You've Been LIED To About Water Changes, New Series "True Or False"

[@KGTropicals]

*Check out our brand new website and shop for all of your aquarium supplies and fun merch!* bit.ly/3lyTqjj

[@brainbuster4u744]

@KGTropicals Thank you so much for this video. This answered SOOOOOO Many of my questions such as when to add conditioner, maintaining temperature etc.... As a first time fish keeper I have been looking for these answers for a while now online, and I think you are one of the first to address it. So, Thank you!

[@enjoy.a.j4299]

What is the fish in the thumbnail

[@theresagreen7165]

Awesome new format, love it! The second "tip" had me crying with laughter.

[@karenromayne4838]

@KGTropicals is it OK to never do a water change if your parameters stay perfect? It's lightly stocked, and heavily planted with extra filtration, and has been reading zero nitrates for 2 years now..... (100 gallons with about 30 small-medium fish, mainly live bearers). My only hesitantion is that I have had issues with parasites, but that might have happened with water changes anyway.

[@lokitheferret9815]

I have a quick question my one zebra danio has 1 stripe all the others have 3-5 stripes is this normal

[@karenfortier2920]

Finally a voice of reason in the water change discussion. My family bred fish in the 1940's supply local pet shops. Less was known about the nitrogen cycle, etc. We did water changes when the water began to smell stale, when it became cloudy, or when we noticed the fish were more or less active than normal. We used water from the tap doing them "as needed", testing with litmus strips for acidity, and, our fish thrived and bred easily. Now the water change mania dominates the industry, and the work to maintain tanks has become such a burden, that many abandon the hobby. Sad!

[@SBandana-uw9ed]

get off my porch

[@callsignfives4403]

As for why water changes encourage breeding, I read somewhere that water changes will convince the fish that its the rainy season which is a good time to raise fry because of the abundance of water.

[@cosmoplakat9549]

Yes, I've heard that as well.

[@Aquascape_Dreaming]

I'm actually surprised they didn't know this. I learned this when I used to keep dwarf gourami years ago.

[@codwatcherdon]

I think its more to do with the increase in oxygen that rain brings, as well as diluting any pollutants in the water

[@EsoxLVCIVS6776]

Yes, my danios spawned yesterday straight after a water change.

[@ericpayne401]

My mystery snails started breeding after my last water change and now I have all these egg clutches around the top of my tank

[@realangiechrist]

Cooler water is like rain in nature, that's why it triggers spawning

[@scienceapplied5424]

And with rain. Normally comes extra food, extra food means room for extra mouths

[@richarddr1234]

Hmmmm, I'm convinced.

[@fruityautism]

😲

[@marcthamke7545]

My fish are so proun to this, i top my water up with about one gallon of kind of cold water and boom, both of my cichlids spawnd

[@AquariumFishEnthusiasts]

Makes sense....

[@Jeswald1]

I've got heavily planted tanks and "topping off" daily is all I do. There's a huge difference between planted tanks that have been going for 2+ years and new tanks with no natural plants/substrate.

[@MazMaslin]

Same. Not done a water change in 10 years on my main tank.

[@snapdragon2441]

I was thinking this. I have a new tank so testing my water every couple of days, just to be safe. What if I did a small amount of water change more regularly rather than a bigger amount in one hit. Surly this would be less stressful for the fish.

[@Jeswald1]

@@snapdragon2441 I agree. I am also a great believer in "don't skimp on the substrate!" I bought Seachem's Fluorite Black, which cost $$$, BUT my plants grow like crazy, resulting in a healthier overall tank. I think it got to a point that my tanks got to a better balanced biome (cool phrase) because I used the Seachem. Whenever I hear "how do I start a tank but have a budget" the first thing people recommend is playground and as a cheap substrate. Um, if I were building a house, the last thing I'm going to skimp on is the foundation. The substrate is the foundation. It saves money on dead plants, Co2 systems, and plant fertilizers. Plant the plants, let it roll, and it will be the healthier tank.

[@snapdragon2441]

@@Jeswald1 Thank you Melissa, I am a new fish keeper so need all the advice I can get. I have a 15 gallon, planted tank with a little betta, 4 shrimps and a couple of uninvited snails, but they are cool so can stay. I only have gravel substrate unfortunately, but use fertiliser and co2 liquid. My plants look very healthy and growing like mad. Did not quite realise how much science was involved in this hobby but I loved science at school so it’s nice to use this knowledge again as I get older. What fish do you keep.

