How does everybody top off the water in their aquarium?

[owlett]

Hi!
I recently bought one of those big blue five gallon jugs full of RO water. However, for some dumb reason it never occured to me until yesterday that the water is going to be pretty cold compared to the water in the tank.
I am wondering how other people get RO water into their tank. Do you guys have a heater in you RO holding buckets or something??
Won'tl adding about a gallon of colder water kill everybody?
Also, since temperature affects salinity readings, how do I know I am being accurate when I mix saltwater if the water is colder than what I'd use for my tank?

 

[mr . salty]

Just to clarify,,donot add saltwater to your tank to make up for eveporation...

 

[dsa_mom]

We top off in a 37 gal by just dumping in a gal of RO/DI that has been sitting at room temp. We used to be so careful and add just a little at a time, etc. but the clownfish always wants to play in the water as you pour it in--so now we just pour away. The fact that it has no salt does not seem to bother the clown. Go figure.

 

[bang guy]

"Won'tl adding about a gallon of colder water kill everybody? "
No, but it could kill snails, copepods, urchins, or starfish. Everyone else should handle it fine.
"Also, since temperature affects salinity readings, how do I know I am being accurate when I mix saltwater if the water is colder than what I'd use for my tank?"
Heat the water like you suggested.
"I am wondering how other people get RO water into their tank. "
I drip mine in.

 

[maroonclownfan]

I have a 29 gal. that sometimes requires up to a gallon of topoff every couple days in the winter when the furnace is running.
I just pour in fresh room temp water slowly as to not disrupt anything with the current. Have never lost anything due to topoff. or temp.
I don't usually add any more than 1 gallon per day, if it needs more I wait until the next day to catch up.
MCF

 

[kelldog4]

Neither my tank nor my ro water have a heater - of course I live in South Texas. Room temp stays about 75 and H20 temp stays about 78.

 

[entice59]

i just put mines against the window so the sun can just warm it up.... then i taste it and see if its room temp then pour it in... thats GOOOD WATER... too bad i have to drink tap =(

 

[scubamedic]

I use a home made top off with a float switch. It turns on my little via-aqua pump in my bucket. The pump has a valve on it that is turned down low enough to just allow a small, slow stream of water into the tank. I don't have a sump so I did not want to fill it up to fast.
The water just stays at room temp. I'm in Texas also so it is usually no big deal, but dang it was cold when I got home this morning!
Alan

 

[owlett]

thanks for the info, I was pretty worried that I might be doing harm to my critters when I was topping off the water.
you guys are great