Help with LARGE water changes

ZEROPILOT

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I've been replacing water in my 2 cichlid ponds with a hose and chlorine and chloramine remover drops manually.
It's very tiring.
I replaced about 800 gallons per side.(x2)
Could I use a chemical injector?
A device that attaches to the end of a hose with a cylinder to ad chemicals...They have adjustable flow rates.
I have a serious issue with Nitrates and I must do something major today or tomorrow
Thanks
 

Yvonne G

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I set a siphon hose in the 600 gallon tank and clamp it at the level I want it to siphon down to, and walk away and forget it. Later I just fill it back up with the garden hose.
 

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I set a siphon hose in the 600 gallon tank and clamp it at the level I want it to siphon down to, and walk away and forget it. Later I just fill it back up with the garden hose.
Our water if full of chloramine. Enough to kill fish pretty quickly.
It must be treated before or as it is being added.
 

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I bought a chemical injector.
The minimum setting is 1 teaspoon per gallon.
That's about 3x what is required. But should be good.
Unfortunately it comes out very slowly. Maybe at about 350 gph.....
So, 2 hours per water 1/2 change.
 

wccmog10

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Is there any way you could set up another tank to premix the fishes water? If you were able to just fill up several hundred gallons, then mix in your water treatment, then let that tank drain into your fish tanks. This way you wouldn’t have to stand there and add your water treatment as you go- which is what it sounds like you are doing. I’m imagining some of those ibc tote type things. I use one for a rain barrel. They are not to difficult to build a platform to keep them up off the ground. That way gravity will allow the water to drain into your fish tanks.
 

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Is there any way you could set up another tank to premix the fishes water? If you were able to just fill up several hundred gallons, then mix in your water treatment, then let that tank drain into your fish tanks. This way you wouldn’t have to stand there and add your water treatment as you go- which is what it sounds like you are doing. I’m imagining some of those ibc tote type things. I use one for a rain barrel. They are not to difficult to build a platform to keep them up off the ground. That way gravity will allow the water to drain into your fish tanks.
I'm changing 800 gallons from two ponds once a month. So, 1,600 gallons each time.
 

Tom

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I know its a pain, but the chloramine remover needs time to work. The tap water also needs to out gas and warm up to ambient temperature. I won't do a water change until the new water has been set up, Amquelled, and circulating for at least 24 hours. I use a 55 gallon trash can on wheels to do my 130 gallon tank's water changes. I circulate it with a power head that sucks the water from the bottom of the can and shoots it out a hose that splashes at the surface. I heat the water in winter if needed. On a larger scale, you could use a big stock tank or a bunch of 55 gallon cans or drums. They make big 500-600 gallon plastic tanks to be mounted for drinking water on horse trailers. Might that work? Mount it up high in a garage or shed, and hook it up with 3" pvc to the ponds? Put in the tap water, Amquell, and a powerhead for 24 hours, then drain some old water out of the pond, open the valve, and let it refill?

Can you collect rain water outside?

Doing it the way you are doing it, you might as well just put hose water directly into the pond and then add the Amquel. I don't like to do that because the Amquel removes the ammonia that your nitrosonomas bacteria are feeding on and some percentage of them starve until the chemicals wear off and the fish excrete enough ammonia for the bacteria to resume feeding. Those dechlor chemicals are not meant to be put directly into a living system with aquatic animals and an active biological system.

In your last post you mentioned nitrates being around 30 ppm? If that is still correct, you are chasing the wrong boogeyman with you giant water changes. Seriously, I don't know if I've ever had a freshwater tank with nitrates that low. I can guarantee that my current tank is well over 100 ppm and has been for 10 years.
 

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I know its a pain, but the chloramine remover needs time to work. The tap water also needs to out gas and warm up to ambient temperature. I won't do a water change until the new water has been set up, Amquelled, and circulating for at least 24 hours. I use a 55 gallon trash can on wheels to do my 130 gallon tank's water changes. I circulate it with a power head that sucks the water from the bottom of the can and shoots it out a hose that splashes at the surface. I heat the water in winter if needed. On a larger scale, you could use a big stock tank or a bunch of 55 gallon cans or drums. They make big 500-600 gallon plastic tanks to be mounted for drinking water on horse trailers. Might that work? Mount it up high in a garage or shed, and hook it up with 3" pvc to the ponds? Put in the tap water, Amquell, and a powerhead for 24 hours, then drain some old water out of the pond, open the valve, and let it refill?

