[skrapsessej]

Going to be starting a 20gallon long and have everything set up.

Would it be okay to fill the whole tank up with tap water and then use prime and mix and turn on filters or would i need to mix the prime before i add it to the tank.

Only problem is that i only have two 1 gallon buckets

 

[DaveK]

If this is a new tank, with nothing living, you can fill it with tap water, and then add Prime and anything else you want to use.

However, what are you going to do when you want to do a 10 gal water change? Some methods of using ferts use a 50% water change per week.

I recommend you get yourself a container so that you can mix and age large quantities of water. You never know when you'll need to do that emergency water change.

 

[skrapsessej]

Ill just have plants in it

 

[skrapsessej]

I could get the large storage of prepared water but it would be way lower than the tank. What would be the easiest way of transporting all that water from below the tank. (tank is on dresser and storaged water is on ground)

 

[wendyjo]

Depends how strong you are.

 

[Jadelin]

When doing water changes a lot of people add the amount of prime needed to treat the full volume of the tank, then just start adding new water to refill the tank (for example when using a Python and the water is coming straight from the tap). Prime works fast enough that this works okay.

Maybe someone can tell you if there are especially sensitive fauna that would be adversely affected by this.

 

[DogFish]

Go to a local co to a donut shop and see if they will give you a 5gal pail that they food supply in like butter, or shorting or a 4 gal. container that greece comes in for the deep fryers. Since that stuff is food it will be safe for your aquarium water after you clean it good. Use hot water& a little bit of dish soap. Clean & dry good. Then a little bleach & hot water again rinse it good. Fill it again add a de-clor let that sit in there for an hour or so.

Not you have a free & safe 5 gal. pail.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

It is also good practice to shut of the filter when doing water changes, to prevent any chlorinated water reaching the beneficial bacteria colony inside the filter.

 

[Realistik84]

In all reality a 5 gallon bucket is $5 approx - and would consitute roughly a 25% water change. Make the investment, it will make life much easier.

 

[Storm]

In all reality a 5 gallon bucket is $5 approx - and would consitute roughly a 25% water change. Make the investment, it will make life much easier.

Better yet, buy 2 of the 5 gallon buckets. You'll need one to treat and age your new aquarium water, and the second one to siphon out your old water.

 

[wendyjo]

That's why I said it depends on how strong a person is. I personally could not lift a full 5 gallon bucket of water to tip it into a tank on a dresser. That's roughly 45 pounds.

 

[CKJ]

We use empty milk jugs washed out good. That way carrying a gallon in each hand isn't too heavy. Just store the empty jugs in a garbage bag and then in a closet or the garage. About 7 1gal jugs fit in a garbage bag just fine.

I use a couple tidy cats buckets from my cats litter for the syphoned out water.

 

[wendyjo]

Yeah I use empty water jugs for my 2.5g and 5g tanks. I'd never have anything larger if Pythons hadn't been invented.