[@finnwiggles28]

This was great. My fish LOVE their fresh water and play in the stream of bubbles; so I do small changes every weekend (5-10% because my tanks are heavily planted); and top-offs in the middle of the week. I'm in this hobby because I enjoy it, water changes are not work for me.

[@lilybeaumont683]

Same for me..I like playing around with the tanks..it's not really a job..it's a lot easier then cleaning up after my sled dogs years ago..😁😁😁😁

[@snapdragon2441]

It’s like tinkering in a garage. Need to keep doing something with my tank, testing, cleaning, watching, more watching.

[@hoihoi12250]

Ye I noticed my fish like to swim towards the water being poured in too!

[@kawaiipurplesaphire6163]

I personally just top off my tank because I have plants 🌺

[@verhekkie.2396]

Just started my fist aquarium with neon tetra's. Very helpful because all the stuff on the internet is a little confusing

[@chrissyfrijters6581]

Just saying that this is also stuff on the internet ;) joking ofcourse

[@tanishqsuryawanshi1276]

It's overwhelming for a beginner ngl

[@wototw4637]

i dont like fist aquariums, their just so weird, i mean your gonna put water in a glass hand? i dont see the hype

[@aoudyvideos3307]

@@wototw4637 why are u here then? And may I know what's your hobby?

[@wototw4637]

@@aoudyvideos3307 my hobby is fishkeeping, im here for help, fist aquariums are weird though, i mean its a glass hand full of water??

[@sarade2792]

I take water out and use it on my plants, then I add water to my tanks, its a win-win for me.

[@PeruChris]

Same 🙋🏽‍♀️

[@paigek9923]

Sometimes I dump mine in my garden and the plants love it

[@joannfinn4692]

I do too! I have a long hose with my gravel vac that I run out the door to my flower bed, my ferns seem to love it. My big tank is by the door so it is easy. My 40 gallon is in the dining room so I have to carry the buckets outside to the flowers. Sometimes I cheat and pour it down the sink if I’m too tired.

[@wackyfiasco]

Now if you can make a flow-circuit from the aquarium, through your plants’ root systems, and then back to the display tank, you’d have aquaponics. 😉

[@Fresadchokolat]

Can I add this water to my orchid plants? I would love to know. I love orchids and I wouldn’t want them to die on me

[@Edward-rw3kq]

In the tropics when it rains the change in temp sets off spawning behaviour, even though the rain is usually cooler that the river or lake it's raining on....that's why I have never really worried about getting the water temp right during water changes.....love your channel by the way....

[@mikefm4]

This entire channel is such a wealth of knowledge it should be awarded a medal for education

[@AQUAFUNK]

NO LIE PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE VIDEOS ON KZbin EVER!!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY! I TRY MY HARDEST TO DO VIDEOS FOR THE BEGINNER HOBBYIST AND PUTTING OUT VIDEOS THAT WON'T SCARE THEM OUT OF KEEPING FISH. AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS ONE IS A MUST SEE. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS NOT COMPLICATING THING ALL TO HECK SO THAT BEGINNERS CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN DO WHAT WE DO TOO. KEEP UP THE THE GOOD WORK JOHN AND LISA I BELIEVE THAT THIS CHANNEL WILL ONE DAY BE NUMBER ONE AND IM NOT JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE COOL IM 4-REALZZZZZ

[@medusianAllure]

Thanks for the reminder. It helps my overprotective instincts not be quite so anxious about water changes. I don't do them as often as I should (twice a month, needs more plants). But hearing that I don't need to get the perfect temperature and that I don't need to let the water settle/mix with the water conditioner helps the brain weasels quiet down a little.

[@blondie7740]

Pop a pothos cutting in the top. Pothos will uptake a lot of the waste for growth. You will get a beautiful plant and a more stable tank.

[@xakirax_8864]

We spend so much time trying to fix what ain't broke ,I believe if we're consistent with how we're treating our water, how often we do our water changes and keeping parameters in check then your good

[@thatguywhohasfish]

You don't understand how much I needed this video. I started the hobby only about 2 years ago, and watching this video today has unearthed so many myths and lies that I was told and readily accepted. I have been doing 25% water changes every week on Sunday since I had this tank established. And I feel like I have wasted so much time doing water changes when I probably did not need to do them as much. You guys keep saving my life with every video. Thank you so much! 💙

[@crispyduck4624]

You guys make me feel so much more confident about my fish keeping. I have a 40 Gallon cycling right now for an Oranda and a Black Moor, and I also just bought a 10 gallon and I’m going to get a Betta and 6(ish) Cardinal Tetras for it. You guys are awesome, you have a fan for life here!!

