Easy Water Changes

[Pokey]

I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in my
tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a garden
hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the hose
and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator while
I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it back
up within a few hours.

It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique? Comments?

[Cam]

The only thing I can see "wrong" (you should not use this word in the
aquatics arena, there are many ways to skin a cat :) is the hose. Some hoses
leach unwanteds into the water. Over the long haul this could pose a
problem.

You could achieve the same sort of routine if you left a large container
full of water outside, buy an inert length of hose and a small pump! Siphon
water out, pump new water back in...OTH I really dont see your mission being
a problem :)




"Pokey" > wrote in message
t...
> I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in my
> tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a garden
> hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the
hose
> and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator
while
> I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
> chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
> after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it back
> up within a few hours.
>
> It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
> easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique? Comments?
>
>

[Pokey]

The hose I use is certified "drinking water safe". I hadn't even thought
about the it leaching any contaminants and didn't know they made such a hose
until I saw it advertised as such at the hardware store. After all, as a kid
we didn't hesitate to drink out of the garden hose.


"Cam" > wrote in message ...
> The only thing I can see "wrong" (you should not use this word in the
> aquatics arena, there are many ways to skin a cat :) is the hose. Some
hoses
> leach unwanteds into the water. Over the long haul this could pose a
> problem.
>
> You could achieve the same sort of routine if you left a large container
> full of water outside, buy an inert length of hose and a small pump!
Siphon
> water out, pump new water back in...OTH I really dont see your mission
being
> a problem :)
>
>
>
>
> "Pokey" > wrote in message
> t...
> > I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in
my
> > tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a
garden
> > hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the
> hose
> > and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator
> while
> > I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
> > chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
> > after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it
back
> > up within a few hours.
> >
> > It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
> > easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique?
Comments?
> >
> >
>
>

[Cris]

Take a look at a Python "No Spill Clean and Fill" and then go get the
parts at a hardware store. I found everything but the part that
attatches to the hose so I bought that bit separately from Python. I
cost much less and is more durable than the Python itself. You can
attatch it to your sink were you can adjust the temp with a little hot
water.
Cris


On Fri, 03 Oct 2003 11:03:24 GMT, "Pokey"
> wrote:

>I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in my
>tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a garden
>hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the hose
>and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator while
>I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
>chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
>after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it back
>up within a few hours.
>
>It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
>easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique? Comments?
>

[Alan Silver]

In article >, Pokey
> writes
>I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in my
>tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a garden
>hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the hose
>and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator while
>I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
>chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
>after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it back
>up within a few hours.
>
>It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
>easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique? Comments?

I did this for ages without any adverse effects. After that I plumbed a
water pipe into the tank (about to hours' work and about $40 worth of
equipment) and I've never looked back. I can do water changes sitting on
the floor in front of the tank without even opening the lid. I've even
let my 8-year old son do them (with supervision of course).

--
Alan Silver

[~Vicki ~]

I could do the hose thing in the summer when the cold water is almost 80
degrees, but in the winter it just don't work out because my poor
fishies would freeze their fins off.

But seriously, I use the tank water to water my tropical plants. When
one has a garden center to run, one picks up a lot of plants. Which
reminds me to tell my husband not to bring any more home. Like with my
fish tanks, I am running out of room.

Vicki

Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com

[Alan Silver]

In article >,
~Vicki ~ > writes
>I could do the hose thing in the summer when the cold water is almost
>80 degrees, but in the winter it just don't work out because my poor
>fishies would freeze their fins off.

I have the same problem (English winters can be cold). All I do is more
smaller water changes. That way the overall temperature drop is not so
drastic. I also fill up the tank more slowly so the cold water coming in
has a chance to warm up.

--
Alan Silver

[chip]

why worry about this?

I have not changed water in my tank for 4 years. I only add water
due to normal evaporation.

and the reason my water stays so clean, is I rarely feed my fish.
Maybe once a month. The longest time without feeding them was 3 months.

