do you have to leave the water for 24hours wen doin a water change for fish?

Question

i have 2 goldfish and a shubumkin

Answer 1

when i got new tropical fish, i was told by pet shop that the best thing to do is put the fish in a bag of the water it is originally in, then when you have cleaned the water, put the bag in (with fish still inside) so that the water in the bag adjusts to the temepature of the clean water, after about 6 hours, pour the fish back into the clean water with the water from the bag...

Answer 2

Dear laura c
Depending on the size of the tank how much you clean. To answer you question No you don't have to let it set for 24 hours. If you would like to that is fine and doesn't hurt anything. Either way you want to make sure the water is room temp. You can use a water conditioner ( start right, Aquatan, etc) to take out chlorine and chloramine and help the fish with the stress of the water change ( they add helpful electrolytes).... If your fish are in a tank you can leave them in it, if you have them in a bowl i would highly recommend to up grade, but until you do you can take out the fish. After the water is changed let them float in the bowl for 1/2 hour at most then release the fish into the bowl DO NOT add the water from the bag or container you have placed them in because you have more concentrated ammonia their and that will not help out your fish.
hope this helps you out.

Answer 3

The easiest way for a water change is to first start using bottled water. Tap water contains chlorine which isnt really good for fish anyway, and the bottled water has the nutrients and everything that is better for the fish...just make sure you keep it at room temp.
Have your fish in an alternate container, such as a baggie, containing some of the old water. When you clean the tank and do the water change, place your fish (still in baggies) in the tank to get used to the temp change. Gradually let the new water in their baggies, just a little bit at a time every couple of hours or so. You dont want to dump them in there. By doing this, the fish get used to the new water and it doesnt shock them.

Answer 4

I don't and never have I've been keeping goldfish for 26yrs since I was a kid of 11

I take them from the main tank to a small one with cold water to swim in while I clean the main one which normally takes 30 Min's

I refill the tank with water straight from the tape add my tape safe and tonic and put the fish back in, they don't seem to mind they whizz around the tank a bit and then settle down. I don't have time or room to have a large tank standing around for the water temperature to settle to room temp I've never killed a fish off yet and these three are 9yrs and 1yr old and are doing fine.


If you think the water might be a bit cold add some warm tap water as well as your tape safe, tonic the fish have 2 choices live or die ( a ponds water temperature isn't controlled )

Answer 5

It's probably advisable if you're not using any additive like instant aquarium or stress coat etc.
If it's just plain old tap water, you'll need to leave it overnight to get up to room temperature and for the chlorine to evaporate off.
If you use a dechlorinator and instant aquarium powder (available from local fish shop), there is only the need to allow the water to warm up to room temperature a bit, as the balance of the water chemicals will be instantly achieved.
Coldwater fish can easily survive lower temperatures so there isn't a great need to leave the water standing, but just to reduce the chance of stress to the fish due to extreme changes in temperature, it's still best to leave the water to stand a while.
A few hours should do it as long as you put in the chemicals first.

Answer 6

he he. No guys. We should leave the water a day or so because the are some tiny unsolved air bubbles in the water that stick to fish skin and avoide it to be in contacts with the water. And you know fish cannot get the air directly from air but from water. So when air bubbles stick on its body it's as if the fish is outside the water and it may die if the unsolved air in the water be too much.
Of course you can add water gradually not all at once as some freinds mentioned. This way you don't have to move the fish. Leave some water for a day or two. Then empty half of the tank or aquarium and replace the old water with your new one. Good Luck!

Answer 7

i don't. I just make sure the water is about the same temperature as the fish water. Then when it is full i put the recommended amount of clear water purifier in and that's it. Never lost a fish due to doing my water changes that way.

Answer 8

You have to do something about the heavy metals in the water.

Use something like Tetra pondsafe, then you can put the fish in it straight away.

To be honest, i think the "leave it for 24hrs" relates to temperature as much as any polutants.

If you did a 25% water change more regularly you wouldn't have to worry about it at all, just take out 25% and add tap water back to 100%

Answer 9

Put them in a container with some of there original water and stand it in the tank until it reaches the same temperature , then it doesn't come as shock to them when they go into the fresh water

Answer 10

I dont think you should change all the water just change 50% or 60% of the water and use tap safe. I was told with my fish, that they shouldnt need cleaning out that often, if they do I must of been feeding them to much, I cant do right for doing wrong with fish.