[@21specter]

Will John escape Lisa's wrath? Find out on the next episode of Dragon Ball Z! Great video guys!

[@hornets303]

I read this in the Dragon Ball Z narrator voice lol

[@deborahjeanne2141]

For 2 years I’ve been doing weekly WC because the majority of “experts” tell you that’s the golden number. This video has been so informative and so helpful. I’ve been doing WC every 7 days unnecessarily. My tanks are not overstocked and my fish are small, guppies, Cory cats, koi. If life gets in the way and I go past 7 days, I start to stress. Now I can stop stressing if I don’t do a WC until day 10. Thank you for making my life easier.

[@cherylmockotr]

"Don't disturb the fish" was funny to me... my fish LOVE it when I do maintenance that involves a tool in the water! It's a community tank, and they all gather wherever the tool is. They'd get bored if I didn't provide them with a bit of existential challenge like that, kind of like never allowing your child to climb a tree or ride a roller-coaster!

[@rayveniasylversun7257]

This video helped me stop stressing out over the fact that we haven't changed a massive amount of water in our tank for water changes for a long time and I was worried we were doing something wrong. We test our water ever week, and only take at most 10% of the water and that's only because we are trying to clean up the gravel (which we also do every week) and the little bit we lose from cleaning the mechanical filter media from the canister filter we use. All of the people I'd asked around me said that we were slowly killing our fish because even though the tests said our water was very good, we "needed" to do 50% water change "every two weeks" (So said one of my friends before 'joking' that she would come and steal our fish to 'save' them). Thank you so much for this video.

[@christinecho779]

Thank you!! Good tips. Also, thanks for calling out idiots on KZbin who do dumb fish abusing stunts for views.

[@FlyTyer1948]

Although I’m late to this party, this video is quite helpful for me. After moving to a new apartment & getting unpacked in the new place, I plan to start an aquarium for the first time in 40 years & am doing my research to learn what my fish will need. There is so much new knowledge in the field & so many new “absolutes” that have popped up. Your videos are really helpful.

[@PatsNation32]

Just started an aquarium for the very first time and you guys are definitely my go to for any help I need! Thank you so much for what you two do!!

[@taylorh6855]

Them and then Corey from aquarium co op are some of the best fish KZbinrs you can find! So glad to hear you are getting started and hopefully you find as much joy in it as the rest of us do!

[@alexkavo8930]

This video is so important. When I got into the hobby about a year and a half ago I was doing multiple water changes a week and couldn’t understand why I was never cycled properly. Now I let the filters and plants handle it mostly. No water chemistry issues. Maybe change water every 2-4 weeks depending on the tank

[@danieljeffries6430]

Great Video and I just did my Weekly Water 💦 Change Thinking 🤔 that I was supposed to, But with the OverStocked Tank that I have and the upgrade to A FX4 this week I will Probably cut it back to maybe 1 1/2 weeks. I’m glad you and Lisa did this Video to dispel some of the myths out here on the internet 😎😎😊Keep up the good work 😎

[@BackyardObservatory]

Great vid. What's funny is much of your video is how I approach my 40gal, which I worked hard to reach equilibrium. Granted that "work" was more about paying close attention the tank as a whole, and far less about strict clean/change schedules.

[@snailyoulatercampbell526]

Your videos are what keep me from giving up the hobby.

[@pww6581]

Anything that helps debunk the many myths in this hobby, when it comes to water changes is helpful. Thanks for the good advice.

[@HexproofAnarchist]

I like this new format! I have been binge watching your channel for the past 5 days and I got every question right! I've learned so much from this channel, thanks John and Lisa!

[@Bellthorian]

I have learned so much since I have watching you channel. I have a 37 gallon bow front tank with a Convict, two Jewel Cichlids and a Pleco in it. I had not done a water change in a couple of years I was just adding water as it evaporated. I have a Fluvol 306 canister filter and I thought cleaning it and changing the media in the filter religiously would be enough. Then I started watching you channel and realized how wrong I was. I started by getting a master test kit and tested for nitrates and the sample was off the scale it was so dark red. So I bought a huge jug of water conditioner and stress coat and a Python type water change system with a 50 foot hose on it. I don't hook it to the sink to drain the water, I remember you saying how good a fertilizer dirty fish water is so I run the line out to various places in my front ward and drain the water there. When I do fill the tank I use a thermometer to get the temp as close as I can before turning the valve and filling the tank. It took FIVE 50% plus water changes with gravel suction to get my nitrates down between 10 and 15 ppm. My Jewels went from bland colorless fish to bright red and the fish are a lot more active. I will never let my water conditions get out of control again. Thanks for educating me.

