cleaning my fish tank out...!!!?

Question

i filled a 16litre bucket with water last night, left it over night to turn to room temp, then this morning i put some destresser/conditioning in it. i then removed the same amout of water from the tank, and filled it with the clean water! my tank mesurements are L92cm W32cm H38cm. so i think it was about a 20% water change. i was jus wondering weather i'd done this right? this is the first time ive cleaned my tank out as ive had it just over 3weeks so i really am new to all this.
also the other thing is some of my fish are showing signs of ich, ive only had them a week. but should i be donein a 20% water change every day ? aswell as the ich treatment ive got?
please help as i dont want my fish to die. thanks

Answer 1

I've had my tank up and running for about four weeks. I let my tank cycle for two weeks without any fish in it, and then introduced my danios to build up bacteria. I change about 15-20% of the water every 2-3 days. My danios are quite the lively bunch and as soon as the ammonia goes down, I'll be ready to get my next batch of fish.

Basically, I think you are doing good with staying on top of the water changes. Just make sure it's about 20%.

Answer 2

You did the water change correctly but you could have other problems too. Have you had your water tested yet? If not, get it tested immediately. Better yet, buy a API liquid master test it so you can test it daily yourself. I would imagine your ammonia is well over 1 ppm and you possibly have nitrite present too although it may be too early for that.

Trying to cycle with fish usually requires daily water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels low. They should both be at 0 but that won't happen for a while until the tank cycles. You need to try to keep them below 1 ppm at most. How many fish and what type do you have? The more heavily stocked your tank is, the more often you will have to do water changes to get through the cycling process and you will almost definitely lose some fish, depending on what type you have.

Your tank sounds like a standard 29 gallon tank so you shouldn't have more than 4 to 6 small fish for now and then once you are to the point where you have no ammonia and nitrite, add 4 or 5 more and then let the cycle run again. Do that until you are fully stocked.

Below is a link to a great fish forum with lots of info there for beginners. It was invaluable to me when I first started a few years ago.

Answer 3

Yes you did it absolutely rite. And you should change 25% of your water every fortnight.

No please dont change 20% of da water everyday, but be sure to give ich treatment as directed for your tank everyday for 2-3 days.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is a ciliated protozoan which causes "Ich" or "white spot disease." This disease is a major problem to aquarists and commercial fish producers world wide. Ichthyophthirius is an important disease of tropical fish, goldfish, and food fish. The disease is highly contagious and spreads rapidly from one fish to another. It can be particularly severe when fish are crowded. While many protozoans reproduce by simple division, a single "Ich" organism can multiply into hundreds of new parasites. This organism is an obligate parasite which means that it cannot survive unless live fish are present. It is capable of causing massive mortality within a short time. An outbreak of "Ich" is an emergency situation which requires immediate treatment: if left untreated, this disease may result in 100% mortality.

But dont you worry it is one of the easiest one to treat.

Answer 4

Sounds about right. Do a 20% water change weekly or every other week. If you think you have ich here's my method of curing and preventing ich:

First step:
20-25% water change with gravel vac. Most likely your poor water conditions contributed to the outbreak of ich.
Second step:
Raise temperature (no more than 1° per hour) to 85°.
Third step:
Add aquarium salt (not table salt) in the amount of one rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons. If you have scaleless fish, reduce that to one rounded teaspoon per 5 gallons, as they don't tolerate salt.
http://www.aquariumpharm.com/en_us/productCategory.asp?categoryname=WaterConditioners
Fourth step:
After 24 hours, a second 20-25% water change. Add more salt. If you took 5 gallons out in the change, put another rounded tablespoon in. Adjust for your situation.
Fifth step:
Wait 24 hours.
Sixth Step:
A third water change of 20-25% and replace salt removed.
If this does not cure the fish, you will want to use a commercial ich curative, such as copper sulfate like Aquarasol http://www.aq-products.com/APpro/aquarisol.htm
or in more extreme cases, Malachite Green http://www.aq-products.com/APpro/quickcure.htm

Good Luck

Answer 5

Well, to be very honest with you hun, it's way too soon for that tank to be getting that big of water change. It's only been established for three weeks which is barely long enough for it to establish bacteria, no less handle a big water change. I'd suggest using the Ich treatment for as long as directed, don't change your water and remove your charcoal filters as directed. When the treatment is done, put your filters back in and don't change the water. I usually say a 5% water change about once every other month and a 10-15% water change once a year. Sometimes you can increase it a little but for a tank this new, you'd be fine with smaller amounts. If you're having problems with water imbalances then consider adding live plants to your tank. Not right now because you're medicating your tank but later on down the road. Good luck and I'm sure your fish will be fine!!

Answer 6

You should take out about 20% of the water once a week using a gravel cleaner.Don't take your tank all apart and never use any cleaners in it.

Answer 7

I have fish we clean our tank once a month. what you should do is dump all the water out. Wash it out with Windex or a generic don't matter. rinse it out really good. fill your tank. Add ACE(ammonia chloramine eliminator)follow the instructions on the bottle. let it set for about one hour running your filter without the carbon in it. set your fish in a small container, set the container with the fish in into the tank for about 10-20 minutes. then you can put your fish back in the tank. its quick and easy. about ick? i haven't had any luck with treatment. I would take them back. Get your money back and go elsewhere to buy fish ick can kill all your fish. hope this helps!

Answer 8

i usually change the water 50/50. also i put water conditioner in, and dechlorinater. make sure you wash the pebbles and all plastic goodies in the tank. also clean out the poo and old uneaten food. that important as bacteria can grow in the old poo and food.
put the medicine in the water as instructed on the label. keep on administering the dosage untill the fish are healthy again. then put in a general anti bacterial treatment weekly with your water change.