100% Water Change

[pokagon55]

What do you think of a 100% water change to correct a problem? That means taking out the fish put them in a bucket and remove ALL the water form the tank and then fill it. Would like your opinons, Thanks

 

[Bloo]

Well first of all, what problem are you trying to correct ?

 

[missPenguin]

Everything I've been told is that you should never change more than 50% of the water at anyone time [Thoough I have heard opinions on this varying from 30% to 50%].

The moer experienced guys would be able to tell you properly, but I would say you should avoid it.

Hopes this Helps

 

[pokagon55]

Well first of all, what problem are you trying to correct ?

I was on another fish forum and the people there told this beginner to remove 100% of the water in her tank to corrcet a ammonia issue. She had put in ammo-lock to lock the ammonia. Her readings were: Ammonia 5ppm, Nitrite 3ppm, Nitrates 35....She had a 29 gal tank with 5 gold fish and 1, 2inch peco.
I instructed her Not to do a massive change like that as it would start the cycle process over againe. Well there was this big debate about it. So I was just wanting to know your opinions on the matter, Thanks

 

[The-Wolf]

IMHO you should only ever change 100% in extream cases of toxins (ie someone pouring washing up liqued in the tank)
the most that should be done in emergancy situations, like excessive nitrAtes etc is 75% followed by smaller ones in the preceding days.

as bloo has asked, what exactly is the problem?

 

[_cRaCkEr_]

Some fish can take 100% and easily adjust (like some of my Bettas) but most of the fish will get sick and eventually die since they can't take the sudden change of the temp and ph.

I suggest you don't do this.

 

[pokagon55]

Ok this is my will any if not all the bacteria in the tank die when doing a 100% water change and if so please explain. Is it that the bacteria will not have anything to feed on?

The person that told her to do this massive water change was saying that the tank would be fine and that the bacteria would not die off. I did not support that comment as everthing that I had read said that the bacteria would indeed die off for lack of ammonia or nitrites or waste in the tank.

 

[Bloo]

In a brand new tank still cycling, I'd (personally) strongly advise against such a change.
Actually make that any tank - 100% should only be done in extreme cases and with great care and monitoring - and even then, really only in established tanks.
Generally 100% changes will stress fish out way too much - even though the vast majority of the beneficial bacteria resides in the filter, and not the water.

That said, I have performed a 100% water change (in a very established mature tank & filter) when moving house. Even my substrate had a full rinse under tapwater. I had no spike and the tank did not enter a cycle.

 

[pokagon55]

In a brand new tank still cycling, I'd (personally) strongly advise against such a change.
Actually make that any tank - 100% should only be done in extreme cases and with great care and monitoring - and even then, really only in established tanks.
Generally 100% changes will stress fish out way too much - even though the vast majority of the beneficial bacteria resides in the filter, and not the water.

That said, I have performed a 100% water change (in a very established mature tank & filter) when moving house. Even my substrate had a full rinse under tapwater. I had no spike and the tank did not enter a cycle.

Her tank was three weeks old hardly any bacteria buildup. Now I had also had a very well established tank removed 80% of the water with no substrate rinse and I had a ammonia spike not like the one that you get from a new set up but there was one plus a nitirite reading? Did you clean you filter media? I didnt with mine. So if you take a tank remove all the insides ie. water,gravel.plants,ect, wash them put them back in refill the tank the bacteria in the filter media is enough for the tank to still be cycled? Yes??? Thanks for your replies.

 

[Bloo]

So if you take a tank remove all the insides ie. water,gravel.plants,ect, wash them put them back in refill the tank the bacteria in the filter media is enough for the tank to still be cycled? Yes???

In my case (with my very mature and established filter) the answer is yes. I did not wash my sponges at all - just kept my filter submerged in a bucket of tank water while moving the tank and setting it all up again.

But there will almost certainly be greater spikes and swings in new tanks when undergoing such a major change - so not recommended.

 

[pokagon55]

So if you take a tank remove all the insides ie. water,gravel.plants,ect, wash them put them back in refill the tank the bacteria in the filter media is enough for the tank to still be cycled? Yes???

In my case (with my very mature and established filter) the answer is yes. I did not wash my sponges at all - just kept my filter submerged in a bucket of tank water while moving the tank and setting it all up again.

But there will almost certainly be greater spikes and swings in new tanks when undergoing such a major change - so not recommended.

So it sounds like I made a mistake by not agreeing with the man that said it was ok to do a 100% water change as the bacteria in the filter will be enough to keep the tank on track. Now the tank that I had up and running was up for 2 years before the 80% water change and the spikes, did not clean the media, kept the tank water in the filter and still a spike I figured that the bacteria would not do well if there is nothing for it to consume even after the tank is filled.

What do you think the bacteria fed on? To keep it alive? Thank you for your replie

 

[Bloo]

It depends how long the process took. After a few hours (without fish to produce ammonia / waste to keep the cycle going), the bacteria will slowly start to die off. The quicker it's done, the better.
I did mine within 3 hours (moving house).

 

[pokagon55]

I see, I only took about 1 hour to complete the process. Humm....So things are not set in stone. Some rules can be broken. Very good point. Thank you very much for your replies.