Help With Water Changing

MaidOfDishonor · Aug 15, 2013

Hi there!

I'm Kate and my husband and I are new. We have a 29gallon nano FOWLR tank that has been running for about 9 months. In the past we only had damsels so when it was water change time and we had to capture them, we had to dismantle the cool cave my husband made with the rock, every time just to catch the little suckers. That didn't bother us too much. The damsels didn't seem to have a specific territory that they liked. Now we have (what I call "real fish" as opposed to "starter fish") 2 clowns, a high fin cardinal, a yellow watchman goby and a royal gramma basslet. They all seem to have their favorite spots in the aquarium.

So (finally), to my question: How do we get the fish out to change the water without taking every rock and fake plant out of the tank to net them? Can we leave them in while we take some of the water out? I don't want to ruin the habitat they're used to and cause them any stress.

Help?

Thanks in advance,
Kate

Enavas · Aug 15, 2013

I just leave the fishes in there while I do the water change. Make sure you mix your saltwater a few days before you do your water change. Keep it at the same temperature as your tank. When the time comes to change water, suck out 5-6 gallons and then dump 5-6 gallons of new saltwater in.

I have a 28 gallon also and it takes me about 5-10 minutes every week to change water. I have 3 tanks total and 2 of them are 5 gallon and under. It takes me 20-30 minutes to change water every week.

glb · Aug 15, 2013

You don't have to take out the fish. Just pour gently. Don't worry, they'll know how to get out of the way!

MaidOfDishonor · Aug 15, 2013

glb said:
You don't have to take out the fish. Just pour gently. Don't worry, they'll know how to get out of the way!

Oh thank God! I was getting so tired of dismantling the whole tank just for a small water change!

glb · Aug 15, 2013

Just out of curiosity, did someone tell you that removing the fish was necessary?

MaidOfDishonor · Aug 15, 2013

glb said:
Just out of curiosity, did someone tell you that removing the fish was necessary?

I honestly can't remember. I think the LFS told us to but I can't swear to it. We're new to the hobby. We never even tried freshwater. Just insanely jumped into salt! But things are going ok. Glad to be rid the damsels. Or damsel I should say. The big one ate every single other one, one by one. We returned him to the LFS and didn't even ask for the store credit they always give. We just wanted him gone!

glb · Aug 15, 2013

I wouldn't be surprised if the lfs gave bad advice. That's pretty common. Just ask us first! I guarantee this forum will steer you in the right direction.

dunc101 · Aug 15, 2013

How much water are you changing at once? Most people change 10% or 20% every couple of weeks or so which would be around 3 gallons in your case. I'd pull my hair out too if I had to catch my fish every time I did a water change (I have a 90 gallon and catching my fish may take a few days with all the rock I have lol)=). I would say it stresses the fish out more by you taking them out than you keeping them in =). Have fun!

MaidOfDishonor · Aug 15, 2013

Thank you all, you're a Godsent. Reef2Reef is the best forum with the best people!

glb · Aug 15, 2013

MaidOfDishonor said:
Thank you all, you're a Godsent. Reef2Reef is the best forum with the best people!

We try. We really want to teach and to learn. We all need both!!

kes · Aug 15, 2013

as much as possible, leave the fish alone to alleviate stress.

Bigsampson · Aug 16, 2013

Two suggestions.
1. Go to your local hardware store and get a "T" fitting, a piece of tubing and a PVC valve. Total cost, maybe 10 bucks.
Put the "t" fitting between your pump and the tank return, clamp securely, and add a small piece of tubing and the valve. Then to the valve, more tubing.
When it is time for a water change, take a 5 gallon bucket, put the end of the tubing in and open the valve. The tank return pump will then fill up you bucket. Dump said bucket.

2. Go to LFS, or heaven forbid, petco, and buy a cheap submersible pump and appropriate size tubing. Either mix your water and salt in a 5 gallon bucket, or buy from your LFS, put in your cheap little pump and let it pump into the sump or directly into tank. Bucket; $5. Pump; $20. Tubing; cheap.

Now, for a very little amount of money, you have a simple system to pump it out and pump it in. No heavy lifting, spills or upset livestock.