Water Changes - a little warmer or a little colder?

[BPags52]

I use warmer for 2 reasons:
1) So the heater doesn't have to work as hard after water changes.

2) I keep tropical fish, so I'd rather give them slightly warm water over slightly colder water (as I've heard that tropical fish are more susceptible to drops in temperature).

 

[benzjamin13]

Right now, I just fill it from the hose so the water is cold. However, during the winter months, I'll mix the water with some hot water so it won't be too cold. But the best thing I can do is just slowly fill the tank. The temperature doesn't fluctuates as much when I do that. Of course, a simple water change wastes like 3-4 hours of my life at that point.

 

[Citrinellus]

I always try to do a little bit warmer.

 

[kevbc03]

colder

When in the wild and there are rain storms, the rain is never hotter than lake,river,streams temperature.

At night the temperature allways drops no matter where you are.

I have read about in amazonia that during the rainy season the water temps would drop 10-12 degree's. And that is what sets off the breeding in most species.

And in the wild there is nothing that would cause a fast or instant temp increase.

I always use a tiny bit colder water then the tanks temp because like hybridtheory said, It rains cooler then warmer in the tropics. And the heater will be able to raise the temp no problem.

 

[danielratti]

In between really. I use cool water and after I do that 90% of the time I can get my african's to spawn.

 

[Deaths Sting]

One of the biggest mistakes fish owners make is changing all of the tank's water. This can be devastating as bacterial levels can be wiped out. Bacterial is essential to breakdown fish poop from becoming toxic. The best solution is dilution!

1. Fill a bucket with tap water that will be used to replace the water in the fish tank. Prepare this a day in advance. The general rule is to take out about 20 percent of the tank's water. The most common tank size is 40 gallons--in that case about 8 gallons should be removed. This can be lowered to 5 gallons to make it easier, since buckets usually hold 5 gallons.
2. Step 2
   Add tap water conditioner into the bucket. Use the amount of water condition as directed on the container. A common brand you'll find at most pet stores is Tap Water Conditioner by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Or, if you have a reverse osmosis dionized (RO/DI) water filter, it can be used without adding water conditioner.
3. Step 3
   Place the bucket and tubing next to the aquarium in preparation for a water change.
4. Step 4
   Turn off all electricity to avoid any dangers. Heaters can break if exposed to excessive air as it will try to heat the room's temperature. Filters can go dry if water levels go below the suction tubing.
5. Step 5
   Place one end of the tubing into the fish tank and begin a suction by sucking on the other end of the tube like you would a straw. Make sure your end is below the end in the tank so that gravity pulls down the water into the bucket. Be sure to watch the water move down the tubing as you do not want to drink any of your fish's poop. Before it gets to your mouth, empty the water into a second bucket.
6. Step 6
   Remove any solid wastes inside the fish tank by gently siphoning the gravel to pick any settled debris.
7. Step 7
   When the bucket is almost full remove the tubing from the fish tank to break the siphon.
8. Step 8
   After removing the targeted amount of water, add the prepared water into the tank.
9. Step 9
   Plug any electrical equipment that was unplugged in Step 4.

________________________________________________
schoolies
spiritual books

screw ur schoollies and a spiritual books!!! bacteria colonies grow on surfaces not in the water... so many people do huge water changes without a single problem....

ur copy and paste should be removed from ur computer..

 

[crisper]

One of the biggest mistakes fish owners make is changing all of the tank's water. This can be devastating as bacterial levels can be wiped out. Bacterial is essential to breakdown fish poop from becoming toxic. The best solution is dilution!

1. Fill a bucket with tap water that will be used to replace the water in the fish tank. Prepare this a day in advance. The general rule is to take out about 20 percent of the tank's water. The most common tank size is 40 gallons--in that case about 8 gallons should be removed. This can be lowered to 5 gallons to make it easier, since buckets usually hold 5 gallons.
2. Step 2
   Add tap water conditioner into the bucket. Use the amount of water condition as directed on the container. A common brand you'll find at most pet stores is Tap Water Conditioner by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Or, if you have a reverse osmosis dionized (RO/DI) water filter, it can be used without adding water conditioner.
3. Step 3
   Place the bucket and tubing next to the aquarium in preparation for a water change.
4. Step 4
   Turn off all electricity to avoid any dangers. Heaters can break if exposed to excessive air as it will try to heat the room's temperature. Filters can go dry if water levels go below the suction tubing.
5. Step 5
   Place one end of the tubing into the fish tank and begin a suction by sucking on the other end of the tube like you would a straw. Make sure your end is below the end in the tank so that gravity pulls down the water into the bucket. Be sure to watch the water move down the tubing as you do not want to drink any of your fish's poop. Before it gets to your mouth, empty the water into a second bucket.
6. Step 6
   Remove any solid wastes inside the fish tank by gently siphoning the gravel to pick any settled debris.
7. Step 7
   When the bucket is almost full remove the tubing from the fish tank to break the siphon.
8. Step 8
   After removing the targeted amount of water, add the prepared water into the tank.
9. Step 9
   Plug any electrical equipment that was unplugged in Step 4.

________________________________________________
schoolies
spiritual books

And how many gallons of water are you changing with this method.

 

[12 Volt Man]

probably 5 per day LOL

thats the issue with fancy ways to pretreat water.

one - it normally isn't necessary

and

two - its not practical if you have lots of tanks or large tanks.

just turn on your tap, eyeball the temp, add your dechlor, and go to town.

you wont have any problems unless your source water has issues - like you are on a well etc.

 

[Toby_H]

I use my finger to get the temperature as close to the tank’s temperature as possible… I could care less if it’s a little warmer or a little colder… I wouldn’t use water that was a lot warmer nor a lot colder…

As mentioned, fish can tolerate a larger increase in temperature than a decrease in temperature without ill effect…

The theory that rain water is cooler than river/lake water is not universally applicable. It depends on the region, the river and the season… Stick your toe in the stream in the foothills near a snow capped mountain in the spring time. It’s friggin COLD, yet spring rains are often quite warm…

I’m not arguing that either answer is wrong… and I am not promoting that either answer is right… I am promoting that exact same is best and as close as practical is second best…

 

[flowerpower]

I would go slightly colder just because the water that comes out of the hot pipes has more metal/mineral deposits in it.... I think. Also my fish seem to enjoy swimming against the stream of cooler water as it enters the tank. Always gets those flirtatious pairs to take the next step and do the nasty.