mistake on water changes?

[tvbbnumber41]

I have been doing the same type of water changes for as long as i can remember. But just making sure am i doing something wrong? I change about 40% of water inside my 55 gallon aquarium tank every 2 weeks.
steps...
1.) siphon the gravel and such and throw out water.
2.) fill bucket up with new water and add dechlorinator and mix
3.) put new water inside of tank

My taank is very well filtered with a fluval 405 and magnum 350.
Aeration is a powerhead and 3 air stones.

The problem is every time i do water changes it takes a day for my oscar to get his appetite back. And for my wolf fish about a week. is this normal?

 

[CDickes1988]

I have been doing the same type of water changes for as long as i can remember. But just making sure am i doing something wrong? I change about 40% of water inside my 55 gallon aquarium tank every 2 weeks.
steps...
1.) siphon the gravel and such and throw out water.
2.) fill bucket up with new water and add dechlorinator and mix
3.) put new water inside of tank

My taank is very well filtered with a fluval 405 and magnum 350.
Aeration is a powerhead and 3 air stones.

The problem is every time i do water changes it takes a day for my oscar to get his appetite back. And for my wolf fish about a week. is this normal?

Are you making sure the temp of the water you're putting back in the tank is the same as the tank water itself? What are the water params of your tap water?

 

[Dr Joe]

Your doing it right

What are the Param's of the tank water just before you change it?

Consider changing 20% every week instead, there may be to large of a chemistry swing @ 2 weeks.

Dr Joe

.

 

[nuggets]

only do half the rocks like one side of the tank one water change then the other side the next time could be your messing with the bacteria to much they need it and if you clean the rocks everytime and do big water changes and have a good filter your takeing to much bacteria out try that

 

[IKeepPacu]

only do half the rocks like one side of the tank one water change then the other side the next time could be your messing with the bacteria to much they need it and if you clean the rocks everytime and do big water changes and have a good filter your takeing to much bacteria out try that

totally agree. try staggering your cleaning. one WC syphon 1/2 the gravel and clean 1/2 the decor. next WC you do, clean the other half. keep repeating this and alternating and you will do a big part in not disturbing your bacteria.

on the other hand, my oscars awlays seemed to do the same thing. they wont eat the day of a WC, their black faded due to stress. But oscars are also very sulky fish. they seem to not like having their tanks messed with much IMO.

 

[fishman646]

wow my oscars eat during the water change and right after!

 

[Bud8Fan]

How large is the Oscar and are there tankmates? A full grown Oscar in a 55 could need up to 50% a week changed to keep nitrates in check.

What are your nitrate readings?

 

[IKeepPacu]

another thought i just had. the PH of the tank water, and the PH of the water being added could be slightly different, possibly causing them major stress.

it may be a good idea to check all levels in your tank. check PH from tap and tank, and check your nitrates. if nitrates are off the chart when you do a WC, and then add clean nitrate free water, your going to stress your fish as well.

 

[Nates1]

another thought i just had. the PH of the tank water, and the PH of the water being added could be slightly different, possibly causing them major stress.

it may be a good idea to check all levels in your tank. check PH from tap and tank, and check your nitrates. if nitrates are off the chart when you do a WC, and then add clean nitrate free water, your going to stress your fish as well.

I agree with most of what you said such as checking the water params. But adding non-harmful (nitrate-free) water will shock a fish that's been acclimatized to higher nitrates? Source? I understand when it's reference to temperature, and ph shock, but I've never heard it regarding nitrates....

 

[2004exrider]

I agree with most of what you said such as checking the water params. But adding non-harmful (nitrate-free) water will shock a fish that's been acclimatized to higher nitrates? Source? I understand when it's reference to temperature, and ph shock, but I've never heard it regarding nitrates....

Yes, if you were to get a fish that was in high nitrate water and then stick them in nitrate free water they will get shocked.

Jimmy