hello, ok well i am getting pretty tired of doing water changes bucket after bucket.

ex: add water in each bucket, then pouring it in the tank.

or a 300 gal tank, is there any way, that is safe, that i can do a water change? i dont want to add 90 gallons of pure water without me knowing if it is safe for oscars.

can i just add the water to the tank then add aqua safe, or w/e. Or do i have to do the old fashion way, bucket by bucket. also how often should i do a water change?


also, i came up with an idea. most people use a suction tube/ vacuum for a water change. well i came up with idea that allows e to clean the bottom withought taking the tube out of the tank. all i do is get a fish net. get around 9 cotton balls, and stretch them. then i put it tight around the fish net, making act like a filter for excess food, waste, and debree. i rubber band that piece to the end of the vacuum tube and let it sit at the filter. that way the biological filter will do its job w/o a water change. unitil the nitrate readings are at 50 or 60.


please if anyone could give me an opinion and/or answer my questions, i would greatly appreciate it.

after is syphon out the amout of water for my water change i add the dechlorinator then add the water to the tank using a python straight from the tap.(adjusted to the proper temp)

also when my nitrate reading reaches 30-40 i do a waterchange
for me that works out to 20% of water once every 10 days.

i also vacuum every other day to keep the mess off the substrate


anyway thats how i do it and so far its been working for me

I use a hosepipe to take the water out (suck on the end to start)

I then add de-chlorinator to the tank. I then connect a housepipe to a mixer tap (you can get adapters for the hose to the mixer), adjust the temperature to the same as that of the tank and then sit down and watch it refill

A word about nitrates, ideally these should be kept below 20 but below 40 id ok. Above this is not good, you will end up with health problem is you allow your nitrates to get to 50/60 on a regular basis

I use a python and water directly from my tap. I add the aqua safe(or w.e u use) after i vaccume the tank

Oh! Please do yourself a favor, if possible, get yourself a
pyphon siphon/gravel vac. Best thing they ever invented for the aquarist. If I did not have one of those I really don't think I would be enjoying the hobby as much as I do now. I do the same as the others. I hope only do water changes/vac one a week or more if needed. I add the the tap water conditioner
product and pay careful attention to water exchange temps.

hi i dont mean to act stupid but whats a pyphon??????
all i do is i empty my tank with a hose i start to empty it by sucking it to start off, then i reffill the tank with a hose from the tap, or lately ive been carrying water cans full from the bathroom to my tank , i know its a pain but i broke my adaptor for my hose, then i add dechlorinator to the bucket and again and again , it does my head but its gotta be done, so whats a pyhon siphon???????