Cheers
low maintenance tanganykan cichlids expert


Alan Silver > wrote in message >...
> In article >,
> ~Vicki ~ > writes
> >I could do the hose thing in the summer when the cold water is almost
> >80 degrees, but in the winter it just don't work out because my poor
> >fishies would freeze their fins off.
>
> I have the same problem (English winters can be cold). All I do is more
> smaller water changes. That way the overall temperature drop is not so
> drastic. I also fill up the tank more slowly so the cold water coming in
> has a chance to warm up.

[RedForeman ©®]

"chip" > tried to make us all believe

> low maintenance tanganykan cichlids expert

sure chip, whatever you wanna think... keep tellin' yourself that...

are you related to some guy... Jimmy... Jimmy da Chimp??

[Bob K.]

>>I could do the hose thing in the summer when the cold water is almost
>>80 degrees, but in the winter it just don't work out because my poor
>>fishies would freeze their fins off.
>
>I have the same problem (English winters can be cold). All I do is more
>smaller water changes. That way the overall temperature drop is not so
>drastic. I also fill up the tank more slowly so the cold water coming in
>has a chance to warm up.

?? Why not mix hot & cold until it's about the right temperature??
(been doing that myself for many years)

Bob

[The Madd Hatter]

I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps, like
from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the trouble of
permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to make it a
hot/cold supply.

"Bob K." > wrote in message
...
> >>I could do the hose thing in the summer when the cold water is almost
> >>80 degrees, but in the winter it just don't work out because my poor
> >>fishies would freeze their fins off.
> >
> >I have the same problem (English winters can be cold). All I do is more
> >smaller water changes. That way the overall temperature drop is not so
> >drastic. I also fill up the tank more slowly so the cold water coming in
> >has a chance to warm up.
>
> ?? Why not mix hot & cold until it's about the right temperature??
> (been doing that myself for many years)
>
> Bob

[~Vicki ~]

I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps, like
from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the trouble
of permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to make
it a hot/cold supply.

That is exactly what I meant. And for that reason I take my water out
of the tap in the kitchen which is the proper temp for my tank.

Vicki

Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com

[Mikkel Stepién Munk]

Using warm water for your tank is not a good idea! Use cold!

Mikkel
"~Vicki ~" > skrev i en meddelelse
...
> I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps, like
> from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the trouble
> of permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to make
> it a hot/cold supply.
>
> That is exactly what I meant. And for that reason I take my water out
> of the tap in the kitchen which is the proper temp for my tank.
>
> Vicki
>
> Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com
>

[Bob K.]

>Using warm water for your tank is not a good idea! Use cold!
>

And your reason is?


Bob

[Mikkel Stepién Munk]

Warm water contains bacteria which can infect your fish!
"Bob K." > skrev i en meddelelse
...
> >Using warm water for your tank is not a good idea! Use cold!
> >
>
> And your reason is?
>
>
> Bob
>

[RedForeman ©®]

Often, hot water heaters have more metals in them and some of them can, not
always, but can get into the water... I've only heard of iron(which may or
may not be bad) can come in the water from the hot water heater... but I was
told that by a reefer, so whether it has any bearing on FW tanks, I can't
say...

Calcium can be another story in and of itself....

"Bob K." > wrote in message
...
> >Using warm water for your tank is not a good idea! Use cold!
> >
>
> And your reason is?
>
>
> Bob
>

[The Madd Hatter]

Most bacteria thats alive at 78 degrees will still be alive at 60 degrees.
I don't think this reasoning has any merit.

"Mikkel Stepién Munk" > wrote in message
...
> Warm water contains bacteria which can infect your fish!
> "Bob K." > skrev i en meddelelse
> ...
> > >Using warm water for your tank is not a good idea! Use cold!
> > >
> >
> > And your reason is?
> >
> >
> > Bob
> >
>
>

[The Madd Hatter]

That's what i do too.

"~Vicki ~" > wrote in message
...
> I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps, like
> from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the trouble
> of permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to make
> it a hot/cold supply.
>
> That is exactly what I meant. And for that reason I take my water out
> of the tap in the kitchen which is the proper temp for my tank.
>
> Vicki
>
> Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com
>

[The Madd Hatter]

chip the idiot... damned fool...

