Water changes Before / After I have fishes

[ms]

Hi,
This is a question I have for water changes.
I just introduced 20 Cardinals last Sun. into my planted tank which have beening running for 3 months.

Before last week, I only have the SAEs and schrimps, no tetras.
I change the water about 30% once every week. That is 4 pails out. But I only have 2 pails, so, I could only keep 2 pails of overnight water for the refill. And have to add in 2 pails of pure tap water for every water change.

So far, this method have no drastic effect on the SAE and schrimps. I will be making a water change this Saturday. If I carry on this method, will the 2 pails of pure tap water have any effect on the Tetras?

If yes, what can I do except to buy another 2 pails? I am running out of space in my kitchen toilet.

What do you guys do to prepare for water changes?

MS

[DK]

For me, I changed 50% of the water once a week and is tap water direct into the tank. I have been doing so for a year. Nothing has happen except the water changed has to be in the morning as I stay top floor and the water from the tap can be very warm in the afternoon.

[juggler]

I think the chlorine levels in our tap water should be low enough not to kill the fish. We can drink the water straight from the tap, isn't it?
Anyway, that's what I believe, and I change up to 50% of water each week and refill with water straight from the taps.
If you are concerned, you can add anti-chlorine solution.

Try to get a hose as well to help you in the water change. A water change gadget like the below (you can DIY cheaply or get from Nature Aquarium) will make sure floor is not wet too. And you can use your pails to store the tank water for watering your plants.

[vinz]

I top up my water straight from the tap too. As a pre-caution, I use anti-chlorine/chloramine.

Allowing water to stand overnight will allow chlorine to dissapate, but chloramine takes much, much longer. So, you would still need to use the anti-chlorine (if you are concerned).

I didn't used to use anti-chlorine/chloramine, but a few separate incidences with my arowana and cloudy water convinced me to take the extra pre-caution.

[elmike]

[quote:d71e677c="vinz"]I didn't used to use anti-chlorine/chloramine, but a few separate incidences with my arowana and cloudy water convinced me to take the extra pre-caution.[/quote:d71e677c]

vinz, are you suggesting that unhealthy levels of chloramine (presumed?) can kill filter bacterial colony? The reason I'm asking is I do have problems w cloudy water (in 8 mths old tank?) and this is cyclical and happens 1-2 days after a 50% water change. I top up directly from the tap and I do not add any anti-Cl/ chloramine conditioners. The funny thing is I do the same w my 2 ft minimally-planted tank but have no problems w cloudy water in this tank. The only difference is w gravel type - it has 5-8mm pebble-like gravel. I don't know what's causing the cloudy water other than to suspect bacterial bloom?

[vinz]

Mike,

I don't have any good evidence at all to pin-point the real cause and effect is. Only a long story and circumstantial evidence.

Similarly for me, after many months my tank suddenly started getting cloudy water a day or two after a water change. Initially, I'ld do water changes every 2 days to fix the problem, but it never helped. Then I got lazy or busy after about 2 weeks and stopped the water changes. Lo and behold, the cloudiness went away itself in 3 days. This pattern repeated itself after the next 2 regular weekly water changes. I guessed filter bacteria die-off, and probable culprit was Cl/chloramine or something in the water, so out came an old bottle of anti-Cl/chloramine and the problem never came back.

I ran out of the stuff once and my arowna tried to jump out and my coolie loach went nuts for a night. OTOH, the rest of the fishes didn't seem to react at all. That was around the time there were rumours of massive fish death or major fish reactions (thrashing arowanas) at a few LFSes after water change. At least one of these stories I heard direct from an affected LFS owner.

Well, like I said, no real evidence, but the circumstances point the way.

Incidently, I've solved at least 2 new tank's cloudy water problem by telling the owners to stop changing water for at least 2 weeks.

[elmike]

[quote:87acca35ab="vinz"]I guessed filter bacteria die-off, and probable culprit was Cl/chloramine or something in the water, so out came an old bottle of anti-Cl/chloramine and the problem never came back.[/quote:87acca35ab]

Then I must also get my bottle out from the closet. It's still somewhere in there almost a full btl, after 3 yrs.

Another possible cause for filter bacterial death would be lack of oxygenation during the time the filter's turned off for maintenance, which could last anything from 1/2 hr to 2 hrs, depending on the scale of the maintenance. So, I'm still doubtful as to whether bacterial death, which presumbly causes post-water-change cloudy water, is the result of Chloramine levels or asphyxiation. Anyway, I'll try the conditioner to see if the other factor could be ruled out.

[vinz]

[quote:3647435a49="elmike"]...

Another possible cause for filter bacterial death would be lack of oxygenation during the time the filter's turned off for maintenance, which could last anything from 1/2 hr to 2 hrs, depending on the scale of the maintenance. So, I'm still doubtful as to whether bacterial death, which presumbly causes post-water-change cloudy water, is the result of Chloramine levels or asphyxiation. Anyway, I'll try the conditioner to see if the other factor could be ruled out.[/quote:3647435a49]

In my case, you can rule out asphyxiation. I don't turn off the filter during water change.