water change

Question
Dear Chris,
I have read the comments that you have written that state that I need to do a 25% water change in my tank.  I also understand that the new water should be as close to the same temp as the temp in the tank? How do I do that?  I have a 10 gal tank with a filter system and heater.  It is very cloudy - which you have stated is normal for a new tank.  However, I still need to do a water change...I thought this whole fish thing was a great birthday gift for my son...I think it is more work than owning a dog:-)  Thanks for you advice.
Danni

Answer
Hi Danni,

I found this question in the "pool" of unanswered questions.
(I'm Nathan.)


Doing a water change involves scooping out the water, and putting back fresh water into the aquarium. The cloudy water is due to a bacterial bloom in the aquarium, which is perfectly normal in new aquarium setups. I would advise changing 10-20% of the water every two days, until the cycling process is done. For more info on cycling (nitrogen cycle), see this link:
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

Taking out water can be done in many ways. I personally use a gravel vacuum/siphon, because that allows me to take out any fish waste lodged in the gravel, which really cleans up the tank a lot. You can buy one at your local fish store for around $6 US, or $8 CAD.

You can also get a small styrofoam cup to scoop out the water, and put it in a bigger bucket, to remove water. You can use the 'old' water to water your plants - it is rich in nutrients!

When putting back new water in, remember to use DECHLORINATED water. Chlorine is added to tap water to sanitize it, unfortunately, it is harmful to fish. You can buy a tap water conditioner at the store (made for FISH), to remove chlorine and chloramine, or let the water sit for 24 hours (removes chlorine, but not chloramine).

To make warm water, I simply use warm tap water, treated with the conditioner (such as AquaSafe or AquaPlus). Also, you can set the water out at room temperature for a few hours. Just warm water is fine, you can just run your finger under it, if it's a tiny bit too cold or too hot, don't worry, your fish won't die because of that.

Your fish tank will require lots of attention during the first month, but after the first month, very little attention is required, needing only periodic water changes and filter cartridge replacement. I hope your son enjoys his gift... fish are truly amazing things to raise, after all, they are scientifically proven to reduce stress!

Best wishes to you and your fish!