Would siphon a goldfish tank every 2 days too stressful?

Question

I dun have a filter so I intend on siphon the water out and the debris out every 2 days and give the fish a 20-30% water change...is this alright? its better than taking the fish out and getting a full waterchange the whole time? Oh yea, do I have to take the pump out to do the siphon/gravel vacuum?
I hope this will make his water clean and more happy...but I dun wanna freak the hell out of him either, please help me with some advice

Answer 1

The added water changes will benefit your fish if anything. And yes, it would be better to do partial changes than to change all the water at one time. Make sure the water you add back to the tank is about the same temperature and that you add whatever you use to take chlorine out of the water.

If by pump, you mean a filter or air pump that runs an airstone, undergravel filter, or decoration, no you don't need to take it out.

Your fish may be a little cautious around the siphon the first few times, but in no time he'll get used to it and maybe even get curious enough to come over and watch.

Answer 2

Absolutely not. It would be too small even if the "1 inch of fish per gallon of water" thing did apply to goldfish, which it doesn't. For one thing, goldfish put out enough waste to require filtration for double the tank size, and that's with a huge, properly-sized tank. Keeping the water clean in a tiny space such as 1 gallon would then require water changes so frequent as to probably be physically impossible. For another thing, a healthy goldfish will grow to over a foot long (and this is the "normal generic ones you win at the fair"). People have the idea that goldfish "only grow to the size of the tank", and it is true that a goldfish kept in a bowl or a small tank probably won't get very big, but this is not natural for them. It is not what they are meant to do. Their growth is stunted by horrible living conditions, and they are sick. A lot of people think that goldfish naturally don't live very long. They actually can live a long time when well cared for; the problem is, most people give their goldfish bad care without even realizing it, and this causes those fish to get sick and die as babies.

Answer 3

You can do that, but since you have a pump you can make a filter by running the hose from your pump through a bit of cotton or folded cloth or even a container of plastic bottle lids or anything with lots of surfaces on it.

Goldfish require very clean water adn they're pretty dirty fish so I'd recommend saving up for a filtration system. I like the Whisper filters, personally.

Answer 4

If your tank is cycled and you have the proper size of tank for your goldfish you should only remove about 20% of the water once a week with your gravel siphon,unplug the pump before you start.

Answer 5

If your not using a filter you will need to do a 30 percent water change every 3 days, because you have goldfish which are very messy fish. Yes you will be stressing him out greatly but its your choice.
and if you mean filter by pump. no i dont think you do

Answer 6

Nope. The more the better. Your fish will love you for it.

In fact, that is a good way to help them grow faster, (assuming you actually want them to grow, you didn't say how large your tank is), frequent partial water changes dilutes the naturally occuring growth inhibiting hormones the goldfish secrete. Many times, commercial fish breeders will change out 50% or more water in their baby tanks every single day to increase growth rates.