Water change before adding new fish

[patoloco]

Yesterday, I added 3 cories to a 10 gl. tank with had only one. They are fine and all four of them are more or less grouping and spreading contantly among the tank substrate.

However, after acclimatizng and relaeasing them I realized I had a water change scheduled for that day, so I decided I will skip it till wednesday or probably until next saturday, to avoid disturbing the newcomers with the vaccum, and, mainly, to avoid the new cories to pass thru another water parameter variation. Imagine coming from the LFS, to the tank, and then again changing water. This would be like another transfer.

This made me think we all should do our routine water change before we add new fish, so the new ones will have a longer time to stablish and adapt to the new tank before we go and change some water again.

My 2 cents. Any opinion is welcome.

P.S. I didn't quarantine those fish. Please forgive me.

 

[quenton]

Hm -- I think I would want to have changed the waster a bit ago -- at least few hours until its nicely settled (the bubbles gone) -- assuming its tap water that is being used. Otherwise yes, I would not want to change right after adding fish, and is noted above not right before adding fish either.

 

[TKOS]

Assuming my change water and tank water params are pretty darn close (which they are), I have no problem doing a water change after adding new fish. I might wait a day until they have settled in a bit but I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe just don't do a super gravel vacuum and just siphon some water out.

 

[joephys]

I think if you do weekly water changes on a regular basis, it shouldn't be a big deal. I don't think that my new water is all that different from the old water. I have a planted tank though, and my nitrates are usually between 5-10 after a week. On that note though, I usually do a water change the day before I buy fish, just in case.