Water changes

Ok, so i have seen so many threads in forums about why we need to do water changes,etc etc etc, but i have something to ask.....so here goes,

How exactly can we do a water change safely. I mean i know you cant just put water from tap to tank, but how many different ways are there that are safe?

I read somewhere on the forum that you have to let the water stand for atleast 24hrs before adding to tank, therefore a good idea would be to fill a container with water and let it stand for 24hrs. I know there are other ways where you can purchase chemicals from the shop and add that to the new water before putting it in the tank, so with that being said, how can we safely add water to the tank without purchasing chemicals from the store? keep in mind tank is not heavily populated. All feedback would be appreciated.

 

I would let it stand or filter it Via Ro water unit.If you don't use one then go and buy the best dechlorinater you can find add it then and then let it stand for 24-48 hours.Maybe you should try and get these 200L drums fill with water add dechlorinator and add a pump to circulate the water.

 

Hi snail,

Allowing the water to stand for 24hrs is done to get the chlorine to dissipate from the water. It is advisible to aerate the water during this time.

I use tap water in my Discus tanks. I do not like adding dechlorinator to this water, so I did a small DIY carbon filter. I made it from 50mm pvc pipe. Its basically a small compartment which I can open on one end and replace the activated charcoal. It works like a charm. I have a power pump inside the container and all I do is slowly pump the water through this compartment over a day, and then I know the water is safe. Its cheaper than dechlorinator and doesnt add chemicals to the water.

 

Best bet is just to either buy a RO unit or buy RO water from somewhere. 100% peace of mind.

 

must the RO water also stand for some time?

 

No, only if you wish to get the water to the right temp or ph. The only thing to keep in mind is RO water is stripped of everything good and bad. You will have to add trace ellements of some kind. For eg, for discus I add Tropic Marine pro discus mineral.

 

and for tetras and guppies??

 

I would just buy some mineral stones(available at water purifying shops) and run the water through them to be safe. Or you can even just mix the water 75% RO and 25% tap water. The 25% tap water should add the required elements.

 

@discusguy, with all due respect, using only RO water in any fish tank is just not clever. No matter what you add to it. I use a 80/20 RO to Tap water mix for breeding discus, so still need to age tap water. It is not cost effective, nor 'safe' to use only RO water in tanks.

 

@Vez get yourself a little luxury double kitchen water filter at discem for something like R399 or the more expensive pure water double filter from puresa ... I use this on all 18 tropical tanks - do not use anything to age or remove chloramine from the tap into the tank. Unless you have fish with special needs - this should be more than adequate.

Later Ferdie

 

kwi, thanks f-fish, will get one asap

 

I never said it was. RO units strip the water of valuable trace ellements which need to be added back.

Then why you throwing in 20% tap water? To add the lost trace ellements? Keep in mind there are many products which are designed to add the lost trace ellements. With discus, adding tap water may seem like the best option because they appreciatte the lower ph. The PH out of my RO unit is 6.0, if I had to mix it with tap water all my fish would die. Me not being a chemist I add seachem's cichlid lake salts and tanganyika lake buffer to achieve the desired results(HIGHER PH, NEEDED TRACE ELEMENTS). Works well for me, Im always sitting with fry which speaks for itself.

Agreed, but if you read my post just above yours. I did mention this as a possibility.

Not at all, but it gets the job done.

 

@discusguy

the problem I have is insinuating that tap water as such is insufficient for general fishkeeping.

Adding 'trace elements' is in most cases just a matter of reinventing the wheel. Apart from that, trace elements will not give you the buffering capacity needed to sustain ph, I have tried and tested this. So with RO water and trace elements, you still run risks of ph fluctuations. I dont know what fish you keep, but some fish are way more sensitive to this than others.

I accept what you say works for you, but please understand that not every member will/can go the RO and chemical route. Lets then not pretend that its the best option, because it simply isn't.

 

Why people mess with their water when it's not needed i'll never understand. In most areas in south africa it's not needed to use RO water anyway. It's far better to have stable water even if it's slightly different to the fishes needs in particullar, than it is to water with flactuating qualities

 

so you say, rather use just tap water? and let it stand for a day?

 

@fish fry, exactly the point I was trying to make. Unless for very specific fish and cases (wild south american fish, breeding s.american fish) our tap water, bar chlorine and chloramine is perfectly fine. These chemicals can be removed with dechlorinator or charcoal, and then the water is safe.

 

Yip marco, that's my thoughts aswell. Vez guppys are hardy little fish. If you prep your tap water like marco said you won't go wrong. I don't know what an RO unit costs but RO water is 90c a litre, 10% water change on a 500 litre tank is 50litres thats 45 bucks a week 180 a month on only 10% water changes.

 

jip, alot of $$$$.

i have bee using tap water, with a de-chlor and thats it,

 

are you saying that i could just take a bucket, run tap water over a charcoal filter and right into the bucket? Would this be the easiest way?

What if i took a bucket, ran tap water over a charcoal filter, into the bucket, and then put the water into a "jerry can" or a big container, and let it stand for 24hrs? also when you let the water stand must you leave the lid of the container open, or can you close the lid and leave it to stand

 

Yes @snail, thats what I am saying. You just need to run the water slowly over the charcoal and this will remove all chlorime/chloramine. I use Buyo ac and run it as I said, in a plumbing fashion using a power head. I still let it stand for two or three days.