Tank in caos and need a major warer change!

[johnnymax]

I am converting my 75 from gravel with plastic plants to "Planted Tank"
I have a UGF and plan to keep it. It has about 1" of back gravel over it. The tank has been running with a good population of fish for over a year. So, the gravel is full of nutrients for plants. I added 40 lbs of live planted tank substrate over that. I removed all the plastic plants and rocks a few days ago. Now realize the fish population is still in the tank. The 6 corys continued to scavenge. The three silver dollars are acting skidish (I am removing them because they are plant eaters) the 20 plus white skirted tetras just tightened up the ranks in thier school and the angles were undaunted. They just hovered at the top, left front waiting to be fed.
I need to do a 50% water change today.
I was thinking about removing 40 gallon and adding back slowly. 5 gallons at a time over 3 or 4 hours.
Do you think that in necessary? I don't want to lose any fish.

 

[Jexnell]

Those of us with big fish do what's called "fin level water changes". We take the water level down to the height of the fish.

Most of us have a Python to do this or a DIY version. A Python allows you to drain and refill your tank. Keys thing to remember is to declorinate your total water volume, tank, filters, sumps. Dump the declor in the tank water where the new water is getting poured, pumped, dumped ect into the tank. Some put all the declor in at the start of refilling, some go 50/50 half at the start other half mid way refilled. Temp match incoming new water with remaing tank water.
I did this every three days with Casper and never had any issues.

 

[fishguy1978]

I do anywhere from 10-90% water changes and while the valve is set to 75ish degrees I don't worry about it being to cold. Triggers spawning is some fish.

 

[johnnymax]

That is sort of what I have been doing. I was just not confident it was ok. I feel reassured. I have a drinking water safe garden hose I attach to the kitchen sink. But, I don't have that clear vacuum attachment. That would be nice. I wonder if my big box pet store has something there that. I have a stick on thermometer on the hose at the faucet end with clear tape around it. Not great, but ok. I wish I had an inline thermometer.

 

[Jexnell]

johnnymax
If you look at my pic above. Phython sales replacment end sections, with various length gravelvac sections. Shoukd be able to atatch it to your hose.

 

[johnnymax]

Found this, but not sure if it connects to a garden hose.

Amazon.com

 

[PhishMon84]

I do not worry about matching water temps and typically do 85% + water changes on my trio of 180's. theres no way to produce enough warm water for that to be feasible.
Just get close. my 80 degree tanks typically will drop to 68 on a water change. never had an issue with this except early spring when the town adds chemicals. then i skip water changes for about a month and feed less.

 

[johnnymax]

About to do the water change. It looks so empty. Plants should arrive tomorrow. I need to get the plant eating silver dollars out of the tank too.

 

[Jexnell]

Found this, but not sure if it connects to a garden hose.

Amazon.com

If I remember right, the threads on the union are standard waterhose threads.

 

[johnnymax]

Thanks for the encouragement. I put off water changes wayvtoo long all the time because I was afraid of killing fish when adding the new water. I put a sponge over the hose because I lost several fish that got sucked to the hose. It hurt them and the died. I also love the big clamp I got on sale at the hardware store for a buck. I need to get a few more.