How often can I disturb my tank?

[Strmwrng]

Hi all! Wondering how much I can disturb my little 5 gal tank before I stress my fish. I’m pretty new here and keep reading great ideas that I’d like to implement, most recent being moving the heater to stay under the water level even when I do water changes. However, I have to do water changes every 3 days. The guppies and endler guppies seem to enjoy the new water going in but am I stressing them by this? Add to it I’ve changed plastic plant placement (waiting for some live plants to arrive) and now want to change heater placement. Long question short...how much can I mess with (have my hands in?) this tank and how do I recognize a stressed fish? Thanks!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

If the fish start swimming about in a more frantic way, breathing heavily, perhaps clamping their fins a little, or hiding in plants, they're getting a bit stressed. Then it's best to finish up what you're doing as quickly as possible and leave them be for a while.

Water changes every three days is fine, like you said, they often seem to appreciate the change. I'm assuming you're doing that for cycling reasons? I try to keep my movements slow and steady and calm when moving the syphon around the tank, be careful not to bang against the tank and startle them, and its usually fine. I was doing daily 75% changes on my tank recently for a fortnight, and the fish didn't seem stressed by it.

Changing the heater placement isn't a big deal, you'd only be disturbing them for a minute or two. I tend to try to do other chores like trimming plants or adjusting a heater at the same time I'm doing a water change anyway, so it's all over and done with at once.

You don't want to have your hands in there all the time, constantly moving things around and not paying any attention to how the fish respond, but you're unlikely to stress them out too much when you're just doing regular maintenance, adding some plants etc. Fish are tougher than we give them credit for sometimes.

 

[Strmwrng]

If the fish start swimming about in a more frantic way, breathing heavily, perhaps clamping their fins a little, or hiding in plants, they're getting a bit stressed. Then it's best to finish up what you're doing as quickly as possible and leave them be for a while.

Water changes every three days is fine, like you said, they often seem to appreciate the change. I'm assuming you're doing that for cycling reasons? I try to keep my movements slow and steady and calm when moving the syphon around the tank, be careful not to bang against the tank and startle them, and its usually fine. I was doing daily 75% changes on my tank recently for a fortnight, and the fish didn't seem stressed by it.

Changing the heater placement isn't a big deal, you'd only be disturbing them for a minute or two. I tend to try to do other chores like trimming plants or adjusting a heater at the same time I'm doing a water change anyway, so it's all over and done with at once.

You don't want to have your hands in there all the time, constantly moving things around and not paying any attention to how the fish respond, but you're unlikely to stress them out too much when you're just doing regular maintenance, adding some plants etc. Fish are tougher than we give them credit for sometimes.

Thanks for that info! So I’m now thinking mine aren’t stressed whenever I’m messing with it.
I am doing the water changes to keep the nitrates in check; 5 fish in a 5 gal (even little fish) is pushing limits...when vacuuming the fish swim around the tube and try to “eat” anything they see that’s being sucked up! I’ve never seen them act in the way you describe, so feeling much better about things.
Funny you should be the response for this as it’s due to your response I was reading in another older thread that has prompted me to change the placement of my heater. I’m stalking this forum daily and learning a lot!, (until it becomes overload!) Thank you very much!

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Thanks for that info! So I’m now thinking mine aren’t stressed whenever I’m messing with it.
I am doing the water changes to keep the nitrates in check; 5 fish in a 5 gal (even little fish) is pushing limits...when vacuuming the fish swim around the tube and try to “eat” anything they see that’s being sucked up! I’ve never seen them act in the way you describe, so feeling much better about things.
Funny you should be the response for this as it’s due to your response I was reading in another older thread that has prompted me to change the placement of my heater. I’m stalking this forum daily and learning a lot!, (until it becomes overload!) Thank you very much!

Oh hey, that's great! Happy advice I've given before is still useful for other people, I've picked up loads of tips and info from other people in older threads too. Can learn so much that way!

Hahah yep, some of my fish are a nightmare for getting close to the syphon, trying to eat the bits they see flying up the tube. The black molly fry in the large tank are the worst. Got good at pausing the flow by putting my thumb over the bucket end to avoid sucking them up while I'm moving it around, because there will be eight or more fry hovering around the syphon, getting way too close!

A stressed fish doesn't want to eat, so if they're trying to nibble the stuff from the syphon, it's not stressing them

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hi all! Wondering how much I can disturb my little 5 gal tank before I stress my fish. I’m pretty new here and keep reading great ideas that I’d like to implement, most recent being moving the heater to stay under the water level even when I do water changes. However, I have to do water changes every 3 days. The guppies and endler guppies seem to enjoy the new water going in but am I stressing them by this? Add to it I’ve changed plastic plant placement (waiting for some live plants to arrive) and now want to change heater placement. Long question short...how much can I mess with (have my hands in?) this tank and how do I recognize a stressed fish? Thanks!

The fish may be stressed after the first few times, but they should get used to it after a while.

If you purposely scare them (not that you would), or if you you accidentally suck them up the siphon tube, they will be much more stressed when your hands enter the tank, because they affiliate your hands, with their bad experience.

 

[Strmwrng]

The fish may be stressed after the first few times, but they should get used to it after a while.

If you purposely scare them (not that you would), or if you you accidentally suck them up the siphon tube, they will be much more stressed when your hands enter the tank, because they affiliate your hands, with their bad experience.

Thanks so much! Smart little things, eh? Yeah, I try to be careful, appreciate your feedback

 

[Retired Viking]

My tetras are all over my siphon when I vacuum their tank, they also swim close to my hand when I am doing tank maintenance, I think they are waiting for me to feed them. I move my hands slowly so it does not startle them.

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

I think catching them in a net is the most stressful thing you can do - although my Dojo's see a net and it's like "time to take a trip!!!!!" and float right in. If I find I've been chasing a fish too long - I stop for a while and let the fish rest, may even try again the next day if you have the time.

 

[HoldenOn]

I think catching them in a net is the most stressful thing you can do - although my Dojo's see a net and it's like "time to take a trip!!!!!" and float right in. If I find I've been chasing a fish too long - I stop for a while and let the fish rest, may even try again the next day if you have the time.

I agree. The goal is to put the less stress possible on the fish, as long as you do that, you should be fine .