henward Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 my method: usually i would rid of water. then i would put water from the tap in a bucket, with water ager, then after that put the new water into the tank or sump to re fill the tank. i went to HFF they said in all their tanks, they clean the tank and drain water, put tap water straight but before new water goes in, they put in sea chem prime, whcih is a very concentrated water ager, they put the precribed dose into the tank then from a hose pump the water into the tanK. he said he has had no trouble with this. i was just afraid that the chlorine in that brief moment will kill bacteria or fish and stuff. but he said, the water ager acts instantly in contact with water and what its trying to neutralise. he said that when you put the ager in the tank, and hose in, it will mix the water and instantly act, and no harm done he says all his tank, including the massive one and the red aro tank is done like this. i feel if they do it, i can, same water in albany to my house! any feedback? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I use water straight from my tap, with no water ager at all. Your fish will be fine. Most people don't waste their money on water ager, as most of the time it is not needed and is just a hassle. I used to do 150L water changes on my 250L planted tank, and used to fill it up straight from the hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Henward, I do my water changes exactly the same as the guy said from HFF. I have been doing this for the last few months with no problems at all. I have an Elephantnose in one of my tanks, and it has never shown signs of discomfort or turning up his fins. Also I do 15% water changes daily with one 60% each week in 5 of my tanks. All my fish are thriving and I have not had any deaths. I'm sure you will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I do 50% changes from the tap. I dont use ager now Saves time and $$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 i do 50% change vacum it out thn put the hose in and turn it on no ager etc etc all fish love swimming through the hose water going in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Yep agreed I just use the water straight out of the tap and haven't had trouble.. Of course this is implying that you have contacted the council and found there is nothing nasty in your water and taking the gamble they don't suddenly add a heap of chlorine randomly (have heard of it happening). I lived in Auckland lived out in hobsonville and used the straight tap water too never had any trouble, if you did want to use dechlorinator then get the big bottle for ponds its soo economical even if you do decide to use it it wont break the bank like most of the other popular ones.. Cant remember the brand but can goto fish room and have a look and post it if you like.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I dont use any water ager We dont need it down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 yip water out onto the garden, water in straight from the hose do about 30% weekly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 oh woops.. i didnt ask the council were i live was just built about a year ago its a sub divsion they started it last year but the houses are going up... so should i contact the council? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 so suffice to say the way i used to do it was the waste of time if wanting to use water ager, which i already bought, it also breaks down amonia to safe compounds your bio filtration can break down so its ok its not such a waste cos im going away for a month with no water changes. i put the water ager into the tank as i fill up with a hose and straight in that way? if some people are filling up with out water ager at all, then i should definatley be ok with water ager from a hose. ? those people that are putting straight tap hose water - are your water from the mains not tank from your roof and rain water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 mines mains i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Ive always been on mains and don't use dechlorinator depends on how paranoid you are and I guess there is always a risk that there could be something in it. As for contacting your council again its upto you I haven't and just use the tap water but I could get caught out.. Mind you where I live people refuse to even drink the tap water because its apparently so filthy I don't care and just drink it but most of bulls wont lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 This is the process on my 4' tank with sump; -Turn off pumps and wait for water to drain. -Gravel siphon with extended hose goes out the window, drain 40-50% of water. -Add AquaPlus water conditioner to main tank. -Garden hose goes in the window and the tank is re-filled straight out of the hose. I have a 300W heater in the sumo for 'normal' operation, and a 200W set 1C lower which only kicks in when the temp drops a few degrees after a big water change, so the water warms up quickly. I've been doing this for years and never had a problem with all sorts of fish, arowanas [black and silver], uarus, loaches, eels etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 If chlorine is a strong enough oxidising agent to kill bacteria imagine what it is doing to the gills of your fish even if they are still swimming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Water changes 30% or less I just put it in. Water changes 30% or more get cheap water ager added. Water changes 50% or larger I try to make sure the water is warm as well Works fine. I add the ager while the water is being added, e.g. half way through it I do a 'squirt'. Also I never fire the cold hose at the filters directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 If chlorine is a strong enough oxidising agent to kill bacteria imagine what it is doing to the gills of your fish even if they are still swimming. and get we drink this water and give it to young children....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerrrngirrl Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 So, let me get this right?? You guys do it straight from tap, with a hose even, and don't even warm the water to the same temp as the tank??? Man have I been wasting my time! I always use a mix of cold/warm water, just to get the new water roughly around the same temperature as whats in the tank. Tell me I really don't have to to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 So, let me get this right?? You guys do it straight from tap, with a hose even, and don't even warm the water to the same temp as the tank??? Man have I been wasting my time! I always use a mix of cold/warm water, just to get the new water roughly around the same temperature as whats in the tank. Tell me I really don't have to to this. You do really have to if you are changing more than about 10-15%, otherwise you risk white spot etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 yeah, i have been wasting my time too as for your query, fish enjoy wald water rushes, they experience this in nature, rivers replenish rivers and lakes. rain and mountains replenish lakes and rivers all cold water, unwarmed and very cold, warms up through mixng and they enjoy this. In fact there is substantial proof that this actually is better for the fish, stimulates the immune system and growth. but i have been mixing ager and water in a bucket then putting into sump/tank.... man! have i been wating time! good though to know, now i can cut it by half again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 i change around 40% every week on my discus tank. Water comes straight from the tank but i use the tap mixer to make sure the water going in is the same temperature as the tank water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doch Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 i usualy have my hose in the sump and a syphon in the tank and just rego gulate them so they go in at the same speed pump does the rest then check all the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerrrngirrl Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 You do really have to if you are changing more than about 10-15%, otherwise you risk white spot etc. Oh, see thats what I thought too I probably change more than 10-15% so I guess I should just keep doin what i;m doin.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 i was gonna say, i thought that the water temp change would shock the fish! like when when you do the polar bear swim and cant breathe... i suppose that it would depend on how hardy your fish are to water temp changes... man ive been wasting time and money making sure the water temp was only bout a degree off before adding it to my tank... >.< o well, you live you learn.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 The amount of drop in temperature will depend on the % of water you change if you use cold water. A rapid substantial drop in temperature is a sure way to end up with white spot. If you are a lazyarse like me , the best way is to make water changes easy by getting a connector that allows you to add water at near the right temperature rather than stressing your fish. I do 50-60% water changes with a hose connected to the fawcette and blend hot and cold. It is no more difficult than filling from the garden tap but stresses the fish a lot less. It is easier than curing diseases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted December 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 if you are doing 50 to 60% changes then i agree, blending temps is better, though some fish like aros, perhaps oscars and pacus, big monsters, i dont think its crucial, but for smaller less resilient fish, i think it would. but water fluctuation is natural in all habitats, but how great the fluctuation is depends on the habitat, and remember, in the wild, lets say small guppies , the water temp will change dramatically, probably 20% of the fish population of species will die, but the other 80% is stronger and will breed stronger ones, natural selection:D but blending sounds good, where do you get fixtures to put on normal unthreaded tap heads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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