Water Changing

83turboranger · 01-26-2005, 01:53 PM

Hey! I have a 2 gal. fish tank. I was told to do 20-30% water changes. How am I supposed to do that. Do I just scoop out the old water and dump in the new or is there some kind of pump. How is all that water changeing done? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

malawi4me2 · 01-26-2005, 02:00 PM

You could do that as long as what you are scooping the water out with is only used for that purpose(make sure it's never contained any chemicals). Another way to go about it would be to use a piece of plastic aquarium tubing (the type that you attatch to a bubble-wand) to siphon out some water and detrius from the bottom, and then add water back from a gallon jug or something. Just make sure to add declorinator to the water you add!

malawi4me2 · 01-26-2005, 02:14 PM

Yeah, match the temperature to what's in your tank as closely as possible.

83turboranger · 01-26-2005, 02:22 PM

Alright, thats what I've been doing.

aquariumfishguy · 01-26-2005, 02:57 PM

Water changes involve much more than just scooping water out and refilling. Assuming this small container has gravel in it, you should be doing a gravel vacuum as well. And 10-20% water changes won't cut it in such a small container. You should be replacing at least half of the water every 3-4 days. For these reasons, keep aquariums under 5-10 gallons is generally not recommended.

patdbunny · 01-31-2005, 02:01 PM

You have three neons in a new 2 gal tank? Where did you get the water to start it up?
roz.

aquariumfishguy · 01-31-2005, 02:30 PM

You really cannot use a gravel vacuum in a 2 gallon. That is yet another reason why this setup will not work... especially for neons.

The gravel vacuum is used to clean debris on the bottom of the tank. It acts as a siphon. This is how you clean fish wastes. By as said, it is very hard to use in a 2 gallon. Perhaps they have a small vac, but I haven't seen many.

**Damon** · 01-31-2005, 02:44 PM

Airline tubing works well on small tanks.

Vivid-Dawn · 01-31-2005, 06:55 PM

I got a gravel vacuum specifically designed for tanks "up to five gallons"...though I'm sure siphoning with air line tubing would work, too! I got my thing at PetCo for...I think about $5 or so. That's what I use on my Betta's 2.5 gal tank... I don't really measure how much I take out, it's almost half. I do it once a week, though I also have a filter too, so that's why I slack off

aquariumfishguy · 02-01-2005, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivid-Dawn @ Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:55 pm

I do it once a week, though I also have a filter too, so that's why I slack off

Filters do not remove things such as ammonia and or nitrites/nitrates.

83turboranger · 02-01-2005, 03:51 PM

I don't need to be told that my set up will not work and that my fish need more room. I'm working on that and thats why I asked about cleaning a 29 gal. So there is some kind of vaccum I can buy for a 29 gal that will clean the bottom?

Vivid-Dawn · 02-01-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquariumfishguy @ Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivid-Dawn @ Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:55 pm

I do it once a week, though I also have a filter too, so that's why I slack off

Filters do not remove things such as ammonia and or nitrites/nitrates.

Er...they don't? So when a package says a product does chemical filtration, what sorts is it filtering?

aquariumfishguy · 02-02-2005, 02:36 PM

The following is the absorption potential of various substances by activated carbon. As you may or may not know, carbon is used much more than in the aquarium. The list goes on, I am just putting down what I feel is most strongly removed, at an efficient rate:

Arsenic, bleach, chloramine, chlorine, chromium, colors, dyes, gold, insecticide, odors, monochloramine, tin, acetic acid, cobalt, detergent, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, ozone, potassium, silver, soap, solvents, vinegar.

Things such as ammonia, nitrates, hardness, and alkalinity are virtually impossible to eliminate with carbon, at least in measurable amounts.

83turboranger · 02-02-2005, 03:07 PM

Whats that about^^ I'm confused. Can you clarify any?

83turboranger · 02-02-2005, 07:19 PM

oh alright, ok

01-26-2005, 01:53 PM	#1
83turboranger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Glenville, PA (southern York County, PA/northern MD) Age: 21 Posts: 130 User Feedback: (0)	Water Changing Hey! I have a 2 gal. fish tank. I was told to do 20-30% water changes. How am I supposed to do that. Do I just scoop out the old water and dump in the new or is there some kind of pump. How is all that water changeing done? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks. __________________ <III>< -2 1/2 gal tank -1 orange/red glofire +1 Plastic Plant -20 gallon -Kribensis (female) -6 Tiger Barbs + 1 Cave IN GOD WE TRUST

01-26-2005, 02:22 PM	#4
83turboranger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Glenville, PA (southern York County, PA/northern MD) Age: 21 Posts: 130 User Feedback: (0)	Alright, thats what I've been doing. __________________ <III>< -2 1/2 gal tank -1 orange/red glofire +1 Plastic Plant -20 gallon -Kribensis (female) -6 Tiger Barbs + 1 Cave IN GOD WE TRUST

01-26-2005, 02:57 PM	#5
aquariumfishguy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern, Michigan Posts: 372 User Feedback: (0)	Water changes involve much more than just scooping water out and refilling. Assuming this small container has gravel in it, you should be doing a gravel vacuum as well. And 10-20% water changes won't cut it in such a small container. You should be replacing at least half of the water every 3-4 days. For these reasons, keep aquariums under 5-10 gallons is generally not recommended. __________________ Cory M.H. Care4fish.com - Closed See my forums for further details... Fish Forums: www.s4.invisionfree.com/Care4FishForums

01-31-2005, 02:01 PM	#6
patdbunny Fishy Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 13 User Feedback: (0)	Re: Water Changing You have three neons in a new 2 gal tank? Where did you get the water to start it up? roz.

