Water Changes / Water temperature

hlsarge · 02-01-2008, 06:51 PM

Question about the Python vacuum system to do water changes. It appears that this device connects to the faucet at the sink. At the faucet, a value allows the water to drain from the tank into the sink or switches to refill the tank. Assuming I have this device correctly described, my question concerns refilling my tank directly from the faucet. My water comes from a well and the water temperature is going to be very cold. Well depth 175', so water temp should be approximately 54 degrees. That is true if I let the water run long enough to empty the holding tank under the house so the water is coming from the bottom of the well. In the winter, the water in the holding tank under the house is surely lower than 40 degrees. If I do a 20% water change, I am going to have a significant temperature drop and I assume shock the fish and plants to death. I obviously do have a hot water heater in the house, should I regulate the temp by mixing hot and cold via the faucets? Thoughts and recommendations please.

bunafireman825 · 02-02-2008, 02:13 AM

I also have well water and i do use hot water(don't know if its the right thing), but most water in the ground at a decent depth stays around 67 degress around the year. I would not add just the cold water, if you don't like the idea of using hot water you might try using buckets and letting the water warm up to room temp.

dugward · 02-11-2008, 05:59 PM

When I change mine I just adjust the faucet and get it as closely as possible to what is in the tank.

I have a thermometer and after a slight adjustment or two, it's usually within 1-2 degrees and at about 30% changes, I dont' think the fish even feel a thing.

I am also on a well, but I don't know how deep it is as it's a 4 plex and I rent.
After a time or two you pretty much know exactly right where you need to adjust your faucet.

cichlidgirl · 02-11-2008, 07:38 PM

yes you should regulate the temp by adding hot water to the mix going into the hose. If you are concerned you have it too hot, you can adjust it to where you think its the right temp, put some in a coffee mug and drop in a floating thermometer from your tank. this should tell you how much your actually off. It is possiable to be off more than what you think you are if your hands are wet and get cold then you test the temp with your hand and fingers, might feel hotter than it actually is. I too have well water and its so cold in the winter!!

Tommy Gun · 02-11-2008, 09:41 PM

Interesting....I never even thought that well water would be any colder than city water before. I know that all of the water comes directly from Lake Michigan via a treatment facility and the shores are frozen over and starting to reach further and further "out to sea". I also know that during the course of this winter's coldest days (like yesterday), I can barely drink cold water without hurting my front teeth.

Anyways, I also have to use both hot and cold water in order to acheive the right temp when I am replacing water. All I do is to keep adjusting the water as it pours into my sink and over a thermometer in a bowl. Then I simply close the valve that was built in to my python and make a mad dash for the tank before the back pressure starts causing a leak.

As some additional options, perhaps you could fill up a couple buckets with water from your sink a day or two before your water change so that it can at least warm up to room temperature. Probably even easier still, you could pick up a good plastic garbage can, fill it with water, and use an aquarium heater to warm it up...although you might have to get the water moving in order to get the best and fastest results. (this is how I make/store RO water which I later mix into saltwater for my reef)

You may also benifit from adding water back to your tank slow enough that it doesn't Lead to a ginormous temp drop...maybe even trickle it in from your sink and through the python so that it enters near a heater.

Loman · 02-11-2008, 09:55 PM

I am surprised the holding tank is under the house. I have not personally had a well but I did some work with water conditioners/softeners. The holding tank obviously needs to not freeze or the system develops a significant problem. I think once you are below the frost line most underground sources are going to be around 58 degrees or slightly cooler. I know most caves hover around the 58degree mark. I think the big source of colder water is the holding tank which seems like it is at least partially exposed to cold. The municipal supply is distributed underground so it too takes on the ambient temp of the ground (below the frost line).

I little interesting trivia about water is that it is the only water where it is density prior to freezing. Water is heaviest at 39 degrees. So as water cools down it gets to 39 degrees. As it cools further the colder water actually floats up to the top and therefore ice forms on the surface first. By the ice forming on the top it creates insulation and prevents the entire body of any depth from freezing completely and killing the bottom of the food chain It is all sorta miraculous in the detail. Water is the only liquid that freezes from the top.

cichlidgirl · 02-11-2008, 10:23 PM

I know its a bit off topic but since we are discussing it:

My homes well is outdoors (by the barn) in a well house. The pitless (where the mechanical /electronic pump action and so forth are is buried 4.5 feet below the surface, it freezes solid if i dont have a heater run 24/7. It pumps water into the house in a pipe buried also at 4.5 feet, into our stone celler under the house (11 feet deep or so judging by the steps leading from ground level outside into celler) . From there it pumps it through various filters and uv ray sterilizes and into a pressure tank. from there it goes into the pipes of the pluming system. My basement gets so incredibly cold in the winter that the pipes freeze on a regular basis and we had to build a plywood enclosure for the entire area and install ductwork to divert some warm air from the furnace ductwork to keep it from freezing. Even with the heating ducts inplace, the water in the pipes and what comes into the house is incredibly cold, so cold its painful to have your hands in it. Dont know how close to the freezing mark but must be very close judging by the pain level LOL.