Please keep in mind that this is coming from an ignorant newb

I've been reading up on this, but wonder how it's actually done. If I change out 50% of the water and refill it with the fish still in the tank wouldn't the new water affect the quality enough to hurt the fish? If it takes weeks before the water is cycled and ready for a fish than how do you properly do a water change? Do you take the fish out for awhile until the water is safe again? Or...once the good bacteria is in your tank is that enough to keep it safe even when doing a water change?

Thanks!

I use what's called a Python www.pythonproducts.com/ to vac the gravel when I do my water changes. It really makes life easier. Some people don't like them but it's all a matter of preference. A 50% water change once a week for one O is probably about right but you should test your water parameters in order to determine how often to do water changes. You want to try to keep the nitrates around 10-20ppm.

I add water conditioner to the water being added to the tank I dose for the size of the tank and I use Prime www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Prime.html. You don't need to remove the fish from the tank.

There are many different opinions on the best way to do water changes and I'm sure that other members will chime in with their preferred methods.

Once you have cycled a tank, the good bacteria that has been created lives in your filter media, sponges or under gravel filter if you use one.

This bacteria cycles the fish waste from (Ammonia) to ( Nitrite) to (Nitrate). It is the last product the Nitrate that you are removing from the tank by doing water changes.

The only time you will affect the bacteria in your filter system is if you add untreated tap water back in without using conditioners, as any chlorine or chloramines in the water will kill off this beneficial bacteria.

This is why you must also clean any filter media or sponges in water that has been removed from the tank and never tap water.

I know people say about cycling a tank but what they are really doing is cycling the filter. This is where all the good bacteria live. So changing water is absolutely fine and necessary. Apparently some fish breeders changes nearly 100% water every day

thank you... just one more thing



If I do a 50% water change and use the water directly from my tap and then treat it with conditioners immediantly will that suffice?

Thank you!

I'd say so. If you use buckets or anything, you can add the conditioner to the buckets anyway, else if refilling with a hose or python, you can just add it while the water is running into the tank.

keep in mind that the water temp from yr tap water is really cold so i suggest that you heat up sum water b4 adding it to yr tank as the sudden drop in temp could cause yr fish to get ill.

Vbaby wrote:


I use a digital thermometer placed in the faucet water flow and adjust the hot and cold flow to get the right temp. If your within a couple of degrees your good to go.

Ahhh.. that's a great tip Johnl.

Thanks

I add the dechlorinator to the tank before adding the water. I refill from a housepipe connected to a mixer tap. I check the temperature with my hand to make sure it is very close to the tank temperature and recheck every 5 mins