Water Changes

little fish

little fish

Member
Hi Everyone, I need some information on exactly how to do a water change. My tank has been running for approx 3 months with no water changes. Now I think it is time for one. I have 3 Damsels and one Porcupine Puffer fish. I have heard so many stories from this site about fish getting sick after water changes. Any help would be great! I am planning on using distilled water but exactly how do I add it? Since I will be taking salt water out, do I add salt to the distilled water and try to raise the ph level before I add it to the tank? I really love my fish and don't want them to die! Thanks!!!!
Other Info: 37 gallon tank, Nitrates-10, Nitrites-0, Ammonia-0, Ph-8.3,Temp-78. Fish are very hardy and healthy.
 
blender

blender

Member
Take out 7-8 gallons (about 20%) of water gently with a cup. Add 1 cup of salt per gallon to your distilled water. Shake it up so it is all disolved and gently pour the new salty water into your tank. Your fish will be fine!
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
For whatever amt you are going to take out of tank, you need to first prepare the same amt to go into the tank. The best way would be to make your mix and let it aerate for a few hrs, if not over nite, using airstones. A plastic garbage bucket [THAT'S NEVER BEEN USED FOR ANYTHING BUT FISH]would be a good way to do this. To mix, use a hydrometer to make sure that temp and salinity equals or is close to what is in your tank. Bring the ph to what is in your tank too. When you're ready to make the change, siphon off the water in the tank [should be around 20%] then replace with the new mix. Replace the water gradually, like over an hour so that any variance in the water quality can be mixed in with the established tank water gradually. If your mixed water is cooler than what is in your tank, make sure that you add slow enough so as not to cause a sudden temp drop in the tank.
The reason that sudden deaths or illness result following a water change is because hobbyist fail to follow the above directions, or they fail to remove harmful elements from tab water when making the change. That you are going to use distilled is good. You should do a water change at least every month [unless you only have 1 fish in a 50 gal tank
]
[This message has been edited by beth (edited 03-10-2000).]
 
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