Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Preparing Water for Changes

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monty (monty)
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17 Feb 2006 06:01 #1 by monty (monty)

Preparing Water for Changes was created by monty (monty)

At the moment the day before I'm doing water changes I'm filling numerous buckets, adding stress coat and leaving overnight. Then adding some boiled water to bring up to temp prior to the change.

I'm thinking of changing this to getting a large container with a tap at the bottom, filling it, adding the stress coat and dropping in a heater. This allows a tidier house (not one with buckets everywhere) as I can leave it in the garage then, I avoid boiling multiple kettles and should hopefully have an easier job.

Question is, would you think that I need to add an airpump to get the water in this container moving since the heater is there or would this be unnecessary.

Thanks

Monty

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CasimiR (CasimiR)
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17 Feb 2006 10:01 #2 by CasimiR (CasimiR)

Replied by CasimiR (CasimiR) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

I m thinking what you re doing is a waste of time. ( but it might be just me ? )
I dont really see the need to leave the water standing overnight .. unless your water out of the tap is very bad ?
The way i do it is,i have a large bucket under the sink, water comes out directly from the tap into it , i mix in my stress coat in.. and everything is pumped back to the Tank.
Means the water is at the right temperature too... and the house is always clean / no water dropped or no buckets around :-)

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monty (monty)
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17 Feb 2006 10:33 #3 by monty (monty)

Replied by monty (monty) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Hi CasimiR,

I should mention that I need approx 70 - 80 litres to do water changes over 2 tanks and I know from experience not to trust my water supply so I leave it overnight and test before putting it into the tanks, so yes it can be 'bad'.

'Means the water is the right temperature too' - how do you manage this directly from the tap without using the hotwater tap and running the risk of introducing contaminates from the copper tank etc ?

Monty

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CasimiR (CasimiR)
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17 Feb 2006 10:43 #4 by CasimiR (CasimiR)

Replied by CasimiR (CasimiR) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

'Means the water is the right temperature too' - how do you manage this directly from the tap without using the hotwater tap and running the risk of introducing contaminates from the copper tank etc ?

i dont know, i never had any problems with using the water directly from the taps ?
Maybe some other fishKeeper can share their experience ?

I ve read this twice now on this forum, my understanding is copper could be a problem if you have old pipes ?
Do you have more info on this ?i d be interested

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georgina (georgina)
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17 Feb 2006 11:36 #5 by georgina (georgina)

Replied by georgina (georgina) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

I boil; my water too, coz i read somehwere that copper pipes could be bad for fish, but I think if you run the water for a while through the taps its fine..

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zig (zig)
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18 Feb 2006 16:18 #6 by zig (zig)

Replied by zig (zig) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

I have mixed hot and cold water direct from the tap for years without a problem, useing dechlorinator obviously, your cold water probably comes out of copper pipes as well, it does in my case anyway.

There is no need to leave water sitting overnight either, dechlorinator will instantly neutralise water of chlorine and chloramines, and most dechlor includeing Stress Coat will detoxify heavy metals as well.

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19 Feb 2006 16:49 #7 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)

Replied by platty252 (Darren Dalton) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Monty i have a 50 gallon storage tank all plumed with stopcock and tap.
You just have to connect a hose to fill it and it wont over flow.
If your interested let me know.

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monty (monty)
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20 Feb 2006 06:10 #8 by monty (monty)

Replied by monty (monty) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Hi all,

Copper and hot water pipes - I understand the issue here is as much to do with the fact that your hot water is kept in metal tank as much as the pipes the water running through being a factor. I suppose the issue may be how old the tank is .. guessing here. But I've read that you should not use the hot water from your taps as there is the chance of increase copper levels and personally have not been willing to run the risk.

Overnight lying - As I mentioned I've had difficulty with my water supply over time - caused a PH crash on me once, and since then - and after talking to the town plumber (over a few pints) got more information on the water treatment, I leave it overnight and then get a reading before putting it in the tank. Reading from the tap and after the overnight do vary but I have not do a reading direct from the tap in a while. While at the tratment plant they are interested in the PH - it's not their main concern and the fact that the water is coming from rivers into the treatment plant there can be seasonal changes - autumn has decaying leaves in the water, heavy rain has other effects etc on the source.

Platty252 - I am interested in what you are doing. I'll be out of the country for the next few days - will PM on my return

Thanks all

Monty

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conor (conor)
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27 Mar 2006 01:18 #9 by conor (conor)

Replied by conor (conor) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Your original idea is sound. I use a simple heater sitting in a 25 litre container for a day to heat up the water to the desired temp.

I add various concoctions to it to make it compatible with the tank I'm using it for. Also, leaving it overnight gets rid of the supersaturated oxygen which can oxidise on the fishes gills and burn them.

So go for it, add a small heater and your laughing. Beware though to mix the water up a tad as heat rises and all that. I find that the temp at the bottom is lower than the top. But not overly so.

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28 Mar 2006 14:02 #10 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)

Replied by platty252 (Darren Dalton) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Monty that storage tank is still here if you are interested.

