JB wrote:
I have had a 10 gallon tank with 3 adult sword tail fish 2" in length
for about 4½ months.. the water is really dirty because when I did my
50% change as recommended by Tetra, my plastic bucket had some
dirt/debree in it that I didn't spot until after I added the 50%
remaining water..

You really should change water more frequently.

The dirt/debris at the bottom of the bucket isn't anything to worry about...
it was in there before you did the water change, you merely put it back.

My test kit shows medium water hardness, borderline Nitrate/Nitrate,
and border line unsafe PH.. I was told at my recent visit to Petco,
that I should completely drain my tank, clean all decor with water and
replace all water with filtered water and let sit for a few hours
before re-adding my fish.. Also they recommended a bubble stone to
introduce more Oxygen into my tank...

They said you should do this all at once?

I'd recommend removing the ornaments and cleaning one by one, then hoovering
the gravel while you do a 50% water change.

Then do the same again a week later... then the week after that.

Leave a bucket of water out overnight to dechlorinate so you don't have to
add any dechlorinating chemicals.

Has anyone done this before, and any tips, etc to help along the way??

I hope all fishkeepers have done this before... I do it fortnightly... so
should you.



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