"chip" > wrote in message
om...
> why worry about this?
>
> I have not changed water in my tank for 4 years. I only add water
> due to normal evaporation.
>
> and the reason my water stays so clean, is I rarely feed my fish.
> Maybe once a month. The longest time without feeding them was 3 months.
>
> Cheers
> low maintenance tanganykan cichlids expert
>
>
> Alan Silver
> wrote in
message >...
> > In article >,
> > ~Vicki ~ > writes
> > >I could do the hose thing in the summer when the cold water is almost
> > >80 degrees, but in the winter it just don't work out because my poor
> > >fishies would freeze their fins off.
> >
> > I have the same problem (English winters can be cold). All I do is more
> > smaller water changes. That way the overall temperature drop is not so
> > drastic. I also fill up the tank more slowly so the cold water coming in
> > has a chance to warm up.

[Bob K.]

>Often, hot water heaters have more metals in them and some of them can, not
>always, but can get into the water... I've only heard of iron(which may or
>may not be bad) can come in the water from the hot water heater... but I was
>told that by a reefer, so whether it has any bearing on FW tanks, I can't
>say...
>
>Calcium can be another story in and of itself....

Oh my gosh.. Nearly 50 years of doing the wrong thing..
Will my fish ever forgive me?

Oh.. wait, you were TOLD that .. Ahha, was that a
goldfish keeper?


Bob

[Leong Goh]

Sorry, I thought I'd write about the way I solved my water change problems,
but it got a bit LONG! I have 5 tanks in different locations within the
house

I wanted to do this but couldn't find a hose coupling to fit our kitchen
faucet. Also I wanted to ensure the water temp was as close as poss to the
tank water, and with hot & cold taps you'd loose your setting if you turned
the taps off to attach the hose. Then there was the matter of needing a 20m
hose to get to my various tanks, and the logistics of siphoning, and storing
the tube, without splashing water in the house, keeping my wife happy.

In NZ many homes have "Supertubs" in the laundry. These have a detachable
water outlet, much like a detachable shower head with H&C supply. (You
could use the shower as a water supply too) I tee'd off this tube (in the
cabinet underneath) and added a tap to each outlet and a hose coupling to
connect my hose to. ( from the gardening section at the local hardware
shop).

I needed a 20m hose to run to the tank furthest from the laundry. The hose
has a tap at each end (right at the end to minimise mess), and is stored
full of water. There is also a hose coupling at one end and suction cups at
the other. ( I keep water in the hose so that it starts the siphon next
time, and because getting the water out is potentially messy ) The water
stored is always clean chlorinated water, because the last step from the
previous week was to refill the tanks. The stored water never ends up in the
tank as the first job the following week is to siphon out. It is usually
only there for a week.

To do a water change, I put one end ( with suction cups) into a tank, and
open the tap at that end, then take the other end to a drain outside and
open that end. Water siphons out. When enough's out, I close the tap at the
aquarium end only and take the hose to the next aquarium, immerse and open
the tap to start the flow. At the last tank, I leave the tap on in the
aquarium but turn off the drain end. I take this end to the laundry and
click it to the hose coupling. I adjust the temp of the water coming out of
the supertub and then open the taps underneath to direct the flow down the
hose into the aquarium, and (almost) close the tap to the supertub outlet.
When the first tank is full, I close the tap at the aquarium end and move
that end to the next. When finished, turn the water off, close all the taps
on the hose line and fully open the one going to the supertub, and put the
hose away.

This has saved me a lot of time, and I can now do the maintenance on the
tanks one evening, rather than on the weekend

Leong



"~Vicki ~" > wrote in message
...
> I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps, like
> from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the trouble
> of permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to make
> it a hot/cold supply.
>
> That is exactly what I meant. And for that reason I take my water out
> of the tap in the kitchen which is the proper temp for my tank.
>
> Vicki
>
> Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com
>

[RedForeman ©®]

Sorry Bob K, didn't realize you were the expert about keeping fish...

I bow to your oh-so-ever-abundant-knowledge....



