Here is the question first. What type of "hose end" do you use on your garden hose or whatever type hose you use for bigger tank 50% wc's? All I can find is the pointed nozzle thing from Lowes. I have to use one with a cut off, volume adjustment because I need to test the temp at the end of the hose, not from the faucet. I connect the hose to the kitchen sink faucet, start the water and adjust the temp as it comes out of the nozzle.

I'd like one that is less pointed or concentrated, if you know what I mean. Once I start the refill, it is a too strong jet, straight into the tank. I can't seem to find one that I think will work. What do you guys use?

Suggestions:
Be VERY careful about soap or other chemicals on the faucet handle or knobs. I rinse my hands well but when I touched the handle today, it had soap on it. Plus my hose is kept under the sink so it may come into contact with stuff I really don't want in my tanks.

Keep your tanks within about 4 degrees of each other if you can. For example, my Rainbow tank is at 78 degrees and my Cichlid tank is at 74. I adjust the temp from the hose to 76 and then am only 2 degrees from either one. That way, once I get the temp adjusted I can refill both tanks without changing the setup. Use the same thermometer as some are a few degrees off.

Make sure no appliances in the house that use water will be on or come on during your refill. The temp may change dramatically if the washing machine comes on and consumes portions of the hot water. Don't let your teenagers start taking a shower! ;-) Check the temperature several times, from the hose, as it goes into the tank.

Have all heaters, filters, etc. on one power strip or power control device. That way, I turn off everything with one button. This is most important with heaters. If they are dry and come on, they will break and make a big mess. It also keeps powerful filter spray from going all over the place.

Watch the tank level carefully when you refill. Obvious reasons.

Use a bucket to create any chemistry adjustments to the incoming water. For example, I have to add salt, soda, and Epson salt to my Cichlid tank because I have such soft, neutral water. I need the ph to be around 8.0 so I make my mix in a bucket and pour it in as the hose refills the tank. In that same vein, don't forget the Prime or whatever you use to remove Chlorine. (I know, it really does not remove it so much as it neutralizes it.)

This one is open to debate I guess, but I am now doing my water tests AFTER the wc. It is at that point that I know what the parameters are and what else, if anything, I need to do to keep things safe for the week.

My weekly wc's are now taking a good long time with 7 tanks running so any other advice you guys have, I would love to hear.

Edit to ask: Do your fish all swim over to the incoming water stream and seem to play around in it? My water is usually pretty good so I don't think they are trying to get "fresh" water.

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60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

When I was using a hose, I wouldn't put anything on it. That was with just regular gravel though. I use a Aqueon version of the python sold at Petsmart. Makes my life a ton easier. Topoff a tank and then close the valve on the end, move to the next tank and repeat. Much easier. I don't sweat the temp so much and just try to get it close. I do 60% weekly and when it mixes with the other 40% it may only change the overall temp 1-2 degrees.