Water Change

[UKBrad]

I my tank is due for a full water change. How do i go about this as i was told you have to wait 4 weeks for your water to be safe however i obviously cannot keep my fish in a bucket for this long. Please help

 

[Tolak]

Whoever told you that 4 weeks nonsense was wrong, I fill my tanks with a hose. Need a few questions answered; what size tank, how long has it been running, when was the last water change & how much was changed, tank occupants, and what country are you from?

Edit* Duh on my part UK obviously

 

[UKBrad]

yes but for a new tank set up you are supposedly ment to leave it for 4 weeks and do the ammonia thing. know? it is a 70 liter, i live in england and do a 10% water change every week however there is loads of green weedy stuff over the gravel and my fish have been dieing recently

 

[Tolak]

Ok, what you have is a tank cycling issue, not a water change issue. I thought someone told you the replacement water has to sit for 4 weeks, I've heard goofier things.

Results of water tests would help determine where in the cycle you are. Full water changes of 100% are done after a fishless cycle, in a traditional cycle such a large water change could be bad for the fish. Cycling tanks are known to have pH fluctuations, a large change in pH is bad for fish.

Vaccing the gravel will help, do half, then wait a few days before doing the other half. Some nitrifying bacteria is present in the substrate, doing all the gravel on a cycling or recently cycled tank could disturb the bacteria.