Water change w/out Disturbance

[Mr. Fish]

Usually I'm just using bucket for my water changes but now I have an HC carpet to maintain that i dont want to accidentally uproot.

What's the tricks u guys using to cause minimal disturbance? Siphon?

[josolanes]

I imagine a siphon would work if you could lift the bucket above the tank. Or a powerhead/pump that can lift as high as needed. Or, when pouring in, use an upside down bowl to help spread the water going in more evenly to help prevent disturbance

[Mr. Fish]

Yea I was thinking about creating a siphon only problem is getting the bucket above the tank.

Bowls work good when you have empty sections to work with. If not Ur smashing plants..

Any other ideas?

[Cardoc]

You can clamp the hose coming off the siphon to regulate flow, my old gravel siphon came with its own clamp to regulate flow, but i'm shure you could use a paper clip(the big black ones) or small vice grips

[Cardoc]

just use a hose and a power head to get the water back in

[josolanes]

^ this. I find the powerhead to be easy and work well. You can aim the hose at the glass or any hardscape to prevent disturbance this way too

[Mr. Fish]

Originally Posted by Cardoc

You can clamp the hose coming off the siphon to regulate flow, my old gravel siphon came with its own clamp to regulate flow, but i'm shure you could use a paper clip(the big black ones) or small vice grips

The problem is getting a siphon started in the first place.. my stand is pretty tall and it would be hard getting the bucket above it

Originally Posted by Cardoc

just use a hose and a power head to get the water back in

I don't have a powerhead.. but that's a good idea

[AndreyT]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fish

What's the tricks u guys using to cause minimal disturbance? Siphon?

What's wrong with the obvious answer: one can use that contraption that attaches to the kitchen/bathroom tap and can be used in both directions, as a vacuum or as a refill hose? Some of the accept an additional mesh that can be put over the "business" end of the vacuum to protect fish and to serve as a steam breaker/calmer in refill mode. Needless to say, breaker or not, the amount of disturbance will depend on how far one opens the tap.

Of course, this only works for those people who don't mind refilling their tanks straight from the tap. The fact that you are asking this question makes me suspect that you might be one of those people who prefer/must prepare their water. Are you? You need to include such details in your question, because otherwise it is hard to understand why it would even arise.

[Jadenlea]

I have the Aqueon hose that attaches right to the sink. makes water changes a snap. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, petsmart or petco has super cheap syphons that will start the draining for you. I use one of those for my shrimp tank because the aqueon is strong enough that I am afraid of sucking up baby shrimp.

You do not have to have the bucket above the tank for the siphons you can buy to work.

Here is the water changer (incase you have no idea what we are talking about) You can read the reviews too! http://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Aquariu...9613900&sr=8-1

[vincenz]

How big is your tank? That would need to be taken into account too. But usually, having some hardscape around would help. I have a small container with a handle that holds about a quart of water and I pour it directly onto a rock on the substrate, never disturbs anything.

[Mr. Fish]

Sorry I should have clarified I don't use tap water, I use RO. So using a python or anything similar would not work. Buckets my only option, if it was an obvious question I would not have asked.

Only thing I can think of is raising above the tank or getting one of those air pump siphons

It's a 15 gal rimless

[HD Blazingwolf]

when i use buckets, i drop a bowl in the tank and pour into the bowl. works great, much better than when someone suggested plates which just launch it in all directions at super speed

[Jeff5614]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fish

...I don't have a powerhead.. but that's a good idea

Would you like one?

[jesuses]

I have a 15 rimless with hc and live down the freeway in Ontario, pretty cool. I either do a siphon with a bucket or since I use a water jug to change water I hold it with one hand and slowly pour it on to my other hand that's right above the surface. You can try pouring it out of the bucket really slow until the hc is rooted good, when it is things arnt as hard.

[Mr. Fish]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

when i use buckets, i drop a bowl in the tank and pour into the bowl. works great, much better than when someone suggested plates which just launch it in all directions at super speed

What up wolf..

Yea this works great without a carpet, just don't wanna smash the hc

Originally Posted by Jeff5614

Would you like one?

Sure if you got an extra one to spare.

@Jesuses small world we living in eh? What part of Ontario? Was just on euclid and D st. Earlier