Fish In or Out During PWC?

[SimplyKayla76]

I have a tall 37 gallon freshwater aquarium with goldfish. It sits on my dresser and during pwc i have to have a stool. I use 5 gallon water bottles to replace the water i take out during a pwc. Well when pouring the water back in the aquarium it makes the water rock violently and I am afraid it will harm my fish~so i get a gallon bowl full of their aquarium water and take them out during a pwc. My question is....is it more stressful to take them out or leave them in with the water rocking violently?

 

[maestromad]

I leave my fish in when water changing however don't get too much water disturbance

 

[LyndaB]

I don't use buckets but can visualize what you're saying. If you direct the water towards a wall of the tank, you won't have the turbulence. I do not believe in removing the fish for water changes as it stresses them.

 

[sliderfish]

The stress from catching and removing the fish would out weight the stress of adding the water IMO. I use 5 gallon buckets and you just have to be steady as not to dump it all in at once. If possible dump into a wall of the tank or another large item to slow the water's entrance and break it down some. It takes practice and probably a little strength if you have to hold it so high but still beats constantly netting and removing the fish in the long run.

 

[El_diablo]

My fish seem to enjoy swimming through the air bubbles the fresh water creates when I'm poring it into my tank

 

[chagoi]

The stress from catching and removing the fish would out weight the stress of adding the water IMO. I use 5 gallon buckets and you just have to be steady as not to dump it all in at once. If possible dump into a wall of the tank or another large item to slow the water's entrance and break it down some. It takes practice and probably a little strength if you have to hold it so high but still beats constantly netting and removing the fish in the long run.

I agree stress is a killer in the long run. I have a 20Gal high up in my garage. I fill a 5 Gal bucket get the water parameters the same & pump it in. A low GPH & I pump it on the glass

 

[Fishy Aston]

Just drip the water in more carful.

Will take longer but wil help the fish in the long run.

 

[SimplyKayla76]

 

[Tetra1990]

My fish seem to enjoy swimming through the air bubbles the fresh water creates when I'm poring it into my tank

Mine do the same thing. It drives me crazy!

 

[dbockrath]

I use a 2 at pitcher to scoop water from the bucket until the bucket's half empty. It takes longer but it's easier to pour slowly and I spill less.

 

[Niki]

I use a 2 at pitcher to scoop water from the bucket until the bucket's half empty. It takes longer but it's easier to pour slowly and I spill less.

Ditto, this is how I do it too.

My fish also like racing ing the current!

 

[mohican]

Leave the fish in and get a python setup or at least the hand ball pump and just siphon water back into aquarium. Cheaper too.

 

[jondamon]

Get yourself a water pump.

Maxijet500 or bigger etc attach a hose and drop the pump into your bucket with the hose in your tank and switch on.

Just a thought.


Jon

 

[calfishguy]

I would recommend getting a python it's a huge time saver. Big Al's online has some for a good price.

 

[SimplyKayla76]

Well i tried it with them in and now one of them is holding the top fin down..

 

[DJNut]

I pour mine into a vegetable strainer, it diffuses the water, it is a plastic one and floats on the water in the tank.

 

[LyndaB]

That's an excellent idea.......

 

[SimplyKayla76]

I would have never thought of that

 

[SimplyKayla76]

Yay! my fancy is holding that top fin high!!

 

[SimplyKayla76]

Confused~

I have performed 2 water changes since I started this post with my fish left in. I used a vegetable strainer to diffuse the water. My readings today are .002ppm toxic ammonia, 7.0ppm Ph, 0ppm Nitrite, and 5ppm Nitrate. Temp is 73 degrees. I leave the light on 6 to 8 hours a day by first opening my blinds and letting the room brighten before i turn the light on. I feed them every other day sometimes with two days passing before i feed them. I still have 3 goldfish(juveniles) in a 37 gallon with two filters AC 30 and a Top fin 40. They have plenty of places to hide.

That being said~ my fancy goldfish the last few days has been hiding all the time except when fed and zipping across the aquarium like a speeding bullet. Now my ryukin is beginning to do the same thing but not quite as dramatic as the fancy and my black moor hides all day. I don't know why they are acting this way??? One of the reasons i have fish b/c i love to sit and watch them. Until this starting happening I could walk into the room and sit down and watch them lazily swim around. Now even when I walk into the room they zip across the aquarium and hide

Any thoughts? I have been told this is normal..but if that is so why haven't they acted this way since I brought them home? It is very upsetting...