How long till I know if my fish survived the water change?

Question

I just vacuumed the gravel and did a 20% water change with tap water treated with Wardley Super Chlor. I added 4 capfuls (as directed for my tank size) of Nutrafin Cycle. It's my 1st water change and I'm really antsy. Will the vac stress out my fish? I've heard some people just run a hose from the sink to the tank and fill it that way. Don't I need to treat for chlorine before the water gets in with the fish? I used a gallon jug to transport treated water to the tank. Please pray for my fish!

Oh yeah, I added two tablespoons of aquarium salt to the water. I made sure it was the same temp as what was in the tank.

It's a 30 gallon freshwater tropical tank.

Answer 1

I think your fish should be fine. You do need to treat the water - for those who use a Python siphon (attaches to the tap so you can siphon to the sink drain and refill using the same hose) you have to add the water dechlorinator to the tank first. If you add it to the jug and transport it, that's okay too.

I'm guessing this is the first that you've added the cycle to your tank? I'm not a fan of the additives because of differences in efficiency, but if it doesn't help your tank, it shouldn't hurt it either - this is just to supply the beneficial bacteria to break down the wastes to less toxic material.

Is this your first salt addition as well? You only need to have around 1 tbsp per 5 gallons, so for a 20% water change on a 30 gallon, that would be 6 gallons - you really only need one tablespoon of salt - this amount shouldn't hurt the fish, but you might want to adjust future doses.

I don't know how much a gravel vac actually stresses a fish. Maybe the first few times you use the vac it could scare them, but if you do regular water changes, they'll get used to it. My cichlids like to hang around the vac and watch the gravel churning - sometimes even try to bite it through the plastic. I have to shoo them away to move the vac - they get so close I'm afraid that someday I'll get one of them caught in the siphon.

Answer 2

Maybe the old tank has a crack through the bottom piece of glass. Tanks are not all that expensive but you may have to call a few stores to find one that will sell you a replacement tank and not a kit. It should take only about an hour to get the new tank set up. Can your wife do it if you have to be at work? Most fish stores are open by 9 or 10 AM. By noon your wife could have the new tank at home and by the time you got home it would all be done. Be sure to remind her to add water conditioner before adding the fish back into the tank.

Answer 3

Your fish will be fine, the vacuum does stress the fish but not enough to kill them.
You should never put water directly from your hose to your tank, because of 3 reasons.
The hose water contains huge amounts of chlorine which is easily smellable
The hose water is high pressure and will kill your fish
The hose water has lots of toxic minerals in it so you shouldn't use the hose at all.

You should use the dechlorinator you have and the nitrifieng medicine as it is recommended, but you should put it in the jug before you dump the water in because you dont want huge clumps of chemical going in your fish.

As for the salt, predissolve it in your gallon because you dont want your fish eating the salt.
Also what fish do you have, some fish are more sensitive to salt then others and you should only really use salt if you have cichlids.

Answer 4

Hi! Congrats on your first water change! Hope all goes well. Your fish should be alright but if they're stressed and are affected, they will start showing certain signs. For example, platys will "shimmy" or shake their bodies while remaining stationary on one spot if the water quality is bad or contaminated and they are stressed by it. And yes, you need to treat for chlorine and 20% sounds good. Your fish should be allowed to aclimatize to your local tap water conditions (might be different from the store water) and I would never ever just run a hose from the kitchen to the tank! Hope you get many many years of fun from keeping fish!

Once you get the hang of it, you can even try some planted aquariums, they're amazingly therapeutic (for me anyway), it's like creating a green garden for the fish and yourself! :) All the best!

Answer 5

In a healthy tank and using dechlorinated water, water changes shouldn't pose a threat to your fish at all.

It's a routine procedure if the water temperature and pH are approximately the same.

The danger with performing water changes arises if you do very large water changes (80%+), replacement water contains chloramines and/or chlorine, or there are major differences in temperature and pH between the tank water and source water.

Answer 6

Usually in about 72 hours (three days) I have ask this
Question to the pro's,but who knows.You know you could try those start right products,they are very easy and good,I've had the best of luck with them.
Best of Luck to you.

Answer 7

yes treat the water or they will die. trust me i did that in my first tank. also vac it every one or two weeks because you take a lot of the bacteria in the tank. the bacteria is what keep the tank going.


if you ever need help send me a e-mail to [e-mail]

this will help me because it will make me research and it will help me because i want to be a biologist.(Q must be about reptiles or/and aquatic creatures)

Answer 8

You should not have any problem. It could take a couple of hours to tell. Your fish will move about slower. They will look like they are swimming drunk. Then you will know if you put them into shock. But i think there will not be a prob.

Answer 9

I would guess by morning. usually mine are dead in the morning.

Answer 10

u'll be okay