[@GPA1969]

I have my Python connected to the outdoor water spigot and do water changes year-round from it in Western PA. I treat while filling and I only do 10% (55 and 90 gallons) during winter every other week and fill slowly so that the temp doesn't change more than 4 degrees. During the Summer I do 40% bi-weekly and follow the same approach, treat and fill slowly. I keep F1 Frontosa and Tropheus.

[@rickspringer4814]

Loving the return to the green screen! Perfect form guys. It's actually better for Water to be cooler when changing. A heater can warm it but can't cool down water that is too warm. Also fish are more comfortable acclimating to cool water than warmer.

[@jamesmclaughlin8261]

I do prepare my water the day before in the summer to let it cool down. I live in Tucson and in the summer the water can be near 90 on the cold side!

[@conniepeterson3004]

Ha! Yes! You don't even need hot water to shower in the Tucson summer 😉

[@wackyfiasco]

I live in Orlando, FL and the time-of-day per time-of-year dictates when I decide to do water changes: Winter and Spring = late-day changes (gives the water in the pipes time to absorb more radiant heat), and Summer and Fall = late morning water changes (before it gets in the high 90s Fahrenheit).

[@UltraSteaKME]

I've heard that just topping up for compensating for the evaporation concentrates the minerals/metals/hard products, in a way that it might be an issue after a certain time. So the advice was instead of just topping up, replace a certain amount of water to de-concentrate these minerals… What is your opinion about this ? Thanks

[@midnitetoker420]

"and I'm not talking about Metallica"... the best part of this line was the delivery.

[@dimmasvaerd]

Yeah, Metallica hasn't been heavy metal for at least 20 years... LOL

[@purplebunny7728]

Yes I eased up. You tube said no problem so I did smaller water changes about 2 gallons midweek and 4 gallons & siphon on Sunday and always pretreat the water. When I finally tested the nitrate was blood red. And I have algae issues if I don’t change more volume. Perhaps I need more change not less. There are 10 ember tetras, 6 ottocats and 4 nerites in a 20 gallon long. My fish store says my feeding seems okay. Several years of testing has shown zero on all parameters. This nitrate result was scary. Thoughts? Thank you for sharing. The videos are wonderful and the fish are WOW.

[@Pickle_Riiiick]

🌹Happy Mother’s Day🌹

[@rootsnwhiskers8351]

Thank you so much 😊

[@Tom-nb8cp]

I’m not your mum

[@Pickle_Riiiick]

@@Tom-nb8cp how do you know🤔😘

[@edward_grabczewski]

I'm new to fishkeeping and I've been monitoring my water parameters. I now have only four fish in my nano-tank (5G) because two died. The ammonia levels are alway way above 0 ppm but by nitrite and nitrate levels are always low. I don't understand why. I keep doing water changes daily to keep the ammonia levels below 4. I'm not sure what's causing it. My remaining fish are one each of Gourami, Platy, Betta and Rasbora. When I do water changes then I do use a bucket and prepare the water to the right temp (26C) with Prime. Often I add Stability and Flourish too. I use Ammo Lock when ammonia levels go above 4 (which can happen in just two days) and I do a 50% water change the following day. But my ammonia levels harly ever go down to zero. I use the API Test Kit and test strips. I use a sponge filter and recenly added a Marina internal filter about a week ago. The tank was cycled for three weeks before fish were introduced and the only plant I have in the tank a small Java Moss. Not sure what more to do. If nitrite and nitrate levels are very good but ammonia levels are high then what does that mean? It's hard to believe the tank is overstocked and I don't think I'm overfeeding (a small sprinkle of flakes each day).

[@jessicajones641]

This is perfect timing!!!! I’m still cycling my 36gal tank for some freshwater tropical fish and this is a topic I’m still confused about

[@mini_maven]

Thanks for putting this out there. I feel less like a bad fish mom. I haven’t done a water change on my 150 in 2 weeks. It’s a heavily planted community tank that is lightly stocked. When I tested the water this weekend it was 0 across the board and I don’t think it really needs a water change. I’ll probably vac it a bit this weekend and then top it off!

[@ReneesZooTube]

Thank you for this. I think on average we've gotten beyond ridiculous about water changes for our aquariums. We've taken what specialty and show breeders do as law for what the average hobbyist should do and it's just not true. It is a balance between stocking levels, feeding, whether there are live plants or not. I think keeping an eye on nitrates can be a decent indicator of when we need to do water changes. I think water sustainability needs to be something we seriously consider as hobbyists. I also think it's important to condition our fish to NOT need constant water changes and exact precise tank parameters or they just die. Our fish should be a joy to keep, not a ridiculous hassle requiring constant, intensive management.

