Do water changes stress fish?
- Thread starter cichlid savage
- Start date
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
cenecker;952158; said: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.
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.
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.
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.
