Easy Water Changes

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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

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

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.

"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??

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.