[@steveturner4267]

John’s comment about the bottle of wine was the best part of the video 😂 I’m new to the hobby and find all your videos really informative and simple to follow. The touch of slapstick humour thrown in is an added bonus.

[@dennyAK47]

How about a video about the truth behind cleaning your filters and how to do it the right way. Canister, Hob, etc...

[@wutsit2yuhhuh246]

8:50 I'm so glad to have seen this. I have a 40 gallon tank (upgraded from a 10g) that has water evaporate very quickly and so I'd just top it off. The water is pristine. It's too easy of a system. Totally different from my 10 gallon

[@blaznmax8877]

Some say water changes replicate rain season for fish .in wild when it rains it floods food and nutrients into water ways fish love breeding in these conditions

[@ricktoffer01]

Back in the 70s we did quarterly complete water changes. We boiled the gravel in a pressure cooker. Our fish never had any problems. We had a 55-gallon tank with two angelfish, one fire mouth, one black shark. and two catfish. We would scrub the whisper filter with backing soda. We kept those fish for 7 years. I think our saving grace was that we used a fresh water alga that looked like a plant that grew in Roanoke River and in ponds here in Virginia. We didn't know anything about the nitrogen cycle back then. So, using those algae kept the nitrogen bacteria in balance! I got a 30 gallon long wild Virginia tank. With two sunfish and three madtoms. I use a whisper filter and have those algae planted in the tank. My substrate is fine gravel and sand from the river. I do a 30% water change twice a month. It's a lot easier than tearing down the entire aquarium pressure-cooking the substrate, scrubbing the aquarium with backing soda, and scrubbing the filter with backing soda four times a year.

[@BlueLighteningGojo]

When I do water changes, I like to filter the water first, and still use a conditioner in the tank too.

[@hudsol10]

I have a 200 litre tropical tank. After watching this, i went from weekly water changes to a fortnightly change. After two weeks i had a silver shark die. Upon checking my numbers, my Ph, Ammonia and nitrates were very high although the numbers were perfect upon the last change. I also replaced the water with cold water and observed my larger Gourami's and silver sharks along with a bosemani huddled together in a corner not moving. I then topped up with warm water and the fish swam off.

[@tippytoetoli]

I am glad you broached these subjects. I’m afraid to mention on a site, a fish site, that I don’t vacuum my tank every week or that I just top off my tanks most of the time. Because I’ll get yelled at! LOL I’ve been keeping fish for many, many years.

[@dusk1947]

Great video! This is my absolute favorite topic in all of the aquarium hobby, fresh water and marine. “you need to do water changes… When you need to do water changes” is quite apt. Why so many hobbyist’s find it so confusing and challenging, is because it’s based off the individual chemistry and the biology specific to your system. There is no one right answer for all systems, nor is there in nature. The chemistry of your water, and the biological interactions that directly effect that water, are what determine how often you need to change it. Changing it more often is simply a more approachable tactic for many. My own system has gone months between changes while remaining in healthy parameters. How do I now that? I test it. Why do I bother? because I hate the chore of water changes. Can you do regular water changes instead? Sure! But I prefer not to. This is the important part: A hobbyist who understands the factors which enable them to go longer between water changes, ultimately means you have a more informed hobbyist who more regularly monitors the quality of their home aquariums. Why do I love this topic and get wrapped around the axel about it? I'm a biology nerd. Digging into the hard science of the water, substrate, plant, algae, and micro fauna is more fun for me than keeping the fish.

[@paulmccarthy7467]

Love this subject it will help so many people understand the water change process so much better. Keep up the great work! Has Lisa watch this yet John lol

[@a.harrington1634]

I love how positive and helpful you always are! As a relative novice to anything except snails, I love these short form videos, and how nice you are about people getting into the hobby when they're not experts yet. It's made me brave enough to try keep a fish. Singular, but we'll see how it goes.

[@happyfox6942]

I love that you keep talking about Florida. I live here and it makes me laugh whenever you make fun of us. I'm just trying to keep my betta happy and ya'll just make me chuckle while I'm learning.

[@lolitamiranda892]

Why do fishes die

[@lolitamiranda892]

Why do fishes die ?

[@happyfox6942]

@@lolitamiranda892 They’re living breathing animals who need to be loved and cared for and have special requirements like any other pet.

