Do you still prepare water before a water change?

**Orion5** · 11-17-2012, 11:31 PM

I haven't seen a lot of this idea going around, so I thought I'd ask. :)

Over the years I have always set out my water in buckets 24-48 hours before performing a water change. For a very long time I didn't even use a dechlorinator, as the chlorine offgasses usually in about 6 hours, and the rest of the time the water has a chance to get to room temperature. On some occasions, with more fragile fish or those that were breeding, I would add a water heater to the large bucket of water and bring it to the same temperature as the tank before the water change.

I don't see many posts about this process here, and was wondering if anyone else still goes through this ritual?

Cheers!

**Lady Hobbs** · 11-17-2012, 11:34 PM

Water sitting will get rid of chlorine if it sits around for a couple days but does not get rid of chloramines. It's also the wrong temp when you want to add it to the tank.

De-chorinators work instantly and not worth the bother of storing water.

**Brhino** · 11-18-2012, 01:22 AM

drain some water from the tank, add water conditioner to the tank, and then it's straight from the tap to the tank. Gets the temp just right and makes it real easy. I change over 100 gallons of water a week between all my tanks - I certainly don't want 20 buckets sitting around while I wait for the chlorine to gas off!

**Orion5** · 11-18-2012, 01:25 AM

lol! Well, I would use 25-gallon plastic garbage containers to prepare the water most of the time. But yes, they were disruptive. Then again I didn't/don't do the massive water changes as most people I'm noticing here.

**Cliff** · 11-18-2012, 01:26 AM

+1 to both of the above

Most Canadian cities are now using chloramines to treat their tap water

I would suggest using a good quality dechlorinater, like Prime, as already suggested

**Orion5** · 11-18-2012, 01:33 AM

Oh, I always use a dechlorinator but for the chloramine. Montreal's water, thankfully, doesn't have fluoride... but I guess that's not much of an issue.

**Goes to 11!** · 11-18-2012, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by Brhino

drain some water from the tank, add water conditioner to the tank, and then it's straight from the tap to the tank. Gets the temp just right and makes it real easy. I change over 100 gallons of water a week between all my tanks - I certainly don't want 20 buckets sitting around while I wait for the chlorine to gas off!

Same process here & for the same reason.

**bceagle** · 11-18-2012, 02:03 AM

I just have a 20long with Danios and Juvenal Rams. I use well water but treat with Prime each time I do a water change (35% CHANGE TWICE WEEKLY). I have had great results with Seachen products but I'm sure there are other water conditioners that will work...just add the conditioner to the first container of adding water....test for ammonia and nitrites/nitrates weekly.

**jeffs99dime** · 11-18-2012, 02:11 PM

If I am only replacing the water that evaporated in my tank then I use a gallon milk jug and treat with prime to replace. During water changes, I dose the tank with prime hook up my Python, Get the temp out of the faucet to the temp of my tank using a thermometer and holding under the faucet adapter of the Python. Then I fill the tank, slowly.