PROPER water change

[ThaDude]

So i've talked about this with a couple people, and looked at numerous sources online. What is the 'proper' way to do a water change?
I am specifically looking at using tap water.

1 source cites to fill buckets, treat the buckets with declor, and pour them into the tank.

Another says to directly re-fill the tank and and treat all gallons with declor.

Another says to let the water sit a couple days..

I was just wondering on ya'lls input, not including RO or rainwater.
Thanks!

 

[jmart.cooper]

It depends on the size of tank. With little tanks its easy to do it with buckets and let it sit over night, but with large tanks people usually treat the water as the tank is refilled. I live in the country and have a well so I dont have to worry about chlorine, but this is what I believe most people do. There was a poll on it one time or another. You could try searching for it.

 

[Austin]

prime tank for full volume, fill straight from tap. done.

 

[ThaDude]

so add the declor before the actual refill..

The steps are always the same but the order is the most fluxuating information i've found.

 

[hbluehunter]

prime tank for full volume, fill straight from tap. done.

X2

 

[BarroomHero]

so add the declor before the actual refill..

The steps are always the same but the order is the most fluxuating information i've found.

Thats how I do it. Been doing it that way for 8 months and havent had a problem.

 

[McFluffrichromis]

I think it also depends on your local water. I know anyone I know in Arlington VA can not just run the water into the tank its chlorine content is too high for the treatment of the tank while using hoses. The bucket system is a must for those people to treat the water and let it sit for a few minutes before they add it to the tank.

Before I heard about that I did not think it mattered what order or combo you used to fill your tank.

I treat tank and run hose to tank and fill.

 

[gomezladdams]

Ideally you would put all the water for the change in a holding tank,treat and aerate it,buffer and match the temp to the tank,let it sit overnight then do your waterchange.
Or just refill from the hose,checking temp with your finger every so often,thats how I do it.

 

[ThaDude]

i match the temp out the faucet, i was just putting my declor in after. i usually do about five extra drops. now i know i need to do the full 75 drops previous. My LFS told me wrong
The PH luckily comes out pretty close to what my tanks are at, and for the malawi tank i use the salt & buffer in a bucket where i mix it up and pour into the filter once i notice no more particle at the bottom. should I let that sit more than a day as well then?

 

[JL]

Fill a bin w/ temp matched tap, declor, the drop a pump in the bin and plug it in to fill the tank. That's my method.