Newbie---First water change!!!

I'm new to the fish world......and to this site.....I love the site...it has a lot of good info...But I do have a question......I put up a 23 gallon tank.....3 weeks ago......and put fish in it on Monday......3 neon tetra's......and everything seems to be going good......been checking the water daily....and recording......I'm going to do a water change of 20% tomorrow........is there anything I should know before I do my first water change with fish in it???........Anything I need to do....I know I have to treat the water before I put it in my tank....get it to as close as right as possible.....I want it to be as stress free as possible for the fish.....any advice on this would be appreciated!!!

Thanks All
Lori

 

Welcome to FishLore!

1) Do you know about cycling your tank? It takes about 4 -6 weeks after setting it up (fishless). Here is some more info.

https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

If you already know this, sorry.

2) Neon tetras are shoaling fish and nead to be kept in groups of about 6 because they can get nippy towards each other and other fish, but 6 together should keep them happy. I have 6 neons and they are great to watch when they are all swimming together.

3) Yes you should treat the water before putting it in to help remove the chlorine from the water. Also try to get it as near as possible to the tank temperature before putting it in. If you are using a siphon to take the water out of the tank (most people do) put the siphon in in the corner of the tank, and then move it accross the front of the tank and if possibe away from the fish, as not to hurt them. Water changes aren't really stressful to fish. Most fish like a water change and like having clean water in the tank. Some people take the fish out of the tank while doing water changes, you shouldn't do this it will just stress them out more, so just leave them in the tank and they should be fine.

Hope this helps

Gwenz

P.S. - Stop by the Welcome Forum so we can welcome you properly.

 

Thanks Gwenz.....Yes know about cycling.....I only got 3 neon tetra's because the pet shop said just get a few to start with due to the bio load.....hope that is true??.....I plan on getting 3 more in a few weeks.....

Yes I have a siphon........thanks on the info....I was wondering about taking them out or not......Thanks again!!!

Lori

 

Welcome to FishLore!

Neon tetras are very sensitive fish, and will not do well to cycle a tank. It will take you a very long time to cycle your tank, and you will probably be doing a lot of water changes to keep your neons from getting sick. With that being said, water changes should be done according to your readings. I usually recommend that you do a water change when cycling with fish whenever the ammonia or nitrite levels gets above 1.0. However, you will probably have to do one anytime your level goes above .25 with the neons in there. They can't take less than perfect water conditions for very long. I don't usually recommend this to newbies because cycling a tank is the most important lesson you will learn in the hobby, but since you already have fish in the tank, and sensitive fish at that, look around locally for bio spira at a reputable fish store. Bio spira contains the bacteria needed to have a cycled tank. If you can find some, and are willing to pay the high price for it, get some, and make sure the store is reputable, or you might end up with an expensive bottle of dead bacteria. You will also have to decide what other fish you will have in your tank, buy them, and add them to the tank also. Bio spira works best when added along with a full bio load of fish. If you have any ammonia or nitrite levels in your tank before adding the bio spira, you will probably have to do a large water change before adding the bio spira and the fish.

Let us know what you are gonna do so we can help you along with this. Please post what other fish you plan to put in your tank with the neons.

 

When I first got my tank back in April I didn't know anything about cycling, and put the danios and the neons in after a week. My neons survived the cycling, but others may not be so lucky as they are sensetive fish like Gunnie said. I'd do what Gunnie says and look for some Bio Spira to cycle your tank.

Where do you live? I live in UK and we don't have Bio Spira here and I've read that you can't get it in some other countries too, but you can get it in USA.

Although I can't get it where I live I'm hoping to get it off the internet. If you can't find it anywhere try looking online.

Gwenz

 

Thanks Gunnie and Gwenz........I live in the US.....little over 1 hour from Atlanta....where the fish store is.....that sells bio spira.......I've been checking the water daily.....and the ammonia and nitrite is 0......I read that a weekly water change is needed when starting out......to keep the ammonia and nitrite down....and it benefits the fish......since they love fresh water......I got neon's because the pet store said they was good fish to start with.......Like I said I'm new to this fish world......I don't have a clue what else to put in the tank....something that will get along great with the neon's thou......I don't want to over crowd....Thanks for the help!!!

Lori

 

HI all,

I'm relatively new to this wonderful hobby. I've a few doubts in changing water. I do a 20% or 30% water change every 3 days. Could you explain what is to be done when we need to completely change the water, may be once in a month! ???

Thanks in advance,
Lokky