Oromis Posted September 14, 2013 Report Share Posted September 14, 2013 Whilst wondering how important it is to get the water change water the same temperature the tank after an accident spraying water everywhere in the laundry.. (For straight cold water I can just clip it to the tap, hot I can't) So I dug up some uni work and made an equation to calculate the final temperate after water change. From a quick read I found that less than 0.5 degree change is alright (correct me if I'm wrong) I just thought i'd share it in case anybody is interested or ever wondered how much of an effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th3f0rg0t3n Posted September 14, 2013 Report Share Posted September 14, 2013 just slowly add the water back into your tank after water changes to allow the heater to do its job ? not sure how big of a difference it makes so long as you dont "shock" the fish with adding fresh cold water too fast just my own personal method, and something ive never been greatly concerned about, but always good knowledge if someone knows more ! (i find that some fish seem to really enjoy the fresh cold water whilst it is added, kinda like swim all around and through it as it enters) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonofhud Posted September 14, 2013 Report Share Posted September 14, 2013 Orimis that equation is Orrible!! I have always hated anything that looks like algebra!! The additives in tap water are more than enough to kill your fish - a 20% water change won't matter too much as far as temperature goes - added gradually of course - all depends on water quality and fish types. I generally keep soe plastic containers out the back in the sun for water changes and dont have issues with water/temperature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oromis Posted September 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2013 I agree my main concern is the chlorine but I spent the 10 minutes figuring it out so I though I would share it to help people, espically for larger water changes. And it's really now that bad, at least I've already rearranged it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizen088 Posted September 14, 2013 Report Share Posted September 14, 2013 I use a digital thermometer to read tank temp then sit the temp sensor at the bottom of the bucket when filling. If doing a large top up of at least 100 litres I'll stick the temp probe inside the the tap spout and regulate the water coming out of the tap so I can swap buckets continuously without having to turn taps on and off all the time. I usually top up with water 1-2 degrees cooler than tank temp to encourage my BN's to spawn. The way I understand it they can tolerate a rapid drop in temp much easier than a rapid rise in temp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bidkev Posted September 15, 2013 Report Share Posted September 15, 2013 In all my years of fish keeping, tank temp when water changing has never concerned me in the least. I do 50% changes and run straight from cold tap into the tank which has been primed first. In summer, I don't bother about speed of top up, but in winter, I run it in slowly. If your heater is turned on, and you're running it in slowly, the fish will not be bothered in the least. In the wild, flushes of rainwater can be extremely cold, even in the tropics, if rain has fallen heavily. In winter, tap water can be as low as 1 degree above freezing in the UK and i have still run it straight from the tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozmo Posted September 15, 2013 Report Share Posted September 15, 2013 I agree with Kev and do the same. I have found, in some species, the cold flush encourages spawning or at least courting behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oromis Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 I have noticed that some of our fish seem to play in it too. Epically when it is falling into the water and making lots of bubbles. Our gourami just loves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanoz Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Yeah, I am with Kev and Rob (@ozmo) on this also, Slower in Winter and Flat Out in Summer! I always see flaring and the odd breeding dances and or fry after a water temp drop. On my 45cm Cube I set my light onto the lightning setting about ten minutes before I drain and do a slow but air-rated top up my tank to hope for some breeding my Pseudomugil Gertrudae, but no luck as of yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grant.long Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 25% water change and cold water added striaght in. No MATHS needed but a BEER is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oromis Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 I honestly could not be bothered measuring my tap water let alone calculating the temp drop every time... I was just wondering so I figured it out. Maybe I'm just a big nerd I just thought I would share it in case someone has a use or ever wondered just how much it dropped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
