I am looking into getting a 55 gallon tank. Today when I was doing my weekly 25% water change in my 10 gallon I got to thinking about how am I going to do this with a 55 gallon. Now I use a gravel vac, and a 3 gallon bucket to clean it. Then I have a couple of gallon jugs that I use to tranfer water from my tap to the tank. (treated before put in tank) But that dosen't seem very realistic doing that in a 55 gallon. I know that there is the paython, that you hook up to your tap. But if you use a python how treat the water before it gose in the tank? Or is it okay to put the water in the tank, then add the water treatment to it? I just want to be well prepared before I make such a big purchase.

So you to you change your water?

I have a 55 gal tank, I do 100% change weekly, and I don't have a Phyton, so this is how I do it.

Take all fish out and put them in a bucket/container. I use a plain hose to drain the water from the tank to my bathroom. After I drain, then I use a plain garden hose from my outdoor tap and fill the tank up with that, while periodically adding water conditioner. After all that, I acclimatise my fish by adding the new water bit by bit in the bucket. After about 15 minutes, then I plonk them back in the tank.

Don't use a bucket to fill up the tank unless u want to get absurdly huge biceps

i ended up investing in the python vac cleaner i had a regular one and emptied the tank by that out the back door barley worked and well i spent the extra money on the python i think it was 30 something less then 40 at wall world and its a life saver for the 55 tank 10 tank and my 20 tank.
when i add water back in i add the treatments while the water is running

nothin' wrong with buckets! Free exercise!

I have to use Python.

Since I have 90, 55 and 29 g tanks. And I change 80% and 50% a week for every tank.

Well I don't take my fish out while I clean my tank. So wondering if adding water from the tap to the tank, then just perodicly adding treatment would be okay? Or would them being exposed to untreasted water for that little bit of time be dangerous?

I better not risk chlorine poisoning.

It is suggested that if you are going to refill your tank with a python or similar piece of equipment that you remove the old water, then treat the remaining water for the total tank (treat for 55 gallons), then refill the tank from the faucet.

If water is in short supply or is expensive, a python may be a poor idea - it wastes a tremendous amount of water when running.

I cannot use our tap water (powerful well water), so a python is out for me even if I did feel comfortable wasting water in that fashion. I syphon out 3 gallons at a time into a waste bucket.(all I can lift) and dump that (in the summer, it goes on the garden - and I have PRIZE winning flowers and veggies! In the winter it grows orchids for me ) Then I add back in 1.75 gallons at a time (size of refill bucket and what I can lift high enough to pour carefully). I change 50-75% of the water in all my tanks every 3-5 days. I do NOT have HUGE biceps, but I have some good, strong arms for an old lady - no wiggly flaps!

It takes only about 20 minutes to clean a 68 gallon tank - wiping all algae, cleaning the filter box and cartridges, emptying about 50% of the water and refilling.... It goes fast and easy.

I store water in the five gallon blue water bottles that are sold for water. I found some at the grocery for $1.50 @. I have 5 of those and two 15 gallon white plastic drums for water. They are stored in the laundry room and pumped out with a hand pump.

You should be able to still use a Python to go from tap to tank. The only time it wastes water is when you set it to "vacuum" since it requires running water to create the vacuum force required to suck tank water out.

Okay, I think I got a pertty good idea of what I will have to do. Thank You!

I run my Python with a water filter attached that removes the chlorine from the water before it hits the tank. It can be a bit cumbersome (I have to tie it to a chair) but it works GREAT. The filter is small, about 12" tall and 4" diameter, and has in/out valves that I use quick connects to attach my Python.

Lisa

Generally, you should only change 10-50% of the water weekly.
I do about 20%.

Never add chlorinated water to your fish. Get those plastic gal spring water jugs.
Re-use them with tap water. Let them sit without the cap for a few days.
I have a big bucket I put a few gals in, then
add dechlorinator & let sit for a few hours. Then i add it to my tanks.