Water Change + Bacteria

[Scunny]

well i'm going to pick my new stock up tomorrow (really hope the LFS remembered) so was planning on doing a water change tonight.

As most of you know, i've had goldfish in my tank over the past three weeks, and used mature media too, and the tanks now cycled. So i was planning on doing a 50/75% water change tonight in order to remove the Nitrates, and also sort out the gravel (the goldfish have dug it all up, after i spend ages getting it right). I'm going to remove the goldfish before doing the water change and return them to their normal home, and then let the tank get up to temp overnight.

Was just wondering though, seeing as the tank will be running till around 11AM tomorrow morning without any fish in, will this be harmfull to the bacteria in the filter?

Thanks guys

 

[Puffdaddy]

If that is going to be less than 24 hours you should be alright. Although if your unsure about that, you can always add some fish food to feed the bacteria over night.

 

[Scunny]

so once i take the fish out and do the water change tonight (probably going to start that around 6), if i put some food in when im done it should keep the bacteria going ready for the morning?

Thanks

 

[Bignose]

For one night? I wouldn't do anything at all. I certainly wouldn't add any amount of fish food, it won't break down into ammonia in one night and all it'll end up doing is polluting your tank. So long as the bacteria doesn't dry out, it can last quite a while. Some will die off in 24 hours, but it will grow right back once you return its food source. So, since it is just for one night, don't worry about it at all.

 

[rdd1952]

I agree ith Bignose. Even if you lost half your bacteria (which you won't), it would double back in 24 hours or less. Also, depending on how many goldfish you had and how many new fish you will be adding, you may not be putting in as much bio load as was previously in the tank. Keep in mind though that if you only used say 2 GF to cycle and then add 15 or 20 tetras, you may be adding more bioload than the tank was cycled to. There is only enough bacteria present to handle the waste load of the current stock.

 

[Scunny]

Sorry guys, just finished doing a 75% water change. Took 4 hours, although i had a nice half hour break in the middle to get food

I had 4 goldfish in before (they were fairly large sized fish, approx 7/8inch long. Tomorrow i'm planning on putting;

1 RTBS
3 female convicts
1 Bulldog plec
and possibly a group of tetras.

Would this be too much or should i hold back on the tetras till a later date?

Put some Interpet Filter Aid in and its worked amazingly. Really made the water perfectly clear.

Any help is good help guys

 

[rdd1952]

I think I would hold off on the tetras for now. Put the other fish in and monitor the water for a few days. If you aren't getting any ammonia readings at all, then add the tetras. If you do start seeing ammonia, work through it until you can go 3 to 5 days with no ammonia before assing the tetras.