New member seeking some assistance.

[Purrbox]

Beneficial bacteria cling to surfaces, so any loss would be minimal as long as you remember to use old tank water to rinse.

 

[mrsmills]

Great. So if doing a really good clean that's fine but always rinse in existing tank water? Is it ever necessary (in normal) circumstances to completely empty the tank and start over? Presumably, this is to be avoided at all costs?

 

[Purrbox]

The only reason you would have to completely break down the tank and start over is if something has contaminated the water. (ie a child drops a ball point pen in the back where you don't see it for several days, a mercury thermometer breaks in the aquarium, etc.) In most case doing one or more large 90% water change will dilute things well enough that a complete break down is unnecessary.

 

[mrsmills]

That's great. Sorry, one more question, the bubble eye seems a great deal happier but has taken to spending some time hiding under some rocks almost entirely motionless then without warning just swims out again after maybe up to an hour and is busily searching through the gravel, swimming around, etc. I wouldn't be concerned but this is a recent change of behaviour, in the last ten days or so. I was concerned he had some constipation problems but this seems to have cleared up and he seems in full control of his buoyancy.