Drain all of the way?

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Hoyo12

Hoyo12

Plecostomus
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Jun 23, 2009
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I haven't cleaned out my tank since April, but the filter seems to be doing really well. The water is really clear, but a little yellow (Or at least that's what the lights make it look like) I will clean out tank today, but was wondering. Should I take out all of the fish, and drain it as far as possible, and keep some of the water from the tank (Will be put into a bin, with the fish)?
 
Well if you are planning to do a water change, which you should be doing often, change about 20-30 percent of the water.
 
OMG you haven't done a water change since April?? No, don't do 100% at this stage. The fish have gone far too long without fresh water and if you do 100% now it'll shock the bejesus outa' then. Do like 30% now, 30% in 3 or 4 days. Then 3 or 4 days later do maybe 50%. After that do at least 50% a week. The fish need the fresh water and minerals. Your nitrates must be sky high.
 
not sure I'd even do that much . . . I'd do small changes, like 10% every other day, for about two weeks . . .

then I'd get on to a more stable routine, doing 20-25% a week, or whatever . . . but yeah, it's got to be a routine; otherwise, you risk shocking the fish

basically, whatever the current conditions are, they have spent months getting used to them; if you change too much water now, you will change the conditions faster than they can adapt to them . . .
 
Nabbig2;3314321; said:
Well if you are planning to do a water change, which you should be doing often, change about 20-30 percent of the water.
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BAh! I would do no more than 50%

1 Scrap all algae from glass
2 Drain tank 50% of the way with gravel vac making sure to get any algae you scraped
3 refill with clean dechlorinated water

Sit back and relax.

Also filter maintenance thats delayed should be brought up to date and adding any carbon will make the water sparkle :):D
 
I do 75% and more on my tanks, too, tcarswell. But this guy hasn't changed his water in 4 months. He's probably got a good case of old tank syndrome going at this point. I sure wouldn't change that much water at 1st in his case. A tank that's used to it? Sure, no problem. But not a neglected tank.
 
He said "I haven't cleaned out my tank since April"... which may or may not mean he hasn't done a water change...

Weekly water changes are recommended for a healthy system... if the tank is lightly stocked and well filtered once every two weeks may work... if the tank is heavily planted less often may be possible...

IF you have not been doing any water changes... Organic waste can build up and cause the PH to drop... therefore a huge water change can cause the PH to rise very quickly which can shock/damage your fish... This is why people are discouraging you from doing a massive water change right now...

The safe approach is, as suggested, do frequent small water changes until things are in a good place. 10% every 1~3 days is a good approach to get yourself there...

Once your ammonia & nitrite both read zero... your nitrates are in an acceptable range (typically under 50 ppm)... and your aquariums PH value is the same as your tap water's PH... At this point you would be best to begin a weekly water change schedule to keep yourself in check...

A good place to start your weekly water change schedule is 25% weekly... If doing this does not keep your nitrate under 50 ppm (before you change the water) then you shuold increase the percentage...


There are tons of warnings and good advice offered in this thread... but telling the Original Poster why you are making the suggestions will help him a TON more than just giving random advice...
 
TwistedPenguin;3315148; said:
I do 75% and more on my tanks, too, tcarswell. But this guy hasn't changed his water in 4 months. He's probably got a good case of old tank syndrome going at this point. I sure wouldn't change that much water at 1st in his case. A tank that's used to it? Sure, no problem. But not a neglected tank.
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I agree. I thought he had been doing something. He was kind of vague on that one. If he completely skipped tank maintenance a 50% would crash his fish quickly. I assumed the best when I should have asked. I thought he meant he had been doing water changes but had not broken down the tank or scraped it or whatever. :grinno::screwy::)
 
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