Over the summer, I have been busy, and have not changed my water. The water quality has plummeted, and I want to fix this. I have a 20 gal. tank with 1 gold wonder killie and a 10 gal. tank with some tetras. I know I can't change the water quality to fast or it will be really bad. How do I go about saving my fish.
2007-08-25 15:48:31 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
If this tank was established, then I doubt ammonia is an issue. If this was a tank still in the cycle process then ammonia probably would be in the picture. I am suspecting your finding your nitrates off the scale? That will be treated with water changes. 2 weeks in a cycled out tank, looking at that bioload, wouldn't expect to be like super high. The fish you have are not massive waste producers, but still effect a large water change now, and test the next day. If you find your nitrates still elevated, then effect a slightly smaller change. No more then 50% in one shot really is the key to not shifting any elements in your water chemistry too fast in any one shot. I think your fish are going to be just fine if the fish you listed above are all you have in these tanks.
JV
2007-08-25 17:15:58 · answer #1 · answered by I am Legend 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are right to worry about changing the water too fast. The key is that you only have to worry about temperature, ph, and salinity ( for saltwater tanks).
Check the ph of your tank with that of your tap water if you have kits available, if not it should be the same unless you have raised/lowered it for specific species.If it is very diferent then do a 15% change every day to 2 days(depending on how diferent) until quality is better.
Temp try to get close and fill away from fish if possible.
If ph is close then do a 50% water change then check your quality in a few days. If needed do a 25% change every 2 days untill readings are in the clear (don't foget to condition water for clorine). Also make sure you clean the gravel as you prolly have a lot of buildup there.
2007-08-25 17:10:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't change the water too fast? Why not? Do a 50% change adding nothing but dechlor to the new water (new water should be close in ph and temperature as the old stuff).
2007-08-25 16:12:53 · answer #3 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do is doing a 50% waterchange right away
and then follow up with 25% parial waterchanges every 3 days until your ammonia is again in normal range, use a gravel siphon to do so
Also don't forget that the new water needs to be the same temperature and contitioned with "Aqua Safe" or similar
Hope that helps
good luck
EB
2007-08-25 16:33:08 · answer #4 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