2006-11-26 06:10:07 · 11 answers · asked by louise*3 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
The stink comes from decaying food and fish waste (ammonia and nitrites). You should be replacing about 20-30% of the water on a weekly basis. Also vacuum the gravel to suck up any uneaten food or fish waste.
Be careful not to overfeed - excess food rots and moulds and fouls up your tank. Only feed what you fish can eat in 3-4 minutes, and only feed once or twice a day.
2006-11-26 06:15:04 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the fishies out and put them in a small bowl with some water from your stinky tank. Then, in the kitchen or bathroom sink, dump all the water out being careful not to get any gravel in the water. Then, put in a bit of water, swish the gravel around, and dump it out. Do this several times until the water from the gravel runs clean. Then, fill it back up with water and let it sit for a little bit. Then, let the bowl with the fishies float on top of your tank (like a boat) so they can get used to the temperature change. After about an hour, put the fishies in the tank WITH the original dirty water (if you don't, sometimes they can go into shock because of the abrupt change in their environment). They may seem shocked and still for a while, but eventually they'll get used to it. Also, you might want to consider putting additives in the water to take out the chlorine from the tap water. Best of luck!
2006-11-26 14:21:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it depends on how big your tank is and how much fish you have in it. And when you change the water do only partial water change... from 25%-50%. When you clean out the whole tank you get rid of the good bacteria too. They make your tank not stink.
less than 5 gallon -> 1-3 days
5 gallon -> every week
10 -> every 2-3 weeks
30+ -> every month
2006-11-26 14:33:17 · answer #3 · answered by professorminh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zoe's advice is correct. Also go to the store and buy Stress Coat (has aloe in it for their scales), Stress Zyme (has live bacteria which eat up a lot of crap) and Ammo Lock (which neutralizes ammonia which they emit because they poop and pee). These chemicals must be used in the correct amounts EVERY TIME you change the water. Ammo Lock is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY to get rid of the stench and to keep them alive. But you must use the others as well.
2006-11-26 20:50:08 · answer #4 · answered by ami 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how big is it? what type of fish are in it? do you have a filter? these are things you need to specify before you can get a good answer. only thing I can tell you without knowing these things is use vinegar when you clean everything, just rinse it off well since too much vinegar left behind can be harmful.
2006-11-26 17:23:40 · answer #5 · answered by Kylie Anne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a siphon hose I use to clean the rocks and water.I clean mine every week with 25% water change
2006-11-26 15:58:23 · answer #6 · answered by michelle a 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once a week at least. Change half the water regularly after you have given it a proper cleanout.
2006-11-26 18:28:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
about once a week sometimes once every 2 weeks
2006-11-26 15:24:20 · answer #8 · answered by $u$kin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
like every 4-6 wks
2006-11-26 14:13:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Once or twice a week.
2006-11-26 14:13:04 · answer #10 · answered by LarbradorianGuy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