water change question

[Chris Palma]

Hi.

Thanks to all for the responses to the fishless cycle + ammonia thread.
Here's my next question (using a different email account, to try and limit
the spam to the other one).

Anyway, I've started the cycle by adding ammonia. I'm going to wait for
the tank to cycle, and then I'm going to do a water change before I add
fish.

So... how do you recommend doing a big (50%?) water change in a 75 gallon
after the cycle in order to preserve the new colony? I need to treat the
tap water to remove chlorine *before* I add it to the tank, right? So, do
I need a 30 gallon bucket filled with tap water + tap water conditioner to
sit for some amount of time before I even start emptying the 75?

I know there are a million different ways to do a water change properly,
but if anyone can post a few tips I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

--chris



| Chris Palma, | The preceding was a work of fiction, |
| University of Virginia Astronomy | any similarities to persons living or |
| | dead, places, or events is purely |
| www.astro.virginia.edu/~cp4v | coincidental... |

[Rick]

"Chris Palma" > wrote in message
tro.Virginia.EDU...
> Hi.
>
> Thanks to all for the responses to the fishless cycle + ammonia thread.
> Here's my next question (using a different email account, to try and limit
> the spam to the other one).
>
> Anyway, I've started the cycle by adding ammonia. I'm going to wait for
> the tank to cycle, and then I'm going to do a water change before I add
> fish.
>
> So... how do you recommend doing a big (50%?) water change in a 75 gallon
> after the cycle in order to preserve the new colony? I need to treat the
> tap water to remove chlorine *before* I add it to the tank, right? So, do
> I need a 30 gallon bucket filled with tap water + tap water conditioner to
> sit for some amount of time before I even start emptying the 75?
>
> I know there are a million different ways to do a water change properly,
> but if anyone can post a few tips I would appreciate it.
>
> Thanks!
>
> --chris
>
after the tank is cycled, then it is cycled. You can change as much or as
little water as you want and the tank will still be cycled. I change 50% of
my water in my 77g planted tank weekly. As far as doing it if you don't have
a python type changer do yourself a favour and get one. Alternately I use a
length of clear vinyl tubing long enough to go from my tank to the basement
drain, (could be your toilet or bathtub) and siphon away. To refill simply
add water directly from the tap adding your chlorine remover as you add the
tap water, usually a cap full for 10 gallons. Try and keep the temp. of the
water your adding close to the tank temp.

Rick|

[Dick]

I change 20% weekly and am very satisfied. My largest tank is 75
gallons. I would hate to syphon even 15 gallons without my "Gravel
Vac." I attach it to my kitchen faucet. It has a valve that in one
position, with the water on, syphons water from the tank, in the other
position moves water into the tank.

My kitchen faucet mixes hot and cold so I adjust the temperature while
I am draining my tank 20%. Once I feel a temperature that is right, I
can turn off the faucet water flow and gravity completes my drain
cycle.

I can't imagine changing 50%. As it is, on the 76 gallon I remove
10%, fill, then remove the next 10%. This avoids having to turn my
filters off. If the water level goes too low, the filters drain and
have to be primed.

I sure have become a promoter of water change, but I believe in
moderation until something shows I need to do more. From where I am
sitting, I can see my 75 and 29 gallon tanks. The water sparkles, the
fish are actively swimming and their colors beautiful. That is my
test of water quality.


On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 11:56:18 -0500, Chris Palma
> wrote:

>Hi.
>
>Thanks to all for the responses to the fishless cycle + ammonia thread.
>Here's my next question (using a different email account, to try and limit
>the spam to the other one).
>
>Anyway, I've started the cycle by adding ammonia. I'm going to wait for
>the tank to cycle, and then I'm going to do a water change before I add
>fish.
>
>So... how do you recommend doing a big (50%?) water change in a 75 gallon
>after the cycle in order to preserve the new colony? I need to treat the
>tap water to remove chlorine *before* I add it to the tank, right? So, do
>I need a 30 gallon bucket filled with tap water + tap water conditioner to
>sit for some amount of time before I even start emptying the 75?
>
>I know there are a million different ways to do a water change properly,
>but if anyone can post a few tips I would appreciate it.
>
>Thanks!
>
>--chris
>
>
>
>| Chris Palma, | The preceding was a work of fiction, |
>| University of Virginia Astronomy | any similarities to persons living or |
>| | dead, places, or events is purely |
>| www.astro.virginia.edu/~cp4v | coincidental... |

[Rick]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> I change 20% weekly and am very satisfied. My largest tank is 75
> gallons. I would hate to syphon even 15 gallons without my "Gravel
> Vac." I attach it to my kitchen faucet. It has a valve that in one
> position, with the water on, syphons water from the tank, in the other
> position moves water into the tank.
>
> My kitchen faucet mixes hot and cold so I adjust the temperature while
> I am draining my tank 20%. Once I feel a temperature that is right, I
> can turn off the faucet water flow and gravity completes my drain
> cycle.
>
> I can't imagine changing 50%. As it is, on the 76 gallon I remove
> 10%, fill, then remove the next 10%. This avoids having to turn my
> filters off. If the water level goes too low, the filters drain and
> have to be primed.
>
> I sure have become a promoter of water change, but I believe in
> moderation until something shows I need to do more. From where I am
> sitting, I can see my 75 and 29 gallon tanks. The water sparkles, the
> fish are actively swimming and their colors beautiful. That is my
> test of water quality.
>


I do 50% weekly on my 77g planted tank as I'm dry dosing ferts and resetting
the tank weekly. I will return to biweekly 25% in awhile however it is no
big deal. I use a vinyl tube hooked up to a piece of pvc tubing , simply put
it in the tank, start the siphon and in a a few minutes you have drained off
30 or so gallons. You can adapt it to use a power head and empty a 75 gallon
tank is about 5 minutes. All my other tanks get weekly 25% water change and
biweekly gravel vacs.

Rick

[Rick Kohrs]

Hi Chris,

I've never purchased a python, but it's definately the technique to
use. I'm a DYI type of guy and have found that you can mix and match
garden hoses attachments with pvc pipe (which is easy to work with).
I'm fortunate enough to own a house and ran pvc pipe from my tank to
the laundary tub in the basement. On each end I have garden hose
attachments (which attach to your laundary faucet) so I use the pipe
for both drain and fill. I added a valve both ends so I can easily
test the temperature of the water and don't have to quickly run
downstairs to turn of the water.

Pythons seem to take all the guess work out of this process,
especially if you are in an apartment.

One more tidbit. There is a PVC pipe attachement for dishwashers.
The small pipe coming out connects nicely to a piece of garden hose.
I attached this to a U shaped piece of PCV. The hose and PVC rest on
the gravel for filling and now my water shoots up from the gravel.

Rick