[@jdelgado1403]

Happy Mother's Day Lisa!

[@rootsnwhiskers8351]

Thank you 😊

[@cathygrandstaff1957]

One thing about cooler water is during summer fresh water lakes develop a thermocline that keeps the cold nutrient rich water near the bottom and the warm nutrient poor water on top. When fall/winter rolls around that thermocline disappears, that nutrient rich water starts mixing with the surface water and the free floating algae goes ballistic because it wants to be in nutrient dense water at the surface where the sunlight is. Phytoplankton and the tiny zooplankton that feeds on it makes great food for tiny fry so fish probably spawn when they sense the temperature change to take advantage of the bumper crop of baby food that’s about to arrive.

[@maddybritton3265]

I go out and buy the gallons of spring water and I still use a water conditioner bc it’s better for your fish.

[@pathornell7149]

I’m a new subscriber and I enjoy what I see and hear. I’m very particular about my small hobby and it’s nice to know things don’t have to be perfect to take care of these little guys. I have a 130 gal. and a 25 gal., so it’s nice that we don’t have to panic if we can’t to our scheduled water change. I find since I have been giving my fish their vitamins and garlic their real beauty has proven success. I’ve had two spawning batches of Acara’s with this feeding program and the colours, size and health have been amazing. The buyers are more than impressed with these little guys. I look forward hearing more about your awesome tips. KEEP THEM COMING. 🐠🐟

[@Elquinjena]

ROFLOL Best line in the video and gesture "kinda like a Friday night after Lisa had a bottle of wine" ** Wiggles Eyebrows** I busted up laughing. good one

[@greyhound-t3k]

I think we should send them a bottle of wine! Lisa, red or white?

[@watafumx]

@@greyhound-t3k Pinot noir goes well with freshwater fish, so...

[@aisea3113]

really like this video - one thing to mention about the "if your nitrates are still low you don't need to do a water change" though is fish do let out hormones that should be changed out from time to time so it's good to do one every so often even if the nitrates aren't getting up there. and also if you're just topping off and your water has any hardness to it it'll slowly increase that hardness unless you're doing water changes as well as topping off, which can be just fine, but if you've got fish that are sensitive to that, it's good to be aware of.

[@hollycastle3865]

Yay. I always was so confused about water changes.

[@craigfay7656]

Best KZbin clip I've seen describing water changes people seem obsessed with doing this. I'm running a 120 gallon heavily planted with a moderate stocking of fish including a good clean up crew. Only top up once a week and treat only the amount of water I'm adding my nitrates normally 0.5 to 10. I will refer this video clip to my fishkeeping friends. Thanks from Norfolk England 👍👍👍

[@johnmorgan8127]

Fish spawn after water changes because water changes simulate rain, and most fish spawn after it rains

[@cinemacomix1535]

I usually put my conditioners in right when i start to refill. I made a mistake and waited about 10 minutes. It was a 55 gal that wasn't even back up halfway (i usually do large water changes without an issue) However my sensitive catfish. A pictus and a synodontis cat both went into shock before i noticed i hadn't put my conditioner in when i normally do. Also learned well water with high concentrations of gases. Caused gas bubble disease in a few of my fish but killed half my stock pretty much instantly. This is due to a temporary living situation. But now i can only refill by bucket by letting the gases escape. Or to refill with my python hose, i have to take all my fish out, refill, let the gases escape from the tank by waiting almost 30 min. Then i can re add the fish. Due to this i have only been doing about 50% water changes, refilled by bucket every 2-4 weeks. When i had City water. I would do almost 100% water changes, leave fish in and refill. As long as i added my water conditioner right away i was always good. Did that also once every 2-4 weeks

[@austincrowmusic2378]

You guys are the best with the thrown in jokes 😂

[@kinglyzard]

#1 Bettas are definitely sensitive to fluctuations in temperatures, especially adding cold water to their aquarium. It's a real slap in the face for most Anabantids. Cichlids love a water change because it's like a rainstorm, the beginning of their breeding season.

[@Lycramosa]

I have well water and I've always used water conditioner for that reason! I live surrounded by corn/bean fields (literally across the road lol) and I usually have some nitrates in my tap water.

[@amelliamendel2227]

I truly wish they made videos for paludariums, not just fish. Very informative

[@coltonnovella6964]

Hey KG, new to the hobby and let me say I have been watching your channel all week. Very helpful thanks so much!:)

[@KGTropicals]

Glad we can help 😊

[@williamk3692]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a single 12" long "common" pleco. I think he's a zebra peco. He's well trained. I tap on the glass any time I'm going to stick my hand in or even drop food in. Because he's not that shy, but if something touches him, he spazzes out. He is actually active almost all day. When I tap the tank, he goes and hides under his slate because he knows I'm going to put something in the water. It's better for him. Which means it's better for me.

