75% water changes in November..

I have read on a few sites that the best time and way to get the plecos mating is to do a 75% water change and most places seem to say November time is right for when the pleco would experience the rain season in it's natural habitat... I was wondering about it and found it was the water change really that made me wonder if the drop in temp could be achieved by just dropping off the thermostat for a hour or so? (at the time of a regular water change)

What do you think ?
Have you tried the 75% method?
Any other tips along these lines?

whereismymind wrote:

I have read on a few sites that the best time and way to get the plecos mating is to do a 75% water change and most places seem to say November time is right for when the pleco would experience the rain season in it's natural habitat... I was wondering about it and found it was the water change really that made me wonder if the drop in temp could be achieved by just dropping off the thermostat for a hour or so? (at the time of a regular water change)

What do you think ?
Have you tried the 75% method?
Any other tips along these lines?

75% seems alot to me espeically cold water aswell....i would normally do a 50%/50% water change to stimulate a rainy season this way you dont drop it to much...you could lower your temp but it will not trick your plecs into thinking wow thats alot of rain and very noisy lol..sounds daft but if your carefull enough when doing it they dont seem bothered by the water thats being changed...in my article on breeding bristlenose's it explains it a little better, go have a read....but my answer to your question is no i wouldnt drop 75% of the water, this amount could spark a mini cycle and spike your water so be carefull............

whereismymind wrote:

I have read on a few sites that the best time and way to get the plecos mating is to do a 75% water change and most places seem to say November time is right for when the pleco would experience the rain season in it's natural habitat... I was wondering about it and found it was the water change really that made me wonder if the drop in temp could be achieved by just dropping off the thermostat for a hour or so? (at the time of a regular water change)

What do you think ?
Have you tried the 75% method?
Any other tips along these lines?

If your breeding wild caught fish or fish that are only a couple of generations from wild then they may well regard the winter months as being the spawning season but most common BN's will breed all through the year. Seasonal spawning in the wild is due necessity.

I agree with Curby 75% water changes are not recommended, to many factors can be altered.

Turning the thermostat off for an hour or so would only work in an unheated room where the temperature will vary several degrees during the day.
The first time mine bred the heater had failed without me noticing and although the temp was OK during the day at night it was dropping and I can only assume this is what triggered the spawning.

yeah, I never do more than 50% water changes and i never recommend it either.

If you are breeding picky fish then do several water changes so that the fish feel like there is a constant inflow of nice fresh 'rain water'

when you put the water in you put cold water right?

hrmmm, it depends on how cold the water is. what you are looking for is a several degree drop, from 26 down to about 20-22 degrees.

laykoo wrote:

when you put the water in you put cold water right?

No, I have a 10 gallon barrel (Plastic) I fill it up the night before a change and by the time I get round to it, it would be room temp.

**I don't alays change the full 10 gallon, thats just the size of the barrell.

Doug wrote:

hrmmm, it depends on how cold the water is. what you are looking for is a several degree drop, from 26 down to about 20-22 degrees.

I think it drops from 27 to around 24, 23..

Curby wrote:

whereismymind wrote:

I have read on a few sites that the best time and way to get the plecos mating is to do a 75% water change and most places seem to say November time is right for when the pleco would experience the rain season in it's natural habitat... I was wondering about it and found it was the water change really that made me wonder if the drop in temp could be achieved by just dropping off the thermostat for a hour or so? (at the time of a regular water change)

What do you think ?
Have you tried the 75% method?
Any other tips along these lines?

75% seems alot to me espeically cold water aswell....i would normally do a 50%/50% water change to stimulate a rainy season this way you dont drop it to much...you could lower your temp but it will not trick your plecs into thinking wow thats alot of rain and very noisy lol..sounds daft but if your carefull enough when doing it they dont seem bothered by the water thats being changed...in my article on breeding bristlenose's it explains it a little better, go have a read....but my answer to your question is no i wouldnt drop 75% of the water, this amount could spark a mini cycle and spike your water so be carefull............

I usually have been doing just under 50% that's why I asked I guess just to see.
Great article by the way.

jim.and wrote:

whereismymind wrote:

I have read on a few sites that the best time and way to get the plecos mating is to do a 75% water change and most places seem to say November time is right for when the pleco would experience the rain season in it's natural habitat... I was wondering about it and found it was the water change really that made me wonder if the drop in temp could be achieved by just dropping off the thermostat for a hour or so? (at the time of a regular water change)

What do you think ?
Have you tried the 75% method?
Any other tips along these lines?

If your breeding wild caught fish or fish that are only a couple of generations from wild then they may well regard the winter months as being the spawning season but most common BN's will breed all through the year. Seasonal spawning in the wild is due necessity.

I agree with Curby 75% water changes are not recommended, to many factors can be altered.

Turning the thermostat off for an hour or so would only work in an unheated room where the temperature will vary several degrees during the day.
The first time mine bred the heater had failed without me noticing and although the temp was OK during the day at night it was dropping and I can only assume this is what triggered the spawning.

I dont think they are wild.
the female was shop bought, and the male privately.

whereismymind wrote:

I dont think they are wild.
the female was shop bought, and the male privately.

Just follow Curbys and Dougs advice and you'll have no problems.

I think this October-December breeeding season comes from Kathy Jinkings book " Bristlenoses- Catfish with Character" once you get a breeding pair/trio then you'll find that they have not read the book

[quote="jim.and"]

whereismymind wrote:

once you get a breeding pair/trio then you'll find that they have not read the book

Me.. I use a gravel siphon every 2 days and siphon out 2 buckets of water, cleanning the gravel as I go..

When the end of the week comes, or the water gets to about 60% I re-fill with