How to Use a Python Aquarium Water Changer

Probably the single most important part of any aquarium maintenance routine is the water change. Water changes do two things simultaneously; they remove the bad things that build up (such as nitrate, ammonia and phosphate) and they introduce clean fresh water. These new waters also bring fresh oxygen, healthy bacteria and dissolved carbon dioxide into the aquarium.

Keeping up with regular water changes is the only way to get the most out of any aquarium filtration system or additives. Water changes are the only thing that can really keep the aquarium water free of ammonia, nitrites, toxins and other bad stuff. Nothing else can do this including special filtration, filters or additives.

Unfortunately, most fish owners don’t do water changes nearly as often as they should. In some cases, this leads to a buildup of dangerous substances in the aquarium that can cause health problems for the fish. Often, these health problems can be fatal.

The good news is that you can do a water change without a lot of work by following a few simple steps. First, make sure the tank lights are off and that the heater and filter are turned off too. This will help prevent damage to the equipment. Also, be careful not to splash dirty aquarium water on the fish, decorations and plants. This can stress them out.

Next, pour the old aquarium water into the sink and carefully carry the bucket to the faucet. Fill the aquarium with fresh tap water that is slightly warmer than your aquarium. Adding the right amount of water conditioner, like Aqua Plus or Seachem Prime and Nutrafin Cycle or Seachem Stability, will ensure that you’ve removed as many of the harmful toxins from the aquarium as possible.

After adding the clean aquarium water, turn the tank lights and filters back on. Wipe down the tank and decorations and remove any debris that has accumulated during the siphoning process.

It’s a good idea to do a partial water change every week, especially when you introduce fresh tap water that may be warmer or cooler than the aquarium water. This will prevent too much of a shock to the fish and ensure that you’ve removed as many of those harmful chemicals from the aquarium as possible.

You can make this even easier by using a Python Aquarium Water Changer. This great tool has a flexible hose and two flow valves on the bottom. You can simply connect the hose to your aquarium and put the gravel tube in the aquarium and use the water flow valve to suck away dirty water. It also allows you to move the gravel tube around the aquarium to suck out fish waste and food from the aquarium. Increasing the frequency of the water change can actually fix a lot of health problems, including ich and other diseases. In fact, I’ve seen case after case where a fish is sick or dying and increasing the frequency of the water change is the only treatment that was needed.