[@operationhotshotinc.6887]

Bottom line is keep a filter than can handle double or triple the water in your tank and you’ll save yourself a bunch of time and money. Filtration will keep your water quality and quality of your fishes in top fin shape longer ..

[@RyanDoesAll]

Great video....its nice to see simple explanations as opposed to scare tactics.

[@garageratz2692]

Yesss this was a great idea!! Great video

[@christiangibson7285]

The water change creating spawns is fairly simple for some species, it mimicks the rainy season that is the perfect time to breed in the wild.

[@Uncle_Fishkeeper]

I hope you are still alive after that Lisa comment John....hahaha

[@MontegaB]

Haha. I'm surprised he got that approved!

[@KGTropicals]

I didn't ha ha! Had to sneak it in there!!

[@Elquinjena]

@@KGTropicals and that dead Pan after the wiggle of eyebrows was the icing on that. Just too funny loved it

[@siempreseagull2]

Unless you are doing major water changes, for most fish, you don't need any chemicals. I have live bearers. I do not change my water, have tons of plants, top off, straight from the tap and a deep substrate. My tanks are 6 years old. The water parameters are acceptable. I have black water tanks with a lot of driftwood. I feed every other or every three days. I have about 20 fish each in a 50 and 75 gallon tanks. When you are over crowding the tank with livestock you are going to need to do more water changes. Bare bottom tanks are the ones that need the major water changes. I have a sponge filter with a power head in each tank. The plants do the rest of the filtration.

[@SargntZippo]

This kinda made me feel better about my horrible gravel vac skills. Knowing that i don't have too go crazy every time wont be the end of the world if i don't get it all done in one shot.

[@IamAnthonyM]

Assuming you don't over feed and/or have more fish in the tank than you should. As they mentioned, do a water parameter test both ways, to get an accurate result.

[@datsuntoyy]

Years back I had to move. I was forced to leave my well established and heavily planted green sailfin molly breeding tank for about 3 months. In that 3 months there was no filter running, no heater, no aeration, no light other than a window across the room and they weren't fed. I lost zero fish. Shortly after I got it moved a heater malfunctioned and did the job. Note: plecos can survive 102 degrees. ;)

[@ruthdennisKnits]

I needed this. Thanks

[@aftabkhansworld]

Thank you! This really helps! I really admire you two & your enthusiasm for this hobby! 😊 I hope to be in a relationship like you guys! Also, please keep up the good work! I look forward for your next video!

[@WhiteBocah]

yo KGtropicals, thanks for the tips, its been 3 month since im started this hobby, no fish die, everything good!

[@craigmatthew5295]

I work for a pool company, I actually use one of the 100 lb shock buckets to circulate water with a filter from my tank. I let it circulate for a few days, the chlorine is crazy high in my part of the hood

[@davidgalindo6111]

When you said all of them were going to die I literally thought they were going to die until he said if you don't subscribe I'm like phew I'm subscribed already Also love your guys content

[@azwaranasalymann7344]

great info & i love the “true or false” gimmick… i really feel that the different water ph or temperature forces them to spawn for the sake of their survival. thanks & you guys rock🤟

[@thehairywoodsman5644]

I have a well . if my well had Metallica in it , I would have stopped drinking it after Cliff Burton died !

[@jt9513]

Though I am only 1 year plus into the hobby few things mentioned here have been tested and I got success, 1. I use stored water at least for 1 week for water changes but still I use dechlorinator 2. I never bother about checking water temperature while doing water changes 3. I have topped off water and tank was fine for a month without any water change 4. More than 6 months since I did a gravel vacuumed nor going to do it in future unless something goes wrong The key is heavily planted tank, with no overfeeding, less fish in tank, general weekly or bi-weekly maintenance and that's it. But this is easier said than done 😋

[@markpalumbo1657]

First I love this channel

[@toddratson7526]

Great video but I have to take issue with the water conditioner point. I live in a very small Rocky Mountain town in BC, Canada. Yesterday I measured a TDS of 29ppm out of the tap. According to the water report issued by the local authorities our water contains about 25ppm of carbonates and everything else combined is only 2-4ppm depending on the time of year. We use so little chlorine that by the time it comes out of the tap it is not measurable. I am a breeder and have many tanks from 3g to 300g and I have never had to treat my water! I realize that this is likely a very rare case but if your tap or well water is clean of problem ions then no conditioner is needed. I do 90% water changes on my 300g koi growout system with no issues.