Can you collect rain water outside?

Doing it the way you are doing it, you might as well just put hose water directly into the pond and then add the Amquel. I don't like to do that because the Amquel removes the ammonia that your nitrosonomas bacteria are feeding on and some percentage of them starve until the chemicals wear off and the fish excrete enough ammonia for the bacteria to resume feeding. Those dechlor chemicals are not meant to be put directly into a living system with aquatic animals and an active biological system.

In your last post you mentioned nitrates being around 30 ppm? If that is still correct, you are chasing the wrong boogeyman with you giant water changes. Seriously, I don't know if I've ever had a freshwater tank with nitrates that low. I can guarantee that my current tank is well over 100 ppm and has been for 10 years.
The water has turned pitch black.
Another fish has died and the NITRATE level is now off of the scale. Still no ammonia or nitrite.
I'm beginning to think that it's my PURPLE TRUMPET TREE..The leaves have been getting into the pond and staining the water like a tea.
I can't see anything in the Midas pond now. They may have all died.
The water is currently draining.
I may put any remaining Midas in with the Jaguar and do a 100% cleanout.
Hopefully the Jag wont beat them up...
 
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ZEROPILOT

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I'm getting water plants this evening. I made floating planters for them. LOTS OF WATER PLANTS
I'm going to ad these to both ponds to help eat nitrate.
There are 3 attached together. The photo shows 2
 

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ZEROPILOT

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In my primary KOI pond. I never change the water.
It rains.
It overflows
It refills
Some times I ad 50 gallons or less.
It's about 1,400 gallons and stays stable and crystal clear
 

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Okapizebra

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Hi, I just wanted to chime in, that you can simply add your chlorine remover first, dosing for the entire volume of water that will be present when full, and then fill your tank. They work instantly, they do not need to sit overnight. Use a concentrated product such as seachem prime and you will go through way less. These products convert ammonia into a form that the bacteria can still use so they are not being starved at all during this time.

Having said that, 30 ppm nitrate is perfectly safe however one water change a month is certainly not too much. If your water is being stained try checking your pH. Many leaves will contain tannins that stain the water and can lower the ph drastically. It's possible doing such a big water change at once is fluctuating the pH and stressing the fish.
 

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Hi, I just wanted to chime in, that you can simply add your chlorine remover first, dosing for the entire volume of water that will be present when full, and then fill your tank. They work instantly, they do not need to sit overnight. Use a concentrated product such as seachem prime and you will go through way less. These products convert ammonia into a form that the bacteria can still use so they are not being starved at all during this time.

Having said that, 30 ppm nitrate is perfectly safe however one water change a month is certainly not too much. If your water is being stained try checking your pH. Many leaves will contain tannins that stain the water and can lower the ph drastically. It's possible doing such a big water change at once is fluctuating the pH and stressing the fish.
Thanks
The Nitrate jumped to over 160ppm in two days.
Its possible my initial reading was off.
My pond water stays at around 7.9 to 8.2 PH
My tap water is usually bout 8.2. The pond does become more acidic over time.
I was wondering about putting in the conditioner first then just adding water. That's what I always did with my fish tanks.
Now....How to figure 4 drops per gallon times 700...
Actually I'm sure that there's a per gallon scale on the bottle. They are gallon sized bottles. I had a LOT of fish tanks.
 

ZEROPILOT

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I got the NITRATE EATERS.
It is getting nasty outside. So I just tossed 12 in each pond.
Note the BLACK water.
I'll do more tomorrow, weather permitting.
I'm also looking for two 55 gallon drums.
Maybe doing 100 gallons once a week would help.
Thanks, all
 

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Maro2Bear

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I got the NITRATE EATERS.
It is getting nasty outside. So I just tossed 12 in each pond.
Note the BLACK water.
I'll do more tomorrow, weather permitting.
I'm also looking for two 55 gallon drums.
Maybe doing 100 gallons once a week would help.
Thanks, all

Darn...i have a few 55 gallon drums, but too far away! Good luck.
 

Blackdog1714

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Hit the Craigslist Free section repeatedly and maybe something will drop in your lap. Seems fair with all the work you are doing!
 
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