Quick question about Python

[baotchi]

Hola

there is a question as been asking myself for a while. I usually keep my tank's water at ~80 degrees all the time. Sometimes drops to 79 and sometimes goes to 81, but that's about it, and mostly because I have a really accurate electronic thermometer... this wouldn't be noticeable with a regular thermometer... but anyway, my question is :

When I do a water change, with my python, I take the water out, with the filter off, then I put water back in, adding dechlorinator, then I wait for 1 or 2 minutes, than I start the filter back. The problem is, this cause a temp drop, of up to 4 degrees sometimes. Water temp falls to 76, than goes back to 80 within the next hour. Now is this an important issue ? I saw people keeping water in barrels and heating it before they put in the tank... yeah looks nice but what an hassle, aint it?

well, that's it... I guess everyone has the same problem anyway.

Simon

 

[colesea]

Before returning the water to the tank, try adjusting the tap until you match temperatures. If you can remove your thermometer from your tank and place it under the running water for a little bit, you can fiddle with the spigots until you know the tank temp and tap temp are relatively equal.

I've never had problems with temperatures during tank changes. Worst thing that could happen is a bout of ich. Sometimes I'd drop my tank temps a whole ten degrees by adding nothing but cold water during a hot summer. Then again, I've never kept any expensive or sensitive fish. In fact, in order to have cory cats spawn, such a temperature drop is actually recommended.

Good luck.
~~Colesea

 

[1979camaro]

another option is to start keeping your tank at a lower temp. 80 is really on the high side anyway. i run mine around 76-77

 

[Somonas]

yeah I agree with Colesea, I just throw the water in and sometimes it goes down a few degrees or 10.
african cichlids seem to be able to handle it. YMMV.

 

[TurbineSurgeon]

Unlike Colesea, my big temperature fluctuation between tank and tap temperatures happens during the winter. I just turn on the hot water a bit to bring the temperature close to the tank water.

 

[LadySarah]

I just feel the tap water until I feel like it is fairly close to my tank temp. I run my tanks at 76 degrees which is a pretty comfortable water temp coming out of the tap. I have never really had any problem adding the water in to the tank and having the temp change temporarily. My partial water changes are usually 10-25% though. I think that if I were doing 50% or more I would probably check it and heat it up if needed, if it was more than a couple of degrees off.