[@Peregrine1989]

I can explain in part why a dash of cold water tends to trigger spawning in a lot of fish. Depending on the breed, its because it simulates EITHER: The Wet Season (Most Tropical Fish) The Spring Melt (Fish from a flood plain, like the Nile) The Monsoons. (Indian and SEA tropical fish) When a LOT of new water enters any system, it is typically cold. HOWEVER in the wild it also typically comes with an increase in food due to a bunch of different factors. ESPECIALLY small food for Fry. Thus when fish get hit with a cold water, water change, their instincts are more likely to tell them, "Food is coming for the babies" There are in fact several breeds of Fish that require multiple cold water water changes to induce spawning AT ALL. The Bichir for example requires at least TWO 50% cold water what changes to induce it to spawn, to simulate the floods in the various African river systems.

[@spacepuppie]

If I'm not mistaken, some fish will spawn in the wild just after it rains. When it rains, it lowers the water temps and PH a little. So, when we do water changes, it kinda' mimics those conditions and causes the fish to feel like it's just rained. And can you blame them? Rain is kinda' romantic ... hehe ;)

[@ericpayne401]

I add warm water when I change out my discus tank and they love it. They are usually pretty mellow and relax but when I add the warmer water they just dart around and swim all around the tank, they love it but then again they prefer warmer water. I am not adding scalding hot water it's just warmer than what I would normally do for the other fish

[@alejandrolisdero4531]

I have 1 inch of gravel. A 29 gallon tank. A canister that makes good water current, that helps to break debris faster. Is not a planted aquarium. Only fishes an decor. I never disturb gravel. My water changes routine is: take out water and put in freshwater with conditioner.

[@AnitaandLucas]

So helpful! I brought 2 guppies and a tank for my toddler's birthday yesterday. New subbie!

[@paisleyleo7094]

That black and white Betta is ✨GORGEOUS✨

[@phoeberyan5460]

Thanks heaps for this! Just found this channel and am finding it really helpful! I only just got my first two tanks set up and had jumped into the hobby knowing very little. When I started looking for videos to help most seem really daunting and intimidating. You guys make it all seem more approachable! Thanks again!

[@sststr]

I don't worry myself too much about temperature of new water, but during the winter especially, the water coming out of the tap is quite cold, so I fill up a jug with water, add conditioner, and add a heater, then let is sit for an hour or two until the water is no longer cold to the touch. That seems to be just fine. But then I'm rarely doing more than 1 gallon worth of new water at a time, into a 10 gallon tank, so the percent change is not huge and the new water should diffuse quickly via the filter, so it never occurred to me it could be a potential problem.

[@emmanuelgutierrez8616]

I'd like to add some extra precaution to that first one- If your putting water directly in- use a spray nozzle on the surface so the chlorine evaporates. 2nd if you have city water and don't have water conditioner, I just put hottest water from my tub into a bucket and then use it the next day after the chlorine has dissipated and has cooled down.

[@jeannieb4554]

Plain and Simple Tysvm!! 🤗

[@Tobias611]

Currently going 5 months without a waterchange on my 350l/90g, still sitting at 0 nitrate due to plantgrowth, only getting low on °gH, though topping it off is enough. What a broken waterheater doesn't force us to do... Fish are all super healthy, and the plants are thriving. Taking over, actually.

[@stormtrackershanehelton4603]

In 1993 I moved to Marlow Oklahoma from rural Northwest Oklahoma. I had 5 tanks. After using Marlow water in my tanks I lost enough fish to have 1 tank. It killed the fish instantly. Those that did not die within seconds died within an hour. Even after putting them back into the original water that they moved in. Did I make some mistakes? Probably. But I also knew how to set up a tank properly, and let it run overnight before adding livestock. From that weekend on I now only use RO water. I do not use instant water conditioner and the tanks run weeks before adding livestock.

[@fredmunson8603]

You guys are right on. I tested my water every day for one month and found that I only needed to do a 50% water change once a month. I have a planted tank and around 20 fish. Fred from Wenatchee WA.

[@siobhan5214]

What would you recommend for plants for lower light tanks? There is ambient sunlight light in the room and I put the plant light on for about 2 hours a day. I have anubias and Java fern but looking for more variety

[@crystalbluewire3339]

You two are the best. Thank you for sharing your valuable experience and knowledge.