Redecorating My Tank

[FallenAngel3787]

We are lookin' to redecorate our tank a little, move plants around, add rocks etc and we are wondering if it'll be easier on the fish if we remove then before we do so. We have a safe, clean bucket that we use for the fish and wondered if we'd be better off moving them into that with some of the tank water when we redecorate or if its best just to leave the fish in the tank and move stuff around as quick as possible. I read that you should do a water change after lots of disturbance due to all the crap you kick up offsetting the balance. Just wondering if its less stressful on fish than having arms etc in the tank.

Any advice is welcome personal experience ? personal preference ?

Thanks

 

[waterdrop]

Oh, I think that's an easy one. Most of us putter around with our arms in the tank all the time. Most of the time my fish rather like the entertainment, they usually seem to have fun with it. Don't move things around quickly - it's just the opposite - take your time and always be sure nothing is going to hurt a fish. It is unfortunately easier than you might think to scratch or crush a fish, both with purly decorative items like rocks but also with filters, heaters and such.

Gravel cleanings and moving things around can indeed kick up debris but overall it is nearly always less stressful to just stay in their familiar environment. There are exceptions of course, like major removal and replacement of the substrate perhaps.

Oh, and another thing. People talk and worry about the "stress" of water changes and tank work but most often those actually pale in comparison to the stress of toxins in the water. When a fishkeeper neglects to do good water changes, the resulting debris breakdown may result in blips of ammonia and nitrite that are not good for fish. So never feel bad about rolling up your sleeves and incorporating a good water change into the other activities that make your tank look good.

And remember, do whatever it takes to ensure that you won't forget the basics of a good water change. As a beginner you should always get in the habit of using a good water conditioner and of roughly temperature matching the return water. Prime is our most highly recommended water conditioner and I'd recommend a dosing of 1.5x to 2x what the instructions say (this is because water authorities sometimes "shock" or overdose the chlorine products.) If your tank is 6 months old or younger then be careful to not exceed 2x overdosing on the conditioner as this can slow N-Bac growth (which is still going on at 6 months out of course.) Rough temperature matching can be done by simply putting your hand back and forth a few times between a cup of tank water and the tap water you are adjusting the temperature on (I simply us a mixing tap and mix hot and cold household water but I know that I have a fiberglass lined hot water heater, so excess metal content is not a problem from our hot water and in the vast majority of cases is not a problem for most people.)

~~waterdrop~~

 

[FallenAngel3787]

Thanks for your nice reply. We do regular water changes in the manner you suggest, Matching water temp and using good quality water conditioner. We (I say "we" since my wife and I both have an interest in the fish & help each other in cleaning etc) decided it needed to be spiced up a bit so just wanted to get some advice from someone thats been doing it longer than us. We have been known to roll up our sleeves and tinker a little with plants etc after a water change to get them sitting right again. Just weren't too sure about more invasive work (Nothing as big as substrate replacement yet though ).

Unless anyone has any other comments that conflict with Waterdrops ideas then I think we are going to wait until the next change is due and have a little redecorate without moving the fish.

Thanks for your advice

 

[KISSfn]

"comments that conflict with Waterdrops"

Not me, I think Waterdrop is a genius!

 

[marieukxx]

I change mine around and stick my arms in and the ones that get scared like my cardinals just stay on one side. I find the curious ones like my Betta just come and have a nose at what I'm doing. I'd just leave em in and do it. I find it best to change things about after a clean when you've taken out 20% of the water. That way you don't slosh about too much and can put your arms and stuff in without sloshing water all over the side. Position everything after a good clean, give the inside a wipe down and replace your water like waterdrop suggested and you're done.

My female Betta fish is so curious she's always round looking at what I'm doing, I even give her a little stroke on her back now.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I'm forever pottering with my tank. Never even thought about taking them out. My gourami just hides behind the filter. But my ruby barbs come up to my arms and kiss them effectively, I'm sure they are just seeing if I'm food haha!

I think they like the disturbance. Gives them something else to be intrigued with