Can water change hoses spread disease from tank to tank?

[Bearsjfk]

Have you tested your water?

No

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Can water change hoses spread disease or sickness from tank to tank?

 

[Magnus_Bane]

Can water change hoses spread disease or sickness from tank to tank?

If the hose touches the water then yes. If not then no. In order for it to spread from one tank to another it must attach to something that was originally in the water. The easiest way to disinfect a hose like that is to dip it in rubbing alcohol. It disinfects, dries fast, and is fish safe once dry. Just don't drop it in the tank when it's still wet with alcohol and you'll be fine. Just make sure to dip the hose in as deep in the alcohol as ya do in your tank water.

 

[kno4te]

Can water change hoses spread disease or sickness from tank to tank?

Yes it could.

 

[Ozzie73]

I keep a couple buckets handy with ocean salt water. Always one for nets and another to siphon water through the hose or pump between tanks. I was told it kills freshwater bacteria and parasites so gave it a shot. Whether I got fed the 'they're special racing tires' line or legit info, I haven't had a problem since.

 

[kdrun76]

You would have to disinfect between tanks to keep that answer a "no". Even your arm going into one tank and then another can spread some diseases.

 

[Bearsjfk]

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts on this. I guess I need to re think the way I do things. I have a few tanks and usually go from tank to tank vacuuming and draining during water changes. Then I fill up each one. I recently had a fish with intestinal issues and it seemed to happen in a few other fish in other tanks. Considering I use the same hose to drain as I fill I probably need a sanitation step as I think a water flush wouldn’t be enough.

 

[duanes]

When I lived in the U.S. I had 3 rows of tanks, 5 tanks of about 500 gallons, connected too one sump in each row.
Because of this I had 3 siphons, one for each row. I know, seems a bit anal, and another just for a quarantine tank
And in each row, a quarantine tank that could be isolated, whenever something new came along,
I usually QTeed anything new for at least 3 months. The expense and hassle of treating just one tank, is hard enough.

 

[Bearsjfk]

Thanks. Cool set up. It sounds like a lot until you have problems. Then it’s all worth it

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

Yes this could spread disease from one tank to another.

 

[Chief Tom]

I usually rinse them out with fresh water and lay everything out in the sunshine. I never considered alcohol although somehow I ended up with 4 vacuum set ups and go tank to tank. Python users should be careful when just flipping the valve to refill. That's an awfully long hose and plenty of room for nasty stuff to go right back into the tank you think you just cleaned.