Cold or warm water for water change
- Thread starter CANAMONSTER
- Start date
I just match the temp to the tank water. I first match by feel. Then let the water poor in directly towards the tank thermometer and adjust hot/cold
I age all my water in 55g barrels and they have heaters in them set at 82. when filling barrels i turn both hot and cold on and feel for temp normally comes out 80-84 degrees.
I have always done mixed and just a tad cooler then the tank. Duane's very good idea about the water heater tank being drained regularly as this is good practice for us and the fish. It is said that the warm water has much more heavy metals and such compared to cold and thus cold being more "healthy" for our fish.
Thing is I usually do 50 percent WC and can't find it in me to do straight cold. If I could do 30 percent twice weekly I may do just the cold if healthier and cost effective.
Thing is I usually do 50 percent WC and can't find it in me to do straight cold. If I could do 30 percent twice weekly I may do just the cold if healthier and cost effective.
It comes down to the end result to your tank and simple common sense. A small temperature drop of just a few degrees won't stress most fish, for some it can even be stimulating, but a large, sudden temperature drop can be stressful-- or worse-- for some species more than others. In other words you don't want to do a 90% water change with 40 degree water and suddenly bring an 80 degree tropical tank down to 50. An extreme example, maybe, but the point is, whatever the combination of water volume changed and temperature of new water, for most fish it should add up to a relatively mild temperature change.
In my case I generally add water a few degrees cooler than the tank and change warmer tanks first, then cooler tanks. In other words by the time my water heater is running low I'm on a cooler tank anyway.
In my case I generally add water a few degrees cooler than the tank and change warmer tanks first, then cooler tanks. In other words by the time my water heater is running low I'm on a cooler tank anyway.
