Water changes stressing fish?

[00Barracuda00]

Currently doing water changes out of the sump in my Reefer350.

Standard sump size, and I do about 5-10 gallons at a time. Sometimes larger if I get a day or two behind.

I've noticed that my fish show signs of stress after every change. I see ich flareups and sometimes even really labored breathing. I usually freak out, panic about trying to start a hospital tank, and then by the next day or 2 everyone is back to fine.
The stress lasts longer on the newer fish to the tank, but they all recover just fine. At first I thought it was the salt falling out of solution in the water column, and sticking to their slime coats, but now I'm not as sure. In all honesty, I didn't even put together the correlation between the sickness and the water changes until recently when it made my wrasse in hiding, break out in spots.

What am I doing wrong? What am I missing?

I switched to a SmartAqua AWC set up, run manually because I'm a control freak, and I've started letting my NSW mix an additional 24 hrs before placing in the tank. I temperature match, and use the same salt, although considering a switch.


Has anyone heard of this? It's really bugging me, and I can't shake it.

 

[LynzieS]

How often are you doing the water changes? How different are the parameters between your DT and the new water? I noticed mine get annoyed for the first 10 minutes after a water change when I was trying to lower nitrates but nothing to the extent that you describe. But if there's ich in your DT any slight stress could cause ich flare ups which in turn stresses the fish more and sends them over the edge until they have a few days of calm and can get over it.

 

[00Barracuda00]

How often are you doing the water changes? How different are the parameters between your DT and the new water? I noticed mine get annoyed for the first 10 minutes after a water change when I was trying to lower nitrates but nothing to the extent that you describe. But if there's ich in your DT any slight stress could cause ich flare ups which in turn stresses the fish more and sends them over the edge until they have a few days of calm and can get over it.

I'm only doing water changes on Sunday.

I feel so stupid. I am a bit nuts about matching salinity and temp... but I've never once tested the NSW with the same kit I use for the DT.

Will definitely investigate this.

 

[LynzieS]

Something to look at and rule out before looking into more complex issues at least. Do you add the fresh water directly into the DT? I add mine into the sump and let the protein skimmer mix it really well before I turn the return back on. Not sure if it helps at all, but I like to think it does.

 

[00Barracuda00]

Something to look at and rule out before looking into more complex issues at least. Do you add the fresh water directly into the DT? I add mine into the sump and let the protein skimmer mix it really well before I turn the return back on. Not sure if it helps at all, but I like to think it does.

I share a similar line of thinking. I only do water changes from the sump, because I think it's less stressful to the DT. I have zero evidence to back this up.... Actually, I guess you could say I have evidence to the contrary?

I don't know. I still think working exclusively out of the sump is the safest way. I just think I'm screwing it up somehow.

 

[LynzieS]

I agree and that's what I do. Occasionally I clean up the sandbed where my CUC is being lazy but I try to do it out of the sump. I'm also worried my fish will jump with the screen off. Do you have any corals in the tank or just fish? And my guess (which take with a grain of salt, I haven't had a tank in a couple years and got my new one up and going only recently) is the slight change of parameters with the water change combined with the stress of ich is too much.

 

[00Barracuda00]

I agree and that's what I do. Occasionally I clean up the sandbed where my CUC is being lazy but I try to do it out of the sump. I'm also worried my fish will jump with the screen off. Do you have any corals in the tank or just fish? And my guess (which take with a grain of salt, I haven't had a tank in a couple years and got my new one up and going only recently) is the slight change of parameters with the water change combined with the stress of ich is too much.

I've got a few corals in the tank too.

I really want to start a hospital tank to treat the fish, but I'm just afraid of what the outcome will be with the additional stress and then less than idea water parameters combined with meds. I just don't understand how people can cycle a tank so fast to keep a QT ready on hand.

 

[LynzieS]

Do the corals also get annoyed during/after water changes? I don't keep mine cycled. I have a 20g long that I start filling up a few days before I know I'm going to get a fish. I try and use some of the DT water in it and some fresh to start getting them used to my DT parameters. I add some Dr.Tims or I know some people like the BioSpira bottled bacteria. I add in my extra powerhead and a heater and a piece of PVC and that's it. It's always a good idea to use an ammonia badge, but other than that I test for ammonia and change a small amount of water every day or every other depending on how the water tests. As long as you keep on top of tracking the ammonia level in the QT you should be fine. I also don't treat unless I see a reason too so I don't wipe out the bacteria in the tank. So far it worked 3 times.

 

[sergifed91]

I heat up the water to between 72 - 78 degrees then add salt and let it mix for atleast 2 hours. then after an hour from when the lights turn off at night I do the water change. less stress for the fish and there less likely to jump out when i do the wc. I do not have a sump and don't have the space for one.

 

[WVNed]

I have done hundreds of water changes by siphoning the water out of the DT and then pumping new back. Never had one stress the fish. I have done it with water I just made and water that has sat for a week.
If the water is mixed to close to tank temp and the same SG the fish should never notice.
Perhaps you are stirring the junk up in the bottom of your sump?

 

[00Barracuda00]

Do the corals also get annoyed during/after water changes? I don't keep mine cycled. I have a 20g long that I start filling up a few days before I know I'm going to get a fish. I try and use some of the DT water in it and some fresh to start getting them used to my DT parameters. I add some Dr.Tims or I know some people like the BioSpira bottled bacteria. I add in my extra powerhead and a heater and a piece of PVC and that's it. It's always a good idea to use an ammonia badge, but other than that I test for ammonia and change a small amount of water every day or every other depending on how the water tests. As long as you keep on top of tracking the ammonia level in the QT you should be fine. I also don't treat unless I see a reason too so I don't wipe out the bacteria in the tank. So far it worked 3 times.

The zoas, polyps and plate corals all really seem to perk up within the hour of a water change.

I have done hundreds of water changes by siphoning the water out of the DT and then pumping new back. Never had one stress the fish. I have done it with water I just made and water that has sat for a week.
If the water is mixed to close to tank temp and the same SG the fish should never notice.
Perhaps you are stirring the junk up in the bottom of your sump?

The bottom of my sump is almost too clean. I have a few small pieces of live rock, but that's really about it. I do I best to stay on top of filter sock rotations, so that nothing really builds up or gets gunked up down there.



I'm thinking I'm going to try smaller water changes, spread out throughout the week instead of a weekly large swap. Have to build the system up a bit for that first. But that's my next plan of attack.

 

[WVNed]

I change 30% (~22 gallons) every Wednesday. Plus I muck around in the tank and clean the glass. 10 minutes after I am done everything is back to normal
The water goes out and in this pipe.