Water change before or after?

[Roly]

My tank has recently matured and Im starting to add fish. Slowly of course. I bought two fish last week (flame angelfish and Basslet.) This coming week I plan to add a clownfish. I was told by the local fish store guy that I should do a water change right after introducing a new fish. I was thought it was right after??? I do a 10% water change every week. I have a 110 gal, wet dry, Octopus Skimmer 110, (2) Rio 800 power heads, UV sterilizer, 35 lbs.ish of live rock. So when I add my clown fish, should I do the water change right before, or a little after??

 

[james734]

I don't think i would pay any attention to that. As long as your water parms are good to start with I wouldn't do anything. Except your normal WC at your normal schedule. Of course, I do a WC every week. .

 

[Brenden]

Doing a water change right after adding a fish will only stress it more. Like James said "As long as your water parameters are good" I would recommend you QT though. Do not add fish to fast.

 

[Slickdonkey]

Sounds like nonsense to me, no reason to change water simply because you're going to (or just did) add a fish.

I agree with Brendan: you say you're adding fish slowly but you also say you're adding three to the main tank in a two week period? Take it from someone who learned the hard way: quarantine your fish, especially sensitive ones like the flame angel.

 

[Roly]

This is most likely a real stupid question but what do you mean when you say Quarantine? Do you mean to take them out when I add new ones? Is three in two weeks too much. I planned on stopping after this one for a while. I only have those two.(Got rid of the DAMN Damsals) took me an hour to catch 5 of them! Anywho.. Is this too much? should I stop for a few weeks before I get the third?

 

[Slickdonkey]

I would wait at least four weeks before adding any new fish seeing as you didn't quarantine the first additions. Usually any problems will show themselves during this period.

I'd suggest reading this article on quarantining. It sounds like a pain, but trust me, it's more of a pain if you develop a problem in an established tank.

 

[mmkeeper]

Quarantine is just what it sounds like. You keep the new fish in a seperate tank for several weeks to make sure that they are healthy and you don't introduce any parasite or illness to you tank. If you are just starting to add fish you are only putting your few fish at risk. If you have a established tank with nice expesensive fish you want to be careful.

 

[james734]

I would recommend you QT though. Do not add fish to fast.

I 2nd that..

 

[jetaero]

I think you need a bit more rock than 35 pounds in a 110g aquarium... JMHO.

As said previously though, ALWAYS quarantine... It's russian roulette if you do not.

As for the waterchange... It should work either way.

-Josh-

 

[DonW]

Just do it how your doing it. FWI, doing it properly will in no way stress your fish new or not.

Don

 

[Krish]

If anything, I'd do the water change before, not after. That way, your next water change won't be for atleast another week giving the fish time to get adjusted. In any event, just keep up with what you are doing...You sound like you are on the right track

 

[Roly]

Will the UV sterilizer help at all for the fish that are there? I will definietly quarantine from now on, but now Im worried about the two that are in there.

 

[Slickdonkey]

UV is just one of those things... some people swear by them and others say they're a waste of money. Personally I run one, I say it can't hurt. If you already have one, might as well run it. If not, there are probably better places to put your money (like a QT tank ).