"Bob K." > wrote in message
...
> >Often, hot water heaters have more metals in them and some of them can,
not
> >always, but can get into the water... I've only heard of iron(which may
or
> >may not be bad) can come in the water from the hot water heater... but I
was
> >told that by a reefer, so whether it has any bearing on FW tanks, I can't
> >say...
> >
> >Calcium can be another story in and of itself....
>
> Oh my gosh.. Nearly 50 years of doing the wrong thing..
> Will my fish ever forgive me?
>
> Oh.. wait, you were TOLD that .. Ahha, was that a
> goldfish keeper?
>
>
> Bob
>

[alex crouvier]

Exactly like my earlier fear of tapwater chlorine instantly killing
my fish. In fact I don't even put dechlorinator on some of my
Central American Cichlid tanks. Have we just busted a whole
section of the aquarist industry there?
And I utilised the same hose techniques as you did.
I actually place one end of the hose inside my tank,
turn on the tap and pull out the hose when the
whole length of the hose is filled w/ water. When you
pull out the hose from the tap mouth, gravity will suck
your tank water down.


"Pokey" > wrote in message
t...
> I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in my
> tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a garden
> hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the
hose
> and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator
while
> I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
> chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
> after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it back
> up within a few hours.
>
> It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
> easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique? Comments?
>
>

[Bob Alston]

Python makes a product to aid in draining & filling. I just use gravity
when draining.

--
Bob Alston

bobalston9 AT aol DOT com
"alex crouvier" > wrote in message
...
>
> Exactly like my earlier fear of tapwater chlorine instantly killing
> my fish. In fact I don't even put dechlorinator on some of my
> Central American Cichlid tanks. Have we just busted a whole
> section of the aquarist industry there?
> And I utilised the same hose techniques as you did.
> I actually place one end of the hose inside my tank,
> turn on the tap and pull out the hose when the
> whole length of the hose is filled w/ water. When you
> pull out the hose from the tap mouth, gravity will suck
> your tank water down.
>
>
> "Pokey" > wrote in message
> t...
> > I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes in
my
> > tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a
garden
> > hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect the
> hose
> > and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator
> while
> > I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that the
> > chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water temperature
> > after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it
back
> > up within a few hours.
> >
> > It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole lot
> > easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique?
Comments?
> >
> >
>
>

[chip]

and for me, I never have to do any maintenance.

:)





"Leong Goh" > wrote in message >...
> Sorry, I thought I'd write about the way I solved my water change problems,
> but it got a bit LONG! I have 5 tanks in different locations within the
> house
>
> I wanted to do this but couldn't find a hose coupling to fit our kitchen
> faucet. Also I wanted to ensure the water temp was as close as poss to the
> tank water, and with hot & cold taps you'd loose your setting if you turned
> the taps off to attach the hose. Then there was the matter of needing a 20m
> hose to get to my various tanks, and the logistics of siphoning, and storing
> the tube, without splashing water in the house, keeping my wife happy.
>
> In NZ many homes have "Supertubs" in the laundry. These have a detachable
> water outlet, much like a detachable shower head with H&C supply. (You
> could use the shower as a water supply too) I tee'd off this tube (in the
> cabinet underneath) and added a tap to each outlet and a hose coupling to
> connect my hose to. ( from the gardening section at the local hardware
> shop).
>
> I needed a 20m hose to run to the tank furthest from the laundry. The hose
> has a tap at each end (right at the end to minimise mess), and is stored
> full of water. There is also a hose coupling at one end and suction cups at
> the other. ( I keep water in the hose so that it starts the siphon next
> time, and because getting the water out is potentially messy ) The water
> stored is always clean chlorinated water, because the last step from the
> previous week was to refill the tanks. The stored water never ends up in the
> tank as the first job the following week is to siphon out. It is usually
> only there for a week.
>
> To do a water change, I put one end ( with suction cups) into a tank, and
> open the tap at that end, then take the other end to a drain outside and
> open that end. Water siphons out. When enough's out, I close the tap at the
> aquarium end only and take the hose to the next aquarium, immerse and open
> the tap to start the flow. At the last tank, I leave the tap on in the
> aquarium but turn off the drain end. I take this end to the laundry and
> click it to the hose coupling. I adjust the temp of the water coming out of
> the supertub and then open the taps underneath to direct the flow down the
> hose into the aquarium, and (almost) close the tap to the supertub outlet.
> When the first tank is full, I close the tap at the aquarium end and move
> that end to the next. When finished, turn the water off, close all the taps
> on the hose line and fully open the one going to the supertub, and put the
> hose away.
>
> This has saved me a lot of time, and I can now do the maintenance on the
> tanks one evening, rather than on the weekend
>
> Leong
>
>
>
> "~Vicki ~" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps, like
> > from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the trouble
> > of permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to make
> > it a hot/cold supply.
> >
> > That is exactly what I meant. And for that reason I take my water out
> > of the tap in the kitchen which is the proper temp for my tank.
> >
> > Vicki
> >
> > Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com
> >