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monty (monty)
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29 Mar 2006 06:52 #11 by monty (monty)

Replied by monty (monty) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

I've put this on hold for now as I've to clear out the garage first before I can put anything anywhere..... pricing skips at the moment..

Thanks

Monty

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29 Mar 2006 13:55 #12 by platty252 (Darren Dalton)

Replied by platty252 (Darren Dalton) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

No worries.
Skips are expensive. 300e + for a standard skip.

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Didihno (Didihno)
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19 Dec 2006 07:08 #13 by Didihno (Didihno)

Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Heated buckets?
Storage tanks?

Eh, I have two 5litre ballygowan bottles.
I fill them with tap water both hot and cold to the required temperature, (tested with fingeromometer), I add Tetra Aqua plus 1/4 capful for 5l.
I put the lid on, shake it like a 2 year old in Dunnes Stores and pour into the tank (onto my hand over the surface of the water).

Is that wrong?

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ChrisM (ChrisM)
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19 Dec 2006 07:29 #14 by ChrisM (ChrisM)

Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

I wouldnt get into the habbit of adding boiling water as lime/heavy metals may become an issue.
My usual water change involves changing around 400 litres so heating it up or leaving it over night is not an option.I pump water straight in from the mains into the substrate and rocks which helps to buffer the incoming water.Obviously all the contaminants are still there but in a less harmful form.Over time with good water conditions and feeding etc. the fish build an immunity to this.I should mention now I do my water changes over three days,never all at once.

Because my tanks are big adding small amounts of cold water only brings temp down around half a degree celcius,any more and I stop.Ive been doing this for years and havent had any problems yet.I also do this in my Tropheus tank and they are notoriously woosy fish and they even manage to live with it.

For a smaller tank I would def go with a heater and thermostat in a bin overnight.This way you are not affecting temp and the less stressed fish are the better.

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Didihno (Didihno)
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19 Dec 2006 07:53 #15 by Didihno (Didihno)

Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Hmmm.......I could try that I suppose.
I'll have to figure out how to do 20% changes for the Rio 240 anyway.

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ChrisM (ChrisM)
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19 Dec 2006 08:25 #16 by ChrisM (ChrisM)

Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Woodies sell 100 litre bins ($12) which are great for doing water changes on a 240.A 300w thermostat will heat 100l of cold tap water to 32C in about 6-7 hours.All you have to do then is get a bucket and put your back into it!!

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ChrisM (ChrisM)
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19 Dec 2006 08:27 #17 by ChrisM (ChrisM)

Replied by ChrisM (ChrisM) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Didinho,I would like to purchase one of these fingerometers.Can you tell me where I might get one.

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conor (conor)
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19 Dec 2006 08:55 #18 by conor (conor)

Replied by conor (conor) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Those fish should not be affected by a 20% water change. As long as you use the finger-omemeter (I love that by the way) and the PH is the same (or close to that of the aquarium, they should be fine.

But how often do you change the water? Did you say daily?
thats far too much.

just before going moving to marine, I discovered that _less_ changes was the solution to not loosing fish!

As long as you use carbon (changed regularly - at least bi-weekly) - and use phosphate remover, then you get no algae issues. There are even products to remove nitrate aswell! I found tetra nitrate minus to be excellent, and there was even someone on PFK who has a two year old beautiful planted tank which gets 50% changes every 6 months with it!!! I tested this and found it to be true, the water remained stable and all fish were happy.

ChrisM, you can get a fingeromemeter at a place near you, right on the end of your hands. :-)

I use it all the time for water changes, top off water I just dribble in without pre-heating.

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Didihno (Didihno)
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19 Dec 2006 16:49 #19 by Didihno (Didihno)

Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

Didinho,I would like to purchase one of these fingerometers.Can you tell me where I might get one.

I suppose I could sell you one of mine, but it comes in awful handy for arse scratching at work.

I'm doing bi-weekly 10litre changes for a 45litre tank.

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Sean (Fr. Jack)
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20 Dec 2006 03:12 #20 by Sean (Fr. Jack)

Replied by Sean (Fr. Jack) on topic Re: Preparing Water for Changes

I think in a fish house its worth having a reservoir which will build up to ambient temp and save a lot of time mucking around with a kettles of hot water. Water changes are not as important as you think, as the filter can break down most of it leaving only phenols and dies, which to a degree can be taken out by carbon. There is an exception to this, e.g live breares kept on there own under high stocking release chemicals into the water that cannot be broken down, hence need to be diluted by doing water changes, also if you raise fry of all the same species in a tank, they also produce chemical to inhibit grown, so they do not grow to big for the environment, which is natures way of stopping stress and mortality's, again water changes dilute this and accelerate grown in young fish.
I used to raise brine shrimps to adult size and sell them to the shops in the early nineties, in Dublin. I do not live there now, but my mother in Bray Co:Wicklow still has a bout 4X 500L black vats with abs pluming valves, and loads of sheets of plexiglass, if any one wants it for free they are welcome to it provided they take every thing, good and bad and comes with a transit van with no excuses that is does not fit in their van as I do not want to pays some one to remove the left overs if I am giving away the good stuff for free.

That would be a ecumenical matter!!!

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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Preparing Water for Changes