Water Change

[Bugdozer]

When I change the water in my tank, if I have to do a big change for any reason (say, over 60%) is it better to leave the fish in the tank or to net them out? I have real plants which will droop, and if the fish hide in them while the water drains out I fear they might become trapped or frightened as the plants slump down on them. Obviously if I'm doing major tank stuff that needs a really low level I'd have to transfer them to another container.

 

[FishFanatic04]

You can leave them in. I have done many 95% water changes for various reasons and left the fish in as long as they can swim upright. They will move out of the way of the drooping plants and anything else.

Netting them out will be much more stressful to them.

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

You can leave them in. I have done many 95% water changes for various reasons and left the fish in as long as they can swim upright. They will move out of the way of the drooping plants and anything else.

Netting them out will be much more stressful to them.

+1

 

[BlueDragon]

I never take my Fish out while I do water changes. I'm doing at least a half a tanks worth of a water change every day right now and I'm using a gravel syphon to do it and I still leave them alone. They're getting used to the routene now and it doesn't really bother them. In fact Panda, a female Guppy, likes to chase the syphon and the net around the tank!
I did try netting them out at first but they were so upset by it. Their breathing got all fast, fins down and back and despite me being as quick as I could it still took them most of the day to recover again. So I'll not be doing it again.

 

[CezzaXV]

I regularly do water changes in excess of 70%. No need to net them out. They won't get trapped in the plants.

 

[tmiller]

Agreed with the rest, as long as you are leaving enough for them to swim upright then leave them in.
Remove the plants to a bucket if you are really worried that about them being an interference..You can re-root a plant.

Make sure you de-chlorinate your water and BRING AS CLOSE TO ORIGINAL TEMPERATURE AS YOU CAN before you add it to the tank.

The fish will be less stressed as long as your not adding chlorine or a big temperature swing.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I leave an unplanted bit in the back, my fish more timid fish will hide there during water changes... rest are all right there in my way! HAHA You can guide your plants so they fold over in one direction to leave a safe space for your fish.

 

[Bugdozer]

Agreed with the rest, as long as you are leaving enough for them to swim upright then leave them in.
Remove the plants to a bucket if you are really worried that about them being an interference..You can re-root a plant.

Make sure you de-chlorinate your water and BRING AS CLOSE TO ORIGINAL TEMPERATURE AS YOU CAN before you add it to the tank.

The fish will be less stressed as long as your not adding chlorine or a big temperature swing.

Thanks for the advice everyone. When I practiced doing a water change I managed to get the new water to within one degree of the normal tank temperature just by guesstimating with my hand! Perhaps I should use a thermometer to be sure though.

 

[paulyoung666]

I leave an unplanted bit in the back, my fish more timid fish will hide there during water changes... rest are all right there in my way! HAHA You can guide your plants so they fold over in one direction to leave a safe space for your fish.

just keep an eye in the bucket for any little ones that try and go for a ride

 

[FishFanatic04]

On the topic of temperature, I often drop the water temp a few degrees to mimic rain in a natural setting. 3-5 degrees. It can entice spawning. I wouldn't be so concerned with temperature matching, normally our human skin can detect water temperature within a few degrees. Now don't get crazy with it a few degrees higher or lower won't hurt anybody.

 

[OldMan47]

Whenever I have a chemical problem in a tank, the first thing I do is drain the tank so far that the fish have trouble staying upright in the remaining puddles on the tank bottom. I then refill with temperature matched dechlorinated water. The fish never seem to mind in the least. They always look much better 30 minutes after I am done than they did before I started.