Large Water Change Due To A Dead Tetra

[finalfantay85]

Just got in from work now and found one of my flame tetra dead under a rock with his tail bent down.
I am gonna do a huge water change now cos i've not had a chance to do it in about 12 days cos i have a rather dodgy fry tank wedged into the tank and any movement tends to cause the fry to escape.
Basically i wanna know if it's possible to do a 100% water change and if so what's the best way to go about it without stressing the fish too much.
Ta

 

[rebrn]

Hello, sorry about your fish.

I personally have not had to do that large of a water change with fish in the tank. However, I have read on several topics of large water changes being done with fish, often and with no stress. Basically, from my understanding, you basically drain all the water from the tank, leaving just enough so for the fish (bear minimum left), essentially right to the substrate, just leaving them enough water so they are not flopping around. This is what I believe they call a 90% water change then fill back up with dechlorinated water. Just make sure, with such a large water change, that you match the replacement water temperature as close as possible to the tank temperature.

Like I said I have never had to do this myself, but the more experienced people will be able to give you better instructions on how to do a large, 90%, water change successfully.

Good Luck

 

[finalfantay85]

Thanks for the advice. To add to the complication i've seen two escaped fry in the tank too that are prime to be vacuumed up when i change it now.
I think i'm gonna have to take the fry tank out altogether and float it in a bucket whilst i change the water.

Ta for the advice

 

[rebrn]

That might not be a bad idea. I have not had to deal with fry myself (still new to all this). But as you already had 2 escape I don't see how removing them to a bucket would hurt temporaily. But again I will yeild that to the more experienced people.

 

[finalfantay85]

Do you have any tips on removing algae from the glass cos i've not got one of those magnetic cleaners at the moment and the glass could use a clean?

 

[rebrn]

The only thing I could suggest is one of the algae scrapers. It you have a glass tank you can use any kind, if you have acrylic, make sure you have an acrylic safe sponge on the scraper. I think they are roughly $8 at the larger chain stores, the acrylic safe ones are more expensive.

 

[Haych]

algae can be removed with a new and unused sponge

 

[finalfantay85]

Thanks a lot guys