Tank maintenance tools...

[Dreamy]

Well, the new 75 G is sitting in the front room, ready to be set up. It's been years since I've kept fishes and want to make things as painless as possible to keep a healthy, attractive tank, and keep seeing references to the Python fill and siphoning system. I've read lots of enthusiastic endorsements, but wonder if my faucet will work with it. Is there some kind of threadless adaptor, or just how does it work with a kitchen faucet? Also, I've read many differing opinions but I'd like to stick in some large plants and a couple of mollies after about 48hrs and wonder if that would be condemning them to death. Years ago, we were unaware of nitrogen cycles and things were simpler...
Thanks, Jackie

 

[Dr Joe]

Stick with cycling the tank, play with decorations while your waiting and research the fish you want to keep so your better prepared.

Yep, when some people didn't understand the Nitrogen cycle pet stores made alot of money on replacement fish.

Python doesn't have that style of adapter, and they are a little slow (to me, I use a pump) but they do beat syphoning manually (tho you use a lot of extra water).

Dr Joe

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[Dreamy]

Egg? Awww, that's cute.
So, I'll try to refrain from introducing any living creatures into the tank til the water's right. I see there are different brands of the fill/siphon tools...is one brand superior to another? Thanks for the response, Dr. Joe.

 

[Niisan9178]

As far as I know, one brand of siphoning is no better in quality than another.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Not when you get wind of how Dr. Joe does it. He has a pump on the end of his cleaning wand He tried a jet engine but it was too heavy



The flaw with using a python to fill the tank is that you are putting chlorine or possibly chloramines directly into the tank. You should pretreat the water outside of the tank in a separate container and then use a transfer pump to pump it to your tank.

 

[Rawimpact]

CHOMPERS, i have been treating the water inside of the tank (with water conditioner) then adding the water... I have yet to lose a fish.

 

[Fry]

CHOMPERS, i have been treating the water inside of the tank (with water conditioner) then adding the water... I have yet to lose a fish.

It really depends on the fish and the % of water you change at once. More delicate fish would not be able to handle it.

 

[Dreamy]

Thanks, guys, that sounds like good advice. Doesn't chlorine dissipate in a few days, especially with surface turbulation? I'll use a de-chlorinator in any event, but apparently I need to unlearn a lot of stuff from my last stint as fishkeeper. I'll be starting with sturdy little boogers so they should stand a pretty good chance when they're added.

 

[CHOMPERS]

CHOMPERS, i have been treating the water inside of the tank (with water conditioner) then adding the water... I have yet to lose a fish.

The measure isn't about losing fish. It is what you are doing to them. Clean your bathroom with some X-14 with the door closed (you clean your bathroom, right?). Wait for the chlorine fumes to get so bad that you have to leave...but don't. That is what you are doing to your fish. You will live to tell about it, but you will definitely feel it in your lungs for a few days. Just because you or the fish don't die, it does not mean that there won't be problems later in life. What do you suppose happens when this is done on a regular basis. If you are unconvinced, mix some tile cleaner and some vinegar with in the bathroom with the door closed...and don't leave.

Fish's gills must extract much lower levels of oxygen from the water than you do from the air. And they can't do it efficiently with burned gills.

 

[CHOMPERS]

...especially with surface turbulation?

No, that is a false myth that just won't die. Circulation of the water will facilitate because the gas exchange occures at the surface...or where air meets water such as in bubbles.