[RedForeman ©®]

we're glad chip.... yippee....
"chip" > wrote in message
om...
> and for me, I never have to do any maintenance.
>
> :)
>
>
>
>
>
> "Leong Goh" > wrote in message
>...
> > Sorry, I thought I'd write about the way I solved my water change
problems,
> > but it got a bit LONG! I have 5 tanks in different locations within the
> > house
> >
> > I wanted to do this but couldn't find a hose coupling to fit our
kitchen
> > faucet. Also I wanted to ensure the water temp was as close as poss to
the
> > tank water, and with hot & cold taps you'd loose your setting if you
turned
> > the taps off to attach the hose. Then there was the matter of needing a
20m
> > hose to get to my various tanks, and the logistics of siphoning, and
storing
> > the tube, without splashing water in the house, keeping my wife happy.
> >
> > In NZ many homes have "Supertubs" in the laundry. These have a
detachable
> > water outlet, much like a detachable shower head with H&C supply. (You
> > could use the shower as a water supply too) I tee'd off this tube (in
the
> > cabinet underneath) and added a tap to each outlet and a hose coupling
to
> > connect my hose to. ( from the gardening section at the local hardware
> > shop).
> >
> > I needed a 20m hose to run to the tank furthest from the laundry. The
hose
> > has a tap at each end (right at the end to minimise mess), and is stored
> > full of water. There is also a hose coupling at one end and suction cups
at
> > the other. ( I keep water in the hose so that it starts the siphon next
> > time, and because getting the water out is potentially messy ) The water
> > stored is always clean chlorinated water, because the last step from the
> > previous week was to refill the tanks. The stored water never ends up in
the
> > tank as the first job the following week is to siphon out. It is
usually
> > only there for a week.
> >
> > To do a water change, I put one end ( with suction cups) into a tank,
and
> > open the tap at that end, then take the other end to a drain outside and
> > open that end. Water siphons out. When enough's out, I close the tap at
the
> > aquarium end only and take the hose to the next aquarium, immerse and
open
> > the tap to start the flow. At the last tank, I leave the tap on in the
> > aquarium but turn off the drain end. I take this end to the laundry and
> > click it to the hose coupling. I adjust the temp of the water coming
out of
> > the supertub and then open the taps underneath to direct the flow down
the
> > hose into the aquarium, and (almost) close the tap to the supertub
outlet.
> > When the first tank is full, I close the tap at the aquarium end and
move
> > that end to the next. When finished, turn the water off, close all the
taps
> > on the hose line and fully open the one going to the supertub, and put
the
> > hose away.
> >
> > This has saved me a lot of time, and I can now do the maintenance on the
> > tanks one evening, rather than on the weekend
> >
> > Leong
> >
> >
> >
> > "~Vicki ~" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I think they are talking about plumbing from cold water only taps,
like
> > > from the garden or the garage, thoug if I was going to go to the
trouble
> > > of permanently plumbing water into a tank, I would probably try to
make
> > > it a hot/cold supply.
> > >
> > > That is exactly what I meant. And for that reason I take my water out
> > > of the tap in the kitchen which is the proper temp for my tank.
> > >
> > > Vicki
> > >
> > > Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com
> > >

[Mark]

Ahhhh......the rewards of keeping fake fish

Hey Chip,

If you kept your fish in oil, it wouldn't evaporate as readily and
would be able to do even less maintenance.


