Gravel cleaning question..?

Question

I am getting a more powerful gravel cleaner next week. It will help me with the constant water changes I need to do. However, it suctions water straight from the facet! Should I suction the water into a bucket, and then put in dechlorinator, and then put it into the tank? I read some people say they put dechloriator in as the water goes in, but is that safe if my goldfish are still in the tank? Also, I read that it's good to leave water out for 24 hours, but with my 50 gallon tank, even with partial water changes that seems to be unlikely to accomplish unless I have several gallons of water sitting around all the time. Is that feasible? What is a safe, but efficient way to do my water changes. thanks!!!!

Kiki -- that is a good point! OK, I am definitely going to use a bucket when I get the new python. It's what I do now, but while the new kind seems convenient, it is more so just easier to clean out the water and grime for partial water changes. Thanks so much!!

PS, how long would you leave the buckets sit? And for my big oscar tank my water changes are BIG -- do I need to use buckets sitting out for every part of the change? Goldfish don't need as much by way of water changes.

Cari: I am not using the same water from the tank! That doesn't even make sense! I am doing water changes, meaning new water. The python just makes it easier because it hooks up to the siink so you can technically fill the whole tank with NEW WATER very easily. I am just concerned about doing that since it will have chlorine. For now, I use a smaller python that I suction into buckets, and of course put new clean water in! My fish would never have lasted two weeks if I kept recycling the same water, I don't even understand how that's possible.

Answer 1

I've used the phythons, and they do have some features you won't find on other siphons. You can overcome the temperature correction by running the hose to the tank, but leaving the end out of the water. The run it in "suction" mode, where the water flows into the sink. Get the warm and cold set to the proper amounts, the switch to "fill" mode (there's a lever on the end which connects to the sink, so you can start and stop the flow of water to or from the tank.

I always added my dechlorinator to the tank in 5 gallon increments and then waited for the tank level to rise approximately that amount. You could also fill a 5 gallon bucket next to the tank, then pour it in when it's full (this would require a second person, or being able to see the bucket from the sink so it doesn't overfill). I never had any problems with the fish using this technique.

To be perfectly honest, I rarely use the python any more. After trying it out, I didn't see that it was any more powerful than the standard siphon-into-a-bucket method. Plus, in order to create the siphon, a lot of water goes down the drain - the more powerful the suction you want, the more water you use. I liked being able to fill the tank from the sink, but I also have a regular hose with an inverted "U" out of pipe that hooks over the rim of the tank and has a shut-off lever at the tank end that does the same job for quick "refills".

I also have a 30 gallon plastic garbage can near my saltwater tank that I use to mix and age saltwater - you could use a smaller "kitchen" size that's around 12-15 gallons to age your water. You can let it sit for 24 hrs and use it ONLY IF your water company uses chlorine to "sterilize" the water. If they use chloramine, you can't just let it sit out and use it for fish. Chloramine lasts longer in water and needs to be removed chemically. So you'll need to see what your water provider uses in the water.

Even if you were to use 2 five gallon buckets, you'd get a 20% water change (add a third bucket for holding water you siphon from the tank).

Answer 2

If I were you I would get atleast a 15 gallon worth of bucket. Let the buckets withw water sit out for 12-24 hours. Do you siphoning and leave the heater ON. This will help you with you temperature range.

Answer 3

I'm just basically going to say ditto to others that report using a Python with no problems. I don;t use it on all of my tanks, but certainly use it on all that have fish that can be in my tap water pH and hardness. I have never had a problem with the fish nor with the product. I have often used it with a 20-25% water change and used no dechlorinator at all, but I don't recommend anyone else do that.

MM

Answer 4

I have a 50 and 75 gallon tank for my fish and when u suction out half the water u can put it in a bucket and empty the bucket in the sink. Fish love clean water and with u using the same water from the tank it gets put back in there tank dirty still. It's best to use clean water and yes u can still put the clean water in with the half of your tank water. It wont hurt them as long as u put fresh water in the tank also. We clean our tanks once a week. Unless it looks really nasty than we clean it out twice a week.Fish are happy with clean water. You can also get an algea eater too, so they can clean the algea in your tank. Its not harmful with goldfish.

Answer 5

copperhead gives good advice. I use Pythons for water changes, and essentially I set the temperature before I begin the water change, then after the water is removed, as I'm adding it back in, I add the dechlorinator as the tank is filling. I've never had a problem. :)

Answer 6

I think I would be more concerned with rapid temp changes than the chlorine. I would get a big bucket, or a few of them, let it room temp up and dechlor, then use that. I would let it sit covered with saran wrap or something so stuff can't get in it overnight, as I think it declors naturally that way, or at least until a drop in thermometer reads the same as the tank. Sorry it took a while for me to get back to you, my computer has a mind of it's own.