50 Gallon Tank Scheduling Concern: Wait Time For Water Change?

[Ebreus]

Hello everyone,
I've just begun acclimating some Harlequins and noticed today was supposed to be the day for the tank's water change. I change on a schedule and the tank should be good to go a while longer without significantly affecting water quality (but I will check for certainty). This has raised a question in my head; As I don't want to stress out the new fish any more than what was necessary in the process of bringing them home how long should I delay my water change?

 

[briangcc1997]

Assuming they're still in the plastic baggy from the lfs, I'd do the water change now. Then let the fish acclimate in the bags then finally add to tank. But that's just me....ymmv.

 

[AvaS]

You didn’t mention your tank size or how many fish you already have in it. Personally… we don’t change our water for months at a time but we have a very big aquarium and that is how we have experienced the fish keeping hobby and the pros/cons. as a teenager my little 10 gallon guppy aquarium didn’t see a water change for probably half a year at a time, and they bred and grew and flourished with that schedule (previously I was doing water changes a few times a month and my fish kept dying!). So really, unless you are really overstocked, your fish will do fine with delaying your water change for a bit. If they are still in the bag, you can always do a quick water change befor adding them, even a small one if you feel more comfortable vs delaying.

 

[Ebreus]

You didn’t mention your tank size or how many fish you already have in it. Personally… we don’t change our water for months at a time but we have a very big aquarium and that is how we have experienced the fish keeping hobby and the pros/cons. as a teenager my little 10 gallon guppy aquarium didn’t see a water change for probably half a year at a time, and they bred and grew and flourished with that schedule (previously I was doing water changes a few times a month and my fish kept dying!). So really, unless you are really overstocked, your fish will do fine with delaying your water change for a bit. If they are still in the bag, you can always do a quick water change befor adding them, even a small one if you feel more comfortable vs delaying.

Ah, sorry for neglecting the specifications in the body of the comment.
Size: 50 Gallons
Stocking: 2 Harlequin Rasbora, population of Blader Snails, 5 Amano Shrimp
It's also moderately planted, maybe veered into light planting.

 

[Motherlovebetta]

If your tank is cycled and you don’t have ammonia or really high nitrates it should be fine with so few inhabitants. I usually try to do a water change the day before I get fish, but normally won’t do one for 48 hours after acclimating min just so they can have a few days to relax.