Water changes with new fish.

[Howlett24]

I have a relatively new tank setup using established filter media. After adding new fish 3 days ago, I was told to do daily water changes at 20-25%. I have been testing my water daily and everything is damn near perfect. My question is should I hold off on the changes or do it anyway?
I have platys, loaches, guppy and some cory cats.
(30gallon)

 

[Crispii]

I would do a partial water change if I were you. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Salty&Onion]

How much platies, guppies, loaches, and cories?
And what type are the loaches?

 

[Byron]

Water changes cannot hurt, but we need to know a bit more of the data. Which tests have you done/can you do, and what are the numbers?

I will assume the above will be ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and maybe pH. Do you also know the GH (general hardness) of your source (tap) water?

And the info in post #3 too please.

 

[Howlett24]

How much platies, guppies, loaches, and cories?
And what type are the loaches?

Kuhli loaches 2
3 platys
4 corys
5 guppy

 

[Crispii]

Either keep the locahes or Corydoras (don't keep both). Also, increase the number of loaches or Corydoras (depending on which one you're going to keep) to at least six or more.

 

[Howlett24]

Water changes cannot hurt, but we need to know a bit more of the data. Which tests have you done/can you do, and what are the numbers?

I will assume the above will be ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and maybe pH. Do you also know the GH (general hardness) of your source (tap) water?

And the info in post #3 too please.

GH is soft (75)

 

[Howlett24]

GH is soft (75)

It is tap, which I conditioned. I can provide actual test data when I get back to my house.

 

[Colin_T]

Normally you don't do water changes on tanks with new fish for the first week because the stress of being moved and put into a new tank, and then getting water changes, can kill them. However, if there is an ammonia or nitrite reading above 0ppm, then do daily water changes to keep the levels at 0.

 

[Salty&Onion]

Kuhli loaches 2
3 platys
4 corys
5 guppy

Kuhli loaches need a group of 6 or more, ideally 10-12 in your tank size.
Corydoras need a shoal of 6 or more.
Either corydoras or kuhli loaches.

 

[Howlett24]

Kuhli loaches need a group of 6 or more, ideally 10-12 in your tank size.
Corydoras need a shoal of 6 or more.
Either corydoras or kuhli loaches.

Copy that, I’ve decided to reach out to a forum for a broad range of knowledge. I have been given a lot of misinformation from the local shops here. Much appreciated.

 

[Salty&Onion]

I have been given a lot of misinformation from the local shops here. .

They often will give out misinformation to just get the fish sold. It's all for money.

 

[Howlett24]

It is tap, which I conditioned. I can provide actual test data when I get back to my house.

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrate3- 20ppm
Nitrate2- 0
GH 75 soft
Chlorine- 0
Total Alk- “ideal”
PH- neutral.
All this according to my test kit Tetra 6 in 1 and Tetra ammonia test strip.

 

[Byron]

I agree that loaches or cories, but not both. Given the secretive nature of the kuhlii (they are ofteen nocturnal) the cories might provide more interest. You need a sand substrate (for either for that matter).

GH of 75 I will assume is 75 ppm (rather than 75 dGH which would be practically solid rock!) so this is soft to very soft. Forget livebearers (platies, guppies, and also mollies, swordtails, Endlers) as these need dissolved mineral in the water and thus a much higher GH. They willnot be healthy or last long in soft water.

Numbers look OK, nitrate at 20ppm is high but presumably this tank recently cycled so that should come way down. You could do water changes to get it down faster.

 

[Salty&Onion]

I agree that loaches or cories, but not both. Given the secretive nature of the kuhlii (they are ofteen nocturnal) the cories might provide more interest. You need a sand substrate (for either for that matter).

GH of 75 I will assume is 75 ppm (rather than 75 dGH which would be practically solid rock!) so this is soft to very soft. Forget livebearers (platies, guppies, and also mollies, swordtails, Endlers) as these need dissolved mineral in the water and thus a much higher GH. They willnot be healthy or last long in soft water.

Numbers look OK, nitrate at 20ppm is high but presumably this tank recently cycled so that should come way down. You could do water changes to get it down faster.

I agree