100% Water Change

[pokagon55]

Please give your opinion on doing a 100% water for fixing a water issue. That means removing the fish to a bucket drain 100% of the tank water and filling it with new water. Would that kill off some or all of the bacteria in the tank? Would that start the cycle process over againe?
Thanks for your opinions

 

[CFC]

I wouldnt recomend it, such a sudden change in water parameters could send the fish into shock when they are returned to the tank, not to mention how long it would take to re heat the water before they can go back. A series of 50% water changes done every day for a week would be a better course of action.

 

[Bloo]

waterboy already has the same topic going over in the beginners section

 

[pokagon55]

Yea sorry about that, I thought that if I had it on two differnt places I would get more opinons and differnt replies....Sorry!

 

[Bloo]

Generally not a good idea to have the exact same topic going in two different sections
One thread offers more consistency and "flowing" of opinions.

 

[timmystood]

I wouldn't do it - It would put the fish under far too much stress...

 

[pokagon55]

Generally not a good idea to have the exact same topic going in two different sections
One thread offers more consistency and "flowing" of opinions.

Thanks againe bloo...go point.

 

[Bignose]

CFC makes a good point, if the replacement water is different from the old tank water. If and only if, you can match the pH, the hardness, and the temperature of the new water with the old, the fish would not suffer too much shock. But, if you have to sit the fish in a bucket for too long while the temperature equilibrates, you'll do more harm than good. 50% each day for several days is the much safer route.

But, also in response to your question about the bacteria: more of the bacteria are sessile, that is not mobile, and found on the surfaces of your tank and filter. Taking out the water will take out an insignificant amount of bacteria. So long as you don't allow the tank surfaces & filter surfaces to dry out, the bacteria will remain active.

Maybe if you expound upon "a water issue" we could give more specific advice. "A water issue" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

 

[Bloo]

Maybe if you expound upon "a water issue" we could give more specific advice. "A water issue" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

See his other thread I linked above

 

[pokagon55]

CFC makes a good point, if the replacement water is different from the old tank water. If and only if, you can match the pH, the hardness, and the temperature of the new water with the old, the fish would not suffer too much shock. But, if you have to sit the fish in a bucket for too long while the temperature equilibrates, you'll do more harm than good. 50% each day for several days is the much safer route.

But, also in response to your question about the bacteria: more of the bacteria are sessile, that is not mobile, and found on the surfaces of your tank and filter. Taking out the water will take out an insignificant amount of bacteria. So long as you don't allow the tank surfaces & filter surfaces to dry out, the bacteria will remain active.

Maybe if you expound upon "a water issue" we could give more specific advice. "A water issue" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

Ok Big nose here we go, To remain active is it not true that the bacteria must have oxagen? And a food sorce? So it is not true that some of the bacteria will die and also is it not true that it is poss. that the cycle will start againe? Even in a established tank. Do you think that the size of the tank might be an issue? A person here on the forum changed from a 10gal. tank that was setup for four years and went to a 20 gal. tank and it had the same filter with it still in the same water as the tanks. Took the tank water and trasfered the water to the new tank and still had a mini cycle? Can you explane why. Please.

 

[Bignose]

In a new tank, the surfaces aren't covered with bacteria like your current tank is. If you empty, then immediately refill, the bacteria will be fine. The bacteria on every surface, the tank, the decorations, the filter surfaces, the substrate (sand and/or gravel).

If you empty your current tank and your surfaces dry out, the bacteria will die off. But, from your posts I assumed that you were emptying and filling the same tank.

I didn't read about the other person's tank, but it sounds like it was a mini cycle since the tank surfaces themselves had a portion of the bacteria on them.

Again, there are very, very few bacteria in the water itself. The overwhelming majority of bacteria are on the surfaces.

 

[CBTF]

im changing my substrate soon so ill have to do a 100% water change. the mini cycle scares me i certainly wouldnt do it if i didnt have to.

 

[Bloo]

im changing my substrate soon so ill have to do a 100% water change. the mini cycle scares me i certainly wouldnt do it if i didnt have to.

Depends on how mature your set-up is.
I changed another tank of mine (mature) first from gravel to sand - then from sand to quartz.
Full on major changes, but not spikes or cycles at all. No loss of fish or illness.

Just keep the filter running in a large container with the fish, and everything will most likely be fine
Do not clean the filter during this process.
Just keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrite for a couple of weeks after the change.

 

[black molly3]

it wont kill 100% of the bactaria.every tank has bacteria. it will probably remove about 98% of it
What have you got in your tank