How To Do Water Change Without Stressing Fish

[Tolak]

Camping or rv shops carry water safe hoses used for filling fresh water tanks. They cost a little more, but not much.

I used plain old garden hose before, the fish did fine. Being cheap as I am, I waited until I got a deal on the drinking water safe hose.

Tolak

 

[Synirr]

I couldn't tell you how to avoid stressing them, but apparently I'm doing something right. My obese honey gourami goes so far as to swim right up into my Python... luckily he's so fat he just blocks the hole to the tube, so no damage is ever done if I look away for a moment and he makes it all the way in there

 

[thapsus]

You can minimise stress by keeping your aquarium water stats as near tap water stats as possible. Same pH, GH and KH + temperature. Only the amount of nitrate changes.

I do 50% water change weekly to achieve this. Of course I'f there is something wrong with your tap water then it can be risky to change that much.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

I get more stressed during water changes on my tanks than the fish do! Trying to avoid being bitten >.<

 

[CFC]

i have that trouble too, if theyre not biting the syphon theyre trying to get at me.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi EliteFishy

Just because you are interrupting their normal routine doesn't necessarily mean the fish are stressed in a harmful way. Storms are a part of nature, and an addition of clean, fresh water as part of a tank cleaning is similar to that.

My corys love their water changes. The ones in tanks with gravel bottoms enjoy exploring the bits of debris that come loose and they all like it when the water is put in. I use a python these days and the water comes out of the hose with quite a bit of force. I direct it at one of the glass sides and it causes a current that the fish like to swim against. Even though they spend a lot of time laying around and browsing the bottom, corys are very strong swimmers and quite capable of fighting a strong current. They are great fun to watch them making progress against the force of the water pushing them in the opposite direction.

 

[rdd1952]

My spotted corys (still haven't figured out which of the numerous "spotted Corys" I have) actually spend a lot of time swimming in the output flow of my Fluval filter. They were up there when I got ready to feed everyone this morning. They seem to really like it.