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Water Changes |
A water change is when you literally take out a quarter, a third, or half of the existing water and replace it with distilled water. The amount you change is up to you, depending on the water quality of your tank. Water changes are one of the most important aspects of cleaning and maintaining your tank. Goldfish are messy fish in many instances and so water maintenance is important.
Water changes go a long way toward maintaining good water quality. Water changes are also beneficial because you can dilute the amount of nitrites and nitrates in the water, as well as other harmful gases and substances, and the water you add is probably more oxygen rich than water that has been in your tank for some time.
Change the water after you have cleaned everything else. To do this, you must first siphon water off so that you can later add new water. To siphon water you need a long (three feet), thick tube or a hand-pump siphon, and a large bucket
How to Siphon
1. Fill the tube up with water until it's ready to overflow at both ends, making sure there is no trapped air anywhere in the tube. Place your thumbs over the ends of the tube on either side.
2. With your thumbs still holding the water in, place one end of the tube in the tank and aim the other end of the tube at the bucket. Make sure the bucket is lower than the tank or siphoning will not work.
3. Release your thumbs and the water will begin to flow.
Some hobbyists use the siphon to vacuum the bottom of the tank. This kills two birds with one stone.
Either way, you must do both. Make sure that the water you add to your tank is not straight from the faucet, but rather, has been aged at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Either keep a bunch of one-gallon jugs stored somewhere in the house, or make sure to keep a five-gallon bucket somewhere that has been filled with water for several days.
Water changes go a long way toward maintaining good water quality. Water changes are also beneficial because you can dilute the amount of nitrites and nitrates in the water, as well as other harmful gases and substances, and the water you add is probably more oxygen rich than water that has been in your tank for some time.
Change the water after you have cleaned everything else. To do this, you must first siphon water off so that you can later add new water. To siphon water you need a long (three feet), thick tube or a hand-pump siphon, and a large bucket
How to Siphon
1. Fill the tube up with water until it's ready to overflow at both ends, making sure there is no trapped air anywhere in the tube. Place your thumbs over the ends of the tube on either side.
2. With your thumbs still holding the water in, place one end of the tube in the tank and aim the other end of the tube at the bucket. Make sure the bucket is lower than the tank or siphoning will not work.
3. Release your thumbs and the water will begin to flow.
Some hobbyists use the siphon to vacuum the bottom of the tank. This kills two birds with one stone.
Either way, you must do both. Make sure that the water you add to your tank is not straight from the faucet, but rather, has been aged at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Either keep a bunch of one-gallon jugs stored somewhere in the house, or make sure to keep a five-gallon bucket somewhere that has been filled with water for several days.
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