Do water changes stress fish?

[cichlid savage]

As I was doing a water change I wondered to myself, Is this process stressful to my fish? If so how stressful? I am in NO WAY attempting to discourage water changes. Just curious. I also noticed that my Myan and JD are a bit more aggressive towards each other right after a water change.
What do you think?

[rallysman]

I think they are to a certain extent, which is another reason that I like the drip system. Large water changes can change water parameters and take a lot of space away from the fish, so I'm guessing it makes them slightly uncomfortable. However, no pain, no gain:) It's better than none! lol

[thecoolguy]

fish, like all creatures take time to adapt and develope patterns --

the first "x" amount of times you do a 40-50% WC will stress out fish

once they know the "routine" and have adapted to the parameter changes that occur - the benefit from the WC will far outway the stress...

just stating what has already been said....

[12 Volt Man]

I believe that it spooks them rather than stresses them.

if you properly dechlorinate and add water that is roughly the same temp., you are fine.

I change 1/3d of my tanks every week, but many people change more than that everweek and the fish are fine.

what you have to be more conerned with is preserving the bacteria in the biofilter and gravel.

messing that up can really stress and even kill your fish via ammonia and nitrite spikes.

but doing a normal water change/gravel vacuum should not do this.

eg. when vacuuming, you are not sucking the bacteria off the gravel, only sucking the dirt out.

[davo]

There is no doubt in my mind that it stresses them, paricularly while using a gravel vac. They hide away, cower in corners, act spooked, they are getting less water to move about in, and so the ratio of water:fish decreases. All my fish are pretty unhappy bunnys when it's time for tank maintanence. But has to be done so... they'll have to live with it.

There are probably some fish that it bothers more than others though.

[X24]

i can't remember where but i read an article where this guy was doing an experiment with like 12 oscars in a 75 gallon tank, and he'd do a 100% wc every day. the fish started loving the fresh water, and would all go right in the stream where the water was pooring down, and as a control he put an oscar in a 300 gallon tank or something and it turned out the oscars in the 75 grew more and were healthier then the one in the 300.

interesting article, i'm too lazy to look it up though.

so my answer is no. i'm sure it does at first, but eventually they'll enjoy them

[HiGhTiMeZ]

im pretty sure they do get stressed out.
although i noticed some fish doesnt really care what were doing.

[id10t]

Also depends on how different the water you are adding in is vs. whats in the tank - temp, ph, chemical content, etc. and the (possible) reactions that happen when they mix and balance...

[cichlid savage]

i can't remember where but i read an article where this guy was doing an experiment with like 12 oscars in a 75 gallon tank, and he'd do a 100% wc every day. the fish started loving the fresh water, and would all go right in the stream where the water was pooring down, and as a control he put an oscar in a 300 gallon tank or something and it turned out the oscars in the 75 grew more and were healthier then the one in the 300.

interesting article, i'm too lazy to look it up though.

so my answer is no. i'm sure it does at first, but eventually they'll enjoy them

I read something like this before. Not really sure where. Maybe I'll look it up later.

[dmopar74]

i say no big deal, as i get stressed out when i have to clean house or mow my enourmous lawn. its just part of life. whats worse being stressed once a week during w/c's or your entire life in the wild trying not to be food for a bigger fish while tryin to find food for yourself, atleast thats how i justify my obsession:naughty:

[ewurm]

Just make sure temp is close and you aren't altering pH. It might stress them some, but the alternative would be much more stressful.

[cenecker]

There's nothing more stressful than bad water quality!

I'll tell ya what - I change my tanks like 80%-95% EVERY TIME I do it. I figure if I'm going haul the pump and the hose out I might as well just go big. I have ALWAYS done nearly total Water Changes, with ALL varieties of fish, and I've NEVER had a problem.

BBbbbbbbuuuuuuttttttttttt, mabye my experience is unique, I have heard plenty of people claim that large water changes "stress" your fish. I've also heard that large water changes will damage your biofilter (I call BS on that). AND, the only real concerning thing is I've heard a number of people say that they KILLED thier fish by doing a large water change. So...hmmmm...mabye you shouldn't follow my advice...

But hey it's always worked for me and I hate nitrates. :-)

[Nova 8]

My oscars come up and swim in the bubble made from tipping water back into the tank. The cats and loaches get in the way when i gravel vac as there is black worms living in my substrate and they get kicked up by the gravel vac.

[dragonfish]

My cichlids all cower in one corner while vacuuming and get spooked. Some start to move when the fresh water is coming in. In my planted tank I have to be more careful because everyone swarms around to see what I am doing. I have lost some to the siphon because they are so intrigued with it. Guess it depends on the fish.

[tyl089]

I say try to match the temp, as well as water parameters to the old tank water as much as you can. Also use PRIME to get rid of chlorine/chloramine in the new water.
I change my tank every week about 50%, and none of my fish seemed to be stressed and the male convict acually try to bite the gravel vac, as it seemed to think of it as another fish. I also put the water hose into the AC filter so the new water will aerate, as well as get add. filter and minimize splashing the tank.

[ewurm]

There's nothing more stressful than bad water quality!

I'll tell ya what - I change my tanks like 80%-95% EVERY TIME I do it. I figure if I'm going haul the pump and the hose out I might as well just go big. I have ALWAYS done nearly total Water Changes, with ALL varieties of fish, and I've NEVER had a problem.

BBbbbbbbuuuuuuttttttttttt, mabye my experience is unique, I have heard plenty of people claim that large water changes "stress" your fish. I've also heard that large water changes will damage your biofilter (I call BS on that). AND, the only real concerning thing is I've heard a number of people say that they KILLED thier fish by doing a large water change. So...hmmmm...mabye you shouldn't follow my advice...

But hey it's always worked for me and I hate nitrates. :-)

Doing large water changes regualarly is OK. Putting it off and then doing a large change can cause a pH swing of 2 points or more causing significant stress.

[Bogwoodbruce]

My 30+ Metynnis and myleus (none smaller than 5inch) hate having a water change they all swim into the glass and knock them selves abot.

[Bud8Fan]

Ditto to it depends on the fish.

My old Oscar loved water change time. It would follow me around when I vacuumed and bite at the gravel swirling in the tube then played in the stream when I refilled with the bucket water. The Red Tail Shark on the other hand hid in his cave and lost his black coloring during water changes.