01-31-2005, 02:30 PM	#7
aquariumfishguy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern, Michigan Posts: 372 User Feedback: (0)	You really cannot use a gravel vacuum in a 2 gallon. That is yet another reason why this setup will not work... especially for neons. The gravel vacuum is used to clean debris on the bottom of the tank. It acts as a siphon. This is how you clean fish wastes. By as said, it is very hard to use in a 2 gallon. Perhaps they have a small vac, but I haven't seen many. __________________ Cory M.H. Care4fish.com - Closed See my forums for further details... Fish Forums: www.s4.invisionfree.com/Care4FishForums

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01-26-2005, 02:00 PM	#2
malawi4me2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 22 Posts: 354 User Feedback: (0)	You could do that as long as what you are scooping the water out with is only used for that purpose(make sure it's never contained any chemicals). Another way to go about it would be to use a piece of plastic aquarium tubing (the type that you attatch to a bubble-wand) to siphon out some water and detrius from the bottom, and then add water back from a gallon jug or something. Just make sure to add declorinator to the water you add!

01-26-2005, 02:14 PM	#3
malawi4me2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 22 Posts: 354 User Feedback: (0)	Yeah, match the temperature to what's in your tank as closely as possible.

01-31-2005, 02:44 PM	#8
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	Re: Water Changing Airline tubing works well on small tanks. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

01-31-2005, 06:55 PM	#9
Vivid-Dawn Blue world bungler! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah Age: 30 Posts: 225 User Feedback: (0)	Re: Water Changing I got a gravel vacuum specifically designed for tanks "up to five gallons"...though I'm sure siphoning with air line tubing would work, too! I got my thing at PetCo for...I think about $5 or so. That's what I use on my Betta's 2.5 gal tank... I don't really measure how much I take out, it's almost half. I do it once a week, though I also have a filter too, so that's why I slack off __________________ I may be crazy, but it's kept me from goin' insane... ~~~ 50g/189L 3 Electric Yellow Cichlid (single male, pair female) 1 Kenyi Cichlid (male) --- 20g/75.5 1 fancy guppy (male) 5 long-fin Zebra Danio

02-01-2005, 03:51 PM	#11
83turboranger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Glenville, PA (southern York County, PA/northern MD) Age: 21 Posts: 130 User Feedback: (0)	I don't need to be told that my set up will not work and that my fish need more room. I'm working on that and thats why I asked about cleaning a 29 gal. So there is some kind of vaccum I can buy for a 29 gal that will clean the bottom? __________________ <III>< -2 1/2 gal tank -1 orange/red glofire +1 Plastic Plant -20 gallon -Kribensis (female) -6 Tiger Barbs + 1 Cave IN GOD WE TRUST

02-02-2005, 02:36 PM	#13
aquariumfishguy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern, Michigan Posts: 372 User Feedback: (0)	Re: Water Changing The following is the absorption potential of various substances by activated carbon. As you may or may not know, carbon is used much more than in the aquarium. The list goes on, I am just putting down what I feel is most strongly removed, at an efficient rate: Arsenic, bleach, chloramine, chlorine, chromium, colors, dyes, gold, insecticide, odors, monochloramine, tin, acetic acid, cobalt, detergent, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, ozone, potassium, silver, soap, solvents, vinegar. Things such as ammonia, nitrates, hardness, and alkalinity are virtually impossible to eliminate with carbon, at least in measurable amounts. __________________ Cory M.H. Care4fish.com - Closed See my forums for further details... Fish Forums: www.s4.invisionfree.com/Care4FishForums

02-02-2005, 03:07 PM	#14
83turboranger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Glenville, PA (southern York County, PA/northern MD) Age: 21 Posts: 130 User Feedback: (0)	Whats that about^^ I'm confused. Can you clarify any? __________________ <III>< -2 1/2 gal tank -1 orange/red glofire +1 Plastic Plant -20 gallon -Kribensis (female) -6 Tiger Barbs + 1 Cave IN GOD WE TRUST

02-02-2005, 07:19 PM	#15
83turboranger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Glenville, PA (southern York County, PA/northern MD) Age: 21 Posts: 130 User Feedback: (0)	oh alright, ok __________________ <III>< -2 1/2 gal tank -1 orange/red glofire +1 Plastic Plant -20 gallon -Kribensis (female) -6 Tiger Barbs + 1 Cave IN GOD WE TRUST

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