Water change question

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I

Industrial

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 22, 2010
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Buffalo, NY
I have read that water changes should be on a schedule because they stress fish. Also, if you are doing too few water changes you should slowly start to do more. This will minimize stress on fish.

I have been wondering why you cannot just throw random large water changes in whenever between normal water changes, or suddenly switch size and frequency of water changes.
 
Industrial;4264416; said:
I have read that water changes should be on a schedule because they stress fish. Also, if you are doing too few water changes you should slowly start to do more. This will minimize stress on fish.

I have been wondering why you cannot just throw random large water changes in whenever between normal water changes, or suddenly switch size and frequency of water changes.
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Large water changes can invariably change your water parameters, which will in turn stress your fish. If you wait to long to do a water change you will definitely be shifting your water parameters considerably if you do a large change.
Doing smaller more frequent changes help keep your water levels stable and harmful elements out of your water which in turn lead to consistently healthier fish.
There is nothing wrong with throwing a large water change in but i Think the key words would be "water change." Just draining 60-70% of your water is different than siphoning gravel and water at that amount. You can change water all day as long as your tanks bacterial levels are not to drastically effected and you use a water conditioner.
 
When I check/change my water I make sure that my PH never goes down from decayed waste. I also fill the tank with same temp water and use dechlor. When I have time, I siphon waste from the bottom, when I am in a rush I just siphon out water.

I am just having trouble seeing besides me sticking my hands in the fish tank and changing water levels how fish would be stressed when the new water is the same PH and temperature.
 
Sudden reduction in dissolved organics causes osmotic stress. Also, if the pH does get low and there is any trace of ammonia, new water that raises the pH will make that trace of ammonia suddenly very toxic. There's more, those are just the first two that come to mind.
 
I used to do 90% changes every week. The key is doing it every week. Or at regular intervals, whatever they may be. But going longer than two weeks between changes sets the system up for problems if a huge change is done suddenly.

Discus keepers have been known to do 100% water changes every day, where some careless slobs will do a once-a-year total teardown with topoffs and no actual waste removal like back in the day. In both methods, the fish are exposed to consistent water parameters. In the discus tank, the water is always pristine and the water added is almost identical to the water in the tank. In the tank with no water changes, those parameters slowly become unlike any water the hobbyist can add and the water change is traumatic at the least.
 
I generally do 15% every two or every other day so I don't accidentally change anything too much. I also lightly vacuum the gravel every time so it stays clean and I never have to do anything massive. So I am a strong believer for small frequent water changes.
 
I do weekly 50% every Sunday, Except this week I missed it, now sitting here posting makes me feel bad so I am going to change my water now.
 
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