if you add them at the same time...