First Water Change

[pauly]

hi,

I'm a newbie to this fish-keeping lark. I put my first fish (eight neon tetras) into the tank Saturday morning and they've been fine.

I attempted my first water change/tank clean last night.

I used the syphon gravel cleaner I got expecting it to be a slow process, but before I knew it the tank was nearly half empty and I hadn't really cleaned the gravel enough. Anyway, I panicked a little and so just refilled the tank straight away. I think maybe the gravel cleaner is too big for my tank. My tank is 50cmx25cmx30xcm.

Checking the temperature afterwards, it was 5 degrees too high, this has now returned to normal. But is the initial change in temp dangerous?

During the water change, should I do anything to the filter (besides turning it off) and should I clean the ornaments?

I hope my fish are still alive when I get home from work.

Paul.

 

[bogwood]

First off, have you 'cycled' the tank?...

When you refilled the tank did you use a water treatment/dechlorinator additive?...

 

[Luanda Pym]

Those syphon filters are FAST!! but you'll get used to it.
Mine has a clamp type gizmo on the bottom of it that you can attach to a bucket, you can use this to slow down the flow of water into the bucket too, just clamp it a bit harder!
you'r fish should be fine, odd that your water was 5 degrees hotter after the water change. i use clean cold tap water with tap safe added, which makes the whole tank colder by about 5 degrees but as its only a transient temp change the fish survive fine.
The only problem i can think of with such a bit water change is if your tap water pH is significantly different to your tank pH. This isn't a problem for me as both are pH 7.5 - 8, but you might want to check that.
They say Tetra's don't like hard water and high pH, but mine have adapted fine. They are hardy little fish.
They will be waiting for you alive and well when you get home. Don't panic!

 

[pauly]

Yep the tank is cycled and I used water treatment.

For the water temp, I used a mix of hot and cold tap water and felt by hand to get it the right temp.

So should I be cleaning the filter out during every water change?

 

[bogwood]

Yes, clean the filter... but only rinse 'one half' of the filter media 'in tank water'... so as to keep some of the beneficial bacteria in there...

 

[Luanda Pym]

I must admit i don't. I clean my fine filter media (ony half of it, in the old tank water that i've just changed) about once a month. So i suppose it depends on whether you are doing the 10% weekly water change or a bigger 30-40% monthly water change.
I also don't clean my ornaments, i found it too much trouble and the gravel needed cleaning more than the rocks.
You could add some sludge buster to your tank to deal with any big deposits of fish poo left in your tank and try a slower paced water change, quickly swilling the gravel around in the gravel cleaner syphon, in a week or two.
I religiously do water tests using a liquid water testing kit, every week.
if something is out of sorts (usually the nitrites) then I do a 10% water change straight away.
Although, i'm a newbie too so perhaps i'm doing it all wrong, but my fish and water stats are all fine.

I guess the best way to be sure that nothing horrible has happened to your tank because of the big water change is to check the water stats, if they are all within normal parameters then your fish will be fine.

 

[pauly]

Thanks Lu P

Any recommendations for water testers? I was planning on getting one, but the one I found was a bit pricey at £60.

 

[dwarfgourami]

The API liquid test kit is about 17.99 (pounds) and is really reliable. Lasts forever too, so much better value than the strips.
You may find a smaller gravel vac is easier. I bought a medium one for my 19 gals but got the smallest size after the first water change, I just couldn't fit the big one in.