The Puffer Forum

ive been emptying my 5ft tank directly to the sink via a gravel vac, but due to the amount of water im changing in such a large tank, it would take me forever to try and lug loads of buckets to re fill it.

what ive been doing so far is turning off filter and heaters, and filling up the tank with a hose pipe directly from my kitchen tap, i try and keep the water the same temp as the tank to avoid too much flucuation and i then add dechlorinator for that amount afterwards into the tank.

is this ok doing it like that? is there any other way if its not ok?

Depends on how your waters treated. Like mine can go directly into the tank because theres no chlorine or any dangerous chemicals so I'd find that out first.
Good luck

Indie put half of the dechlorinator into the tank first and then half when you've filled it fully. It'll give you a bit of peace of mind.

I believe if you add it directly to the tank without treating it first, you need to add declorinator to the tank in an amount to treat the entire tank. At least that's what I've read from others who use a python to fill their tanks.

I dechlor before filling.

I change several tanks with a python weekly, and always drain, then declorinate(for the FULL volume of the tank, it wont' work instantly if you only treat for the replaced volume) then refill with water temp matched. I've NEVER seen fish stressed from only a 2-3 degree difference in the temperatures, which is easy to hit with tap water. Be sure both taps are running during the draining, so there is no stagnang pipe sitting water in the volume you are adding to the tank.

I do exactly this. My dechlor is one drop per 10 g of water. I empty half of say a 100g tank. Therfore as it is filling I will put 50 drops of dechlor in. Usually it is slighty more though.Around 60 drops.

what dechlor. do you use?

Me?
API super strength Tap water conditioner.


One bottle 16Fl oz(473ml) does 9,460 US G(35,810l) for about £10

I use Prime & a dropperfull is about 20 drops. I don't bother to count & add an extra dropperfull for good measure (or a few extra drops in smaller tanks). I buy the pond size & cut in half with RODI water.

I think prime is about 1ml per 10g. Having a dropper with ml measurements is extremely useful.

I've been on well water so I didn't have to worry about it, but now I'm gonna be back on city water.

I just dose the entire tank before adding the water. Then again, I only use a dechlorinator that is safe for overdosing (Yamato Green's No Chlor).

You can't overdose Prime either. Still using YG's stuff? I always get compliments on my plants!

Put me down as another bigtime advocate for Prime. Its all I use and all I recommend.

I love YG stuff!

I can't handle the smell of prime. I can smell it from a couple of rooms away. It doesn't seem to bother other people but it really is irritating to me, and I don't want my whole house smelling like it.