Winter time water changes. How do you do it?

[88GT]

We have a well and in winter the tap water get near freezing. It actually does freeze sometimes. We will get a copper test kit and just out of curiosity test our hot water, but for now we fill a large bath tub with cold tap water the day before and add pots of boiled water to get it to temp and got a submersible pump to pump the water out and into the tanks. Works almost as well as going straight from the faucet with a hose, but its still a bit of a hassle. How does everyone else deal with water changes in winter?

 

[Axle]

how much water are you changing for you could just get a couple of five gallon buckets and fill them up and let them come up to temp in the house before the water change but if you are doing large water changes probably not the best

 

[88GT]

how much water are you changing for you could just get a couple of five gallon buckets and fill them up and let them come up to temp in the house before the water change but if you are doing large water changes probably not the best

we have a 125, a 100, a 60, a 30 and a few 10s. we do them all at once and Buckets wont cut it. But, we have made life as easy as possible on ourselves. I dont want it to be such a hassle that I dont want to do it or get out of the hobby cuz its too much trouble. Just looking for better ideas. Thanks for the input tho
we probably use 100 to 150 gallons a weekend doing water changes. 25-40% per tank depending on the tank

 

[Oddball]

I have 2 water storage tanks (1000 gal and 400 gal). I heat my hatchery instead of individual tanks so, the ambient temp heats the water. The tanks trickle fill from a 3-stage filtration system. I use either gravity draining for filling my lower tanks. And, a 1200 GPH pump takes care of the upper tanks.

 

[88GT]

I have 2 water storage tanks (1000 gal and 400 gal). I heat my hatchery instead of individual tanks so, the ambient temp heats the water. The tanks trickle fill from a 3-stage filtration system. I use either gravity draining for filling my lower tanks. And, a 1200 GPH pump takes care of the upper tanks.

Im not sea world
A storage tank isnt a bad idea tho. Like a couple 55 gallon drums. Would the water go stagnant ofer time? say a week or 2?

 

[rallysman]

I just use a python on the sink and use the hot water to get the temp where it should be.

 

[bigspizz]

I have heard dropping the temp of your tank 10 degrees in a matter of moments causes no harm to fish. It takes some cold azz water to drop the tank more than that on a 50% change....

 

[88GT]

I have heard dropping the temp of your tank 10 degrees in a matter of moments causes no harm to fish. It takes some cold azz water to drop the tank more than that on a 50% change....

MY fish can probably take it, but we have frontosas and other cichlids that may not. My fish may actually like cooler water, but the water can be 40 degrees comming out of the faucet after it runs for a bit. I think thats too cold

 

[Potts050]

Natural bodies of water that support fish life rarely change more than half a degree a day in temperature. Few fish are adapted to sudden changes in temp. Water that is too cold will shut down their metabolism. They will die of asphyxiation, and blood poisoning if their metabolism can't adapt. Best to make the effort to match the tank temp.

If your handy you could rig up a recirculating hot water line from your hot water heater through a coil of hydronic heating tubing in a large tub/barrel of water. Just force the water from your hot water tank through the coil and back to your hot water tank cold water intake. If your heater is natural gas, they may be the cheapest way to heat your water quickly ( in a few hours)

View attachment recirc pump.bmp

 

[88GT]

Natural bodies of water that support fish life rarely change more than half a degree a day in temperature. Few fish are adapted to sudden changes in temp. Water that is too cold will shut down their metabolism. They will die of asphyxiation, and blood poisoning if their metabolism can't adapt. Best to make the effort to match the tank temp.

If your handy you could rig up a recirculating hot water line from your hot water heater through a coil of hydronic heating tubing in a large tub/barrel of water. Just force the water from your hot water tank through the coil and back to your hot water tank cold water intake. If your heater is natural gas, they may be the cheapest way to heat your water quickly ( in a few hours)

View attachment 147563

Our water heater is electric, so Im sure is has copper tubing in it somewhere. Or at least a copper heating element. But thanks for your expertise.