How exactly do I do a partial water change??

R

redneckfishie

AC Members
Mar 2, 2008
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As long as I've ever had fish I've always done full tank changes and cleaned everything off (rocks, decos, etc). I've since learned that this is not an ideal way of taking care of the aquarium for my fish.

So, HOW do I do a partial water change?

Or, because my tank is small (1.77gal), should I do a full water change? I don't have another tank to put my fish in while cleaning our current tank, so I've usually (in the past) put them in the little cup they came home from the petstore in long enough to clean out the tank.

So HELP! :) I want to do right by my fishie.... :)

Also, should I reduce the amount of rocks that I have in my tank?
2310967902_cac48b9d98.jpg


To me, it looks fine but the bottom of the tank looks gross (lots of debris....) and I can see that it'll be a pain to clean the bottom (I need to get a gravel siphon? or does anyone have any other ideas....)


thanks for the help and suggestions - we've had Sunburst home for a week now and he's doing great! Already has built a bubble nest, follows me when I'm near his tank (it's in my kitchen, lol) and he comes to the top of the tank to let me "pet" him when I feed him!
 
Use a small diameter tubing to sipon water out while getting the debri at the bottom. I would switch to a smaller diameter substrate to make things easier.
 
You can pick up a really nice small siphon at most petstores. I got one for my small tank at work and it cost me $4. The only downside to small tanks is starting the siphon. I have to suck on mine ewww!!!. Remember with a siphon the greater the distance in height between the tank and the tubes end the better it works.

You actually have a really good level of rocks in the tank. If the siphon will fit over them then they will work just fine. If not you might want to consider getting some smaller ones.
 
In my opinion a smaller siphon would help tremendously, and what you may do is to fill your siphon hose up and then try dropping it inside and outside the tank and this will more than likely start the siphon.
 
THE V said:
The only downside to small tanks is starting the siphon. I have to suck on mine ewww!!!.
Click to expand...

Fill the tank end of the tube with water and submerge it. Put the other end into whatever you're draining into. Take the tank end, lift it up to start the suction. Before it drains out pop it back into the tank. No sucking needed!
 
I don't know what it's called but I have a black rubber thing which is attached to my tubing, (it looks like the end of a turkey baster) - the part the water flows out of into the pail. I squeeze it and it starts the syphon. There's an attachment which goes on it to fit different sizes of tubing. For a small tank I'd use that with the smallest tubing. You can squeeze the tubing too to slow the flow so the water doesn't drain too quickly. Just hold the tubing slightly above the gravel so you don't suck up the stones. I have one of those small filters too. Make sure you rinse the sponge out in the old tank water to clean it.
 
Yes, you need a small diamater tubing to siphon the water out. I would do a 50 percent water change at least twice a week, focusing on vacuuming the bottom of the tank with the hose, as that is where the assorted crud and fish poop accumulates.

And I assume you are treating the water that you replace with a declorinator?

Also, what is that gizmo with the digital readout on the right side of the tank?
 
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