I need a new system. Recommendations needed.

465 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by frogman1980, Jun 17, 2014

huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · Jun 15, 2014

I am about to move from a 2nd floor flat into a real house!!:-D

I need a new system for preparing water for water changes. I am driving my husband crazy right now with all sorts of random water containers set out all over the kitchen here... and I never have as much as I need, and I am always struggling to get it to the proper temp.

My 3 tanks total 10 gallons. I am thinking of setting something up in the basement at the new house where I can treat/age/heat water. What is the best way to do this?

My current ideas include: a couple 5 gallon buckets, a dedicated heater, and a floating thermometer, along with the various water treatments. I was also considering using a rubbermaid tub to hold the water.

Any other ideas? I will have to carry the treated water to the first and second floors, so the bucket with a handle might be best.

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RussellTheShihTzu

· #2 · Jun 15, 2014

I use half tap and half bottled. I don't age my water. I just run the tap to proper temperature and fill gallon jugs. I set the bottled in a sink of hot water until the needed temperature is reached. Prime is the only additive I use.

Both tanks (20 gallon and 10 gallon) are cycled so I remove three gallons from the 20 and one from the 10. I have to top off the 10 between changes because it has an open, hinged Zilla mesh lid.

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aselvarial

· #3 · Jun 16, 2014

I use a 5 gallon bucket. It's in the garage and I just fill it up and throw a heater and thermometer in it the night before I do a change. 3 tanks totalling 10 gallons, a 5 gallon bucket would give you enough to do a 50% change on all tanks at once. (or more on any one tank at a time). I like it much better than when I had gallons all over the place.

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sainthogan

· #4 · Jun 16, 2014

I have one 2 1/2 gallon bucket and 2 one-gallon jugs. I rarely age my water. I get it to the right temp, and treat it with stress coat. I have 2 five gallon tanks, so depending on percentage I am changing, I either fill my 2 1/2 gallon bucket almost to the top with tank water, or just part way full, then I pour in the water from my gallon jugs. Then I repeat the process for the other tank. I only age water if I suspect there is something wrong with it (we naturally have a lot of minerals, fluorine, arsenic in our water, and sometimes the content seems to be higher than normal, so I age it just in case).

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huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 16, 2014

Thanks to everyone for sharing ideas!! I love hearing how others manage their water changes. I AM going to get a more streamlined system going at the new place.

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givemethatfish

· #6 · Jun 16, 2014

I assume you know/have reason to suspect the water in your new house won't be good straight out of the tap?

Congrats btw, that's exciting!!

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huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 16, 2014

givemethatfish said:
I assume you know/have reason to suspect the water in your new house won't be good straight out of the tap?

Congrats btw, that's exciting!!

Thanks!! Well the tap water has chlorine... and isn't necessarily the right temperature.

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VivianKJean

· #8 · Jun 16, 2014

What I do in my studio apartment is go into the bathroom and fill up 5 gallon buckets (1-2 depending on how many tanks need water changes). treat them with Prime and then do water changes. I don't age my water at all, I have in the past though and I have found that there is not difference in my fish's behavior. I also don't have the space to have buckets of water laying around.

I'm a photographer so I actually had one of those meat thermometers that you use to see if your meat is cooked (when you are cooking in the oven) that I used to use to make sure the water was the right temperature when I processed film. So i just stick that into my buckets and use that to make sure I have the right temperature as the one in my tanks. I think you can find one super cheap at a dollar store or walmart or something. It really helps making sure you have the right temperature.

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givemethatfish

· #9 · Jun 16, 2014

I just adjust the temperature out of the tap and use a water conditioner for the chlorine. I thought that was the norm. If you're worried about copper pipes, just let the water run for a minute or two, which flushes out the water that has been sitting and has had time for copper to leach into it.

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huckleberry77

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 16, 2014

I guess I need a quick read thermometer to check the tap water temp. I like the meat thermometer idea. I also wonder if a digital human thermometer would read lower temps like 70's and 80's as well.

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frogman1980

· #11 · Jun 17, 2014

I must be doing over kill then. I have an old 20 gal tall that I put a spare heater in and fill the day before changes.

I also am using it to test a filter idea just to see the flow and suction of it.

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