CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I'm so comfused when it comes to changing water or cleaning out that tank
or when to do it for that matter!
The pet store told me to wait at least three weeks before I touch the water, but ive heard diffrent things!
any ideas?

Thank youuu


:::::UPDATE::::


I just now cleaned it out and I used a syphon like thing and dug deep into the gravel and got about 15% of the water out, now the watter looks dirt-e-er than before.
HERE IS MY QUESTIONS
1 Is it normal for the watter to be dirty after cleaning
and
2 when should I take my water to be tested?

Hi, Laurie, and welcome to fishkeeping!  Cleaning and water changes can lead to some lively discussions, but one thing that I think most of us agree on is the proposition that the most important thing you can do to keep your fish healthy is to keep their water clean and healthy.  If you have a new tank, your first concern is "new tank syndrome".  This refers to another term you'll see, called "cycling".  As your fish produce waste, ammonia builds up in the water, and needs to be converted by a certain type of bacteria first to nitrite, and then in turn by other bacteria to nitrate.  The growth of these bacteria is slow, so your tank will go through a period when your water is rather toxic.  Here is a link with a more detailed explanation:

http://oscarsfishtank.com/discuss/index ... ic=16962.0

There are no bacteria in freshwater aquariums to get rid of nitrates and dissolved organic carbons (from fish waste, decaying food, etc), so we have to regularly replace part of the water with fresh water.  How much water to change,and how often to change it can spark some contentious debates.  At least 30-40% a week for large, messy fish like cichlids is a good idea.  I do a bit more than that, while some others do a bit less.  As you gain experience, you'll get a feel for what works best for you.  Try to come close to matching the temperature of the new water with what's in the tank.  Use dechlorinator if your water is supplied with chlorine or chloramine.

You should also vacuum the gravel regularly -- I find once a month to be plenty, though if your eyes tell you it needs it more often, trust what you see.  Cleaning filters regularly is also important.  The frequency depends on the type of filter and the bioload (number and size of fish and other life forms) in your tank.  I clean my cannister filters quarterly, and my power filters monthly, but again, once you gain some experience, trust your own judgement.  Do bear in mind that if you clean them too frequently you can disrupt the colonies of bacteria referred to earlier.

This is a bit long-winded, and doesn't do more than scratch the surface, but I hope it helps a little bit.

Good luck with your fish, and keep us posted on your progress!

It is best Laurie to just reply to the last post given so we can follow it better.. 

MY concern here is::

1. ARE THEIR ANY FISH IN THIS TANK NOW??

As you are cycling this tank, and I assume that as you cleaned the gravel and it is dirty, THAT YOU HVE FISH.. right?? 

2. YOU dont' say how big this tank is.. Hard to help you figure out your water in/out if I dont' know the gallons of your tank.. Liters is fine, I can figure it out...

3. WHEN did you first set the tank up?? AS in how many weeks are you into this cycle??

4. IS this a python that is connected to your sink fauset OR did you just use a regular siphon to clean the gravel with??  To much gravel in a tank wil hold a lot of waste/uneaten foods.. I only keep 1" of gravel in my tanks due to this reason.. AS I have Emperor Filters that have BIO wheels to keep my good bacteria in the tank, a lot of gravel is not necessary to maintain a good bacteria bed.. ANY other brand of Hang on the back filter WITH Bio wheels  is great to use too..
Using a gravel cleaner can be fustrating to the max on the first few attempts.. AS you seem to have to much gravel here. I would remove it to at least 2" and then it won't be a chore to get the gravel cleaner faster and less water out..  YOUR tank was really dirty so this is why it is cloudy and the filter should remove the floating debri in a few hours BUt most wil settle back into the gravel.. THIS also tells you that you need to clean the GRAVEL  MORE OFTEN BUT NOT MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK..

THE filter also needs attention here.. so clean it every TWO WEEKS UNTIL YOUR TANK IS CYCLED....
I mean take it to the sink and clean it out good... DON"T just add in NEW FILTER PADS.. CLEAN THE BOX OUT!! 

Fish stores mean well but they dont' tell you the whole story... NO fish, dont' touch the water for 3 weeks.. WITH FISH, YOU are going to have to monitor the AMMONIA, NITRITES daily until you see a reading, AMMONIA reads first, and do a 20% water change of your tank water volume.. (tank size x .25=) This much water out/in.. I round if off to the nearest even number for dechlor/salt measurements..... IF it says 12.5 gal, then do 10 gal out/in.. 13.5 = do 15 gal out/in...

DID you use any bacteria helpers LIKE CYCLE??

High Ammonia reading of .2 can kill your fish.. BUT the reading wil go up to .5 and this is dangerouse big time!! WATER CHANGES ARE THE BEST AND ONLY WAY TO KEEP THEM DOWN!! EVEN if you have to do one every other day!! BUT only do 20% of your tank size...

FEEDING ONCE daily to EVERYOTHER DAY wil help you here.. but not guarantee high AMMONIA levels..

WHEN the AMMONIA GOES DOWN TO 0ppm, then the NITRITES are going to do the same!! Same method as above..  YEA welcome to cycling a tank.... 

BUY your own LIQUID test kits.. they are not that expensive and you need to do this daily to every other to know where your tank is at... AS this tank is like into a good cycle, then your ammonia may be already at 0ppm and your nitrites are peaking now.. Best to do a water change every 3 days, watch your feeding and get the test kits.. here is what you need NOW.. AMMONIA, NITRITE.. Nitrite needs a timer so be aware of that.. make sure the ammoina one is INSTANT..

AND Dan though his  post was long...   :toothy9:

wow, those where long posts I'll keep it short and simple.
It is never a bad idea to change water as far as I am aware, there is very little beneficial bacteria actually IN the water column, and if u are cycling you're tank water changes are not only recommended but crucial. Just be sure to use conditioner (dechlorinator) like stresscoat or aquasafe...and be sure to use water of like temperature. get in the habit of at least 30% a week.