Water Changes

[bielbugs]

Yesterday, I did about a 15-20% water change and today when I came home I found 2 dead fish. My levels are normal (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 10 mitrates) I am fairly new at fishys (started last December) and haven't seemed to have a problem before. A question I have is about adding water conditioner... I add the water conditioner to the bucket, fill it with water, then add it to the tank and repeat... should I be doing anything different?

[cocoa_pleco]

no. Its odd that they died. maybe the change stressed them. what kind of fish died?

[bielbugs]

a rasbora and a leopard danio

a couple weeks ago I lost a couple fish too but don't remember if it was following a water change

[cocoa_pleco]

weird. I dont know what to say then.

Sorry for the loss

[xoolooxunny]

Any sudden temperature change during the water change? did you add cold water to the tank? Or better yet, do any of your fish seem sick? I little stress can send a sick fish off the deep end as well.

[hungryhound]

I add the water conditioner to the bucket, fill it with water, then add it to the tank and repeat... should I be doing anything different?

That is how we do our water changes as well and we have yet to have a problem as a result of water change (just everything else has gone screwy). I do know some people add the full dose directly to their tank as well.

One thing you might want to check is that the water you are adding to the tank is roughly the same temperature as the water already in the tank. Drastic temperature changes could lead to stress or ultimately death.

[cocoa_pleco]

what i do is i use lukewarm water and that usually works.

Else, buy a thermometer for the bucket

[xoolooxunny]

what i do is i use lukewarm water and that usually works.

Else, buy a thermometer for the bucket

Same here, lukewarm water. THEN I add the conditioner, stir it around a little bit, and let it sit for a minute or two to ensure the most chloramine bonds are broken before entering the tank, bc i dont know how fast they mean by "instant"

[cocoa_pleco]

instant is instant. Right on contact.


I just fill the bucket, plop in the conditioner, then plop in the water to the tank

[blue fin]

I put my conditioner in as the bucket is filling and always use a " warm " mix of water, almost always keep it within about 3 degrees of the tank water...

[Chrona]

I fill my bucket with warm water and add cups of hot water till it feels about right.