Matching Tank Temp During Water Changes

[JK47]

I used to "feel it out" and thought I was pretty accurate but I was wrong... Anyone else have any creative ideas? I got an extra digital temp reader when I bought them for all my sumps.

I put a tupperware "cup" under the sink outlet and let it go full flow until the temp matches. Once I reverse the flow (out to the tank) my phython connection leaks a little (because I crank up the sink flow pretty high) so I use that slow leak to fill the cup and get a constant reading. I empty the cup every so often and let the temp probe do it's thing.





The digital temp reader.



I was suprised how much the temp goes up and down during putting the water back in the tank. I change about 80-100 gallons at a time. so it takes a while. Now the temp never goes up or down by a single degree or less and my fish are allot less stressed.

 

[Matt724]

nice, i usually just take the thermometer from the tank and stick it in the bucket until it reads within a degree or two of the original (unless i'm trying to instigate breeding conditions such as a warm or cold w/c)

 

[devder1]

lol nice! im lazy so i just use the outside hose which is pretty steady temp wise and hope for the best temp wise lol

 

[JK47]

lol if I use the hose here on the OR/WA border I would freeze em! Your lucky! I actually tried this the first time to entice my geos to spawn too thinking its the rainy season by dropping the temp. Now its just habit.

 

[vaine111]

Yeah I just started using a meat thermometer, I feel I was putting much warmer water back in by using the feel method. I used to put a 5 gallon bucket full of tank water next to the tub and hand check the water from the faucet using the same hand.

 

[Bderick67]

Just as long as the water temp is close(within 5*F) you'll be fine. I recently did a 50% WC on my 180g. The temp of the tank was at 84*. I refilled the tank with 70* water, yet it only dropped the tank temp to 81*.

 

[Illbuyourcatfish]

I have digital thermometers that have lengths of chords with suction cups on the end. I just stick the thermometer into the gravel vac and turn on the tap until its perfect. I can match the temp to within .1 of a degree Fahrenheit.

 

[jschall]

I have digital thermometers that have lengths of chords with suction cups on the end. I just stick the thermometer into the gravel vac and turn on the tap until its perfect. I can match the temp to within .1 of a degree Fahrenheit.

You mean THESE thermometers?

Not my image, btw.

 

[JK47]

You mean THESE thermometers?

Not my image, btw.

OH SNAP!! That's not a good sign! I don't match it 100% of the time but get within a degree or two real easily. Maybe if I use the same reader from the tank to the sink, they will at least be wrong together lol...

 

[JK47]

Just as long as the water temp is close(within 5*F) you'll be fine. I recently did a 50% WC on my 180g. The temp of the tank was at 84*. I refilled the tank with 70* water, yet it only dropped the tank temp to 81*.

Yeah I agree with ya Brian and I honestly forgot about dilution, but you know what bugs me about that? All my geo's seem to haul butt over to play in the incoming flow from the python (see pic).

My Uaru and Satanoperca could not hate it more. They stay on the opposite side of the tank during WC's. Their total DRAMA QUEENS about WC's.