Mark
http://www.cichliddomain.com


"RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
...
> we're glad chip.... yippee....
> "chip" > wrote in message
> om...
> > and for me, I never have to do any maintenance.
> >
> > :)

[~Vicki ~]

There was a time not so long ago when we galls were taught to not take
hot water out of the tap to use for cooking. The reasoning behind it
was the possibility of poisoning the family with lead. The experts
thought that hot water would remove some of the lead in the joining
compound and it would be in the water which we cook in. For this reason
I always let my hot water run for a min before using it or I just use
cold. Times have changed tho and most all joining compound used for
interior pipes are lead free and these days a lot of homes are built
with pcv pipes. Water tanks have also come a long ways and many of the
old ones which my friend Red spoke of have gone by way of the dinosaur.

Good tip tho when using hot water is to let it run a min before mixing
with the cold and toping off the tank.

Vicki

Often, hot water heaters have more metals in them and some of them can,
not always, but can get into the water... I've only heard of iron(which
may or may not be bad) can come in the water from the hot water
heater... but I was told that by a reefer, so whether it has any bearing
on FW tanks, I can't say...
Calcium can be another story in and of itself....

Visit me on line at http://shamrock4u.250free.com

[T]

*rotflmao* Suppose OTS might be taking place? If not now, perhaps soon..

Tim..


"Mark" > wrote in message
...
> Ahhhh......the rewards of keeping fake fish
>
> Hey Chip,
>
> If you kept your fish in oil, it wouldn't evaporate as readily and
> would be able to do even less maintenance.
>
>
> Mark
> http://www.cichliddomain.com
>
>
> "RedForeman ©®" > wrote in message
> ...
> > we're glad chip.... yippee....
> > "chip" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > > and for me, I never have to do any maintenance.
> > >
> > > :)
>
>

[T]

When I had six tanks up and going, I would set aside 15 to mins every second
day to vaccum and change water.. It never took me long to do the
maintanence, and my shrubs quite enjoyed the extra water they were getting..
winter and summer.. I fill up two 7 gallon water containers and let the
water sit over night and to let it stabilize to room temp.. ( of course the
holding tanks were filled with warmer than room temp water and the tops were
left off to let the fumes of nasty chemicals disappear ).. Of course when I
get my own place and settle down I will incorperate a pair of 55g food grade
plastic drums for this purpose.. ( aprox 1m/3ft of the floor.. )

Tim..

"Bob Alston" > wrote in message
news:BOAib.68433$Ms2.61164@fed1read03...
> Python makes a product to aid in draining & filling. I just use gravity
> when draining.
>
> --
> Bob Alston
>
> bobalston9 AT aol DOT com
> "alex crouvier" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Exactly like my earlier fear of tapwater chlorine instantly killing
> > my fish. In fact I don't even put dechlorinator on some of my
> > Central American Cichlid tanks. Have we just busted a whole
> > section of the aquarist industry there?
> > And I utilised the same hose techniques as you did.
> > I actually place one end of the hose inside my tank,
> > turn on the tap and pull out the hose when the
> > whole length of the hose is filled w/ water. When you
> > pull out the hose from the tap mouth, gravity will suck
> > your tank water down.
> >
> >
> > "Pokey" > wrote in message
> > t...
> > > I'm presently using a much easier way to do the weekly water changes
in
> my
> > > tank. Instead of dealing with filling buckets of water I just use a
> garden
> > > hose siphon to take out about 50% of the water. Then I just connect
the
> > hose
> > > and add the water back in. I add a couple of capfuls of dechlorinator
> > while
> > > I'm adding the water. I've never done this in the past fearing that
the
> > > chlorine would still be present and kill my fish. The water
temperature
> > > after the addition drops from 78F to 74F but the two heaters bring it
> back
> > > up within a few hours.
> > >
> > > It doesn't seem to affect my fish using this method and it's a whole
lot
> > > easier than the bucket method. Anybody else use this technique?
> Comments?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>