Changing the water is an essential component of managing your fish tank. It’s recommended to change the water in a fish tank every 2-4 weeks.
With this in mind, you will want to ensure the water quality doesn’t depreciate during the process. This includes understanding how to save dying fish after a water change.
To save a dying fish after a water change, it’s best to test the water’s pH level, de-chlorinate the water, and observe your fish’s behavior. There are times a fish might already be sick and its symptoms become noticeable after the water change.
Don’t ignore what’s going on and make sure you are helping the dying fish.
This article will go through some of the most important tips on how to save dying fish after a water change. These tips will go a long way in setting the right tone and helping you better understand what the issue is.
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Tips On How To Save A Dying Fish After A Water Change
1. Test the pH Level Immediately
You will want to start by testing the pH level in the water.
The idea behind doing this is to ensure the water change hasn’t caused the pH level to go haywire. This can happen if something was mishandled during the process or the changing process was flawed.
Every time the water is changed, these issues do arise.
It’s best to take your time and make sure to use a pH testing kit during this process. It will shed light on whether or not the water needs to be changed again.
You might have to flush out the toxins and rework the water until it is right. Don’t assume the water will be fine because testing it is a must. Only the pH testing kit for a fish tank will let you know what’s going on.
This is key information and a must for those who want a healthy fish tank for their dying fish.
2. De-Chlorinate the Water
Chlorine is dangerous for fish.
The main issue with using tap water when it comes to a water change has to do with chlorine. If there is too much of it, this can become dangerous for the fish leading to immediate death.
A lot of fish will survive for a few hours in chlorine before passing away. This is why you have to pay attention to what’s happening to the fish at all times.
If this is a problem, test for chlorine in the fish tank. If it is present, you will want to de-chlorinate the water by running the pump and filter. During this process, you should remove the fish from the tank.
3. Check the Pump
You will want to check how the pump is working in the fish tank.
This is key information when it comes to keeping a dying fish in the tank. You don’t want a situation where the water has been changed and the pump malfunctions.
This is a legitimate concern and it is something a lot of people struggle with. You will want to make sure the pump is working at all times including the filter.
This is the only way the water quality isn’t going to decline as soon as it is changed.
4. Look at the Fish’s Symptoms
It’s common to only look at the fish tank and its water.
However, you should also have an eye on the fish. It might showcase physical symptoms of something being wrong as soon as the water is changed.
This can include swimming on its side or not being able to open its fins. This is an issue that might have another reason behind it including an infection or illness.
The best course of action is to look at the fish’s symptoms and perhaps get a vet to observe too. This will shed light on what needs to happen and how to make sure the fish is healthy after the water change in the tank.
Final Thoughts
These are the main tips on how to save dying fish after a water change.
To save a dying fish after a water change, it’s essential to test the pH level, assess the pump, and make sure everything is okay with the fish. This is the best way to ensure the fish doesn’t pass away because of the water change itself.
After all, the water change is supposed to add to the fish’s life rather than take away from it.
Start with the tips here and move towards a healthy swimming environment for your fish moving forward.
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