Water Change Temp and How to clean canister filter

[bethinak]

Now that I finally have axolotls in the tank, I have questions how to maintain it.

When I change water, should I be using cold tap water or should i attempt to make the water the same temp as the tank (anchorage water is quite cold)? I generally change in five gallon buckets so it would be about a 7th of the tank per bucket. 2 buckets a week for a "normal" water change.

What do I do when its time to change the filter? I have a canister filter with ceramic doodads and plastic doodads and the top tray is just a physical filter pad. I'm assuming I clean debris off the filter pad. What else? Should I put something else in that top tray? What would be best?

 

[auntiejude]

You shouldn't need to change the filter unless it has disintegrated. To clean the filter pad you just rinse it and squeeze it in old tank water that you are just about to dispose of. If you do need to replace the filter pad you add the new one in with the old one for a couple of weeks before you get rid of the old one. If you need to clean the filter out (noodles and balls just rinse them in old tank water and wipe out the cannister.

If you fill your buckets up the night before a water change with plain tap water and dechlorinator and leave it in the same room as the tank over night the temp will equalise. If you don't have time for that, yes you can add some hot water until the new water is about the same temp as the tank.

 

[keiko]

Auntiejude covered it pretty well, but I just wanted to add that when you're cleaning the filter it's better to do a "bad" job than clean it too well. And it's not necessary to clean it very often, only when it gets really dirty.

As for the water changes, try to use water that's the same temperature as the tank. Axies don't like sudden temperature changes. I have a thermometer that I use when changing the water so I can be sure it's about the same temperature. A few degrees difference won't matter since you're only changing a small portion of the water. Over time you'll learn to tell if it's ok even without a thermometer.

 

[axowattyl]

All of the above and just trickle the new water in with the filter running, rather than just dumping it in.

This will prevent any sudden water parameter change shocks.