water change or not?

fishyz · 04/05/2007, 07:00 PM

Well, my tank finished cycling a couple of days ago, and I'm just wondering is I HAVE to do a water change before I start to add livestock? Would it be ok if I skipped the water change and added a small goby?

marduc · 04/05/2007, 07:08 PM

Not a good sign of your long term successs in this hobby if you are already wrestling with the whether to skip a water change or not.

Water changes will continue to be an essential part of your care routine for the tank, optimally once a week. It is especially important with a new tank to keep up with your water changes, and do them more frequently.. The labor you save by skipping a water change here and there will come back to haunt you with the added work involved in dealing with ongoing algea problems, weakened overall health of fish and inverts alike ect. Save yourself the future frustration and aggevation and nip the urge to skip a water change in the butt now.

fishyz · 04/05/2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marduc
Not a good sign of your long term successs in this hobby if you are already wrestling with the whether to skip a water change or not.

Water changes will continue to be an essential part of your care routine for the tank, optimally once a week. It is especially important with a new tank to keep up with your water changes, and do them more frequently.. The labor you save by skipping a water change here and there will come back to haunt you with the added work involved in dealing with ongoing algea problems, weakened overall health of fish and inverts alike ect. Save yourself the future frustration and aggevation and nip the urge to skip a water change in the butt now.

On all of my past tanks, I have faithfully done a water change every week. This tank will be NO DIFFERENT. I was just simply wondering if you are supposed to do a water change after the tank has cycled, hoping to clear up some opinions which my lfs's have given me.

marduc · 04/05/2007, 07:25 PM

OK,. good didn't mean to come off accusatory, without any background info and on the context of the post, I did'nt want you to start thinking it was ok to skip water changes and I admit I avoided telling you it was ok to do so for that very reason.

It is not essential to do water changes before adding a new fish, just recommended.. the cleaner the water is, the more stress free it will be for the acclimitization of the fish.. sure you can get away with not doing a water change, just like you can get away with not doing an oil change before going on a cross country drive. Most likely nothing bad will occur, but it is usually prudent to do so anyhow.

BurntOutReefer · 04/05/2007, 07:49 PM

well said Marduc....

fishyz · 04/05/2007, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I will forsure do a water change tomorrow on the tank.

Lotus99 · 04/05/2007, 10:27 PM

The water change will help remove nitrates and dissolved organics. Have you tested the nitrates yet?

04/05/2007, 07:00 PM	#1
fishyz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 423	water change or not? Well, my tank finished cycling a couple of days ago, and I'm just wondering is I HAVE to do a water change before I start to add livestock? Would it be ok if I skipped the water change and added a small goby?

04/05/2007, 10:27 PM	#7
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	The water change will help remove nitrates and dissolved organics. Have you tested the nitrates yet? __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks

04/05/2007, 07:08 PM	#2
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	Not a good sign of your long term successs in this hobby if you are already wrestling with the whether to skip a water change or not. Water changes will continue to be an essential part of your care routine for the tank, optimally once a week. It is especially important with a new tank to keep up with your water changes, and do them more frequently.. The labor you save by skipping a water change here and there will come back to haunt you with the added work involved in dealing with ongoing algea problems, weakened overall health of fish and inverts alike ect. Save yourself the future frustration and aggevation and nip the urge to skip a water change in the butt now.

04/05/2007, 07:25 PM	#4
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	OK,. good didn't mean to come off accusatory, without any background info and on the context of the post, I did'nt want you to start thinking it was ok to skip water changes and I admit I avoided telling you it was ok to do so for that very reason. It is not essential to do water changes before adding a new fish, just recommended.. the cleaner the water is, the more stress free it will be for the acclimitization of the fish.. sure you can get away with not doing a water change, just like you can get away with not doing an oil change before going on a cross country drive. Most likely nothing bad will occur, but it is usually prudent to do so anyhow.

04/05/2007, 07:49 PM	#5
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	well said Marduc....

04/05/2007, 10:22 PM	#6
fishyz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 423	Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I will forsure do a water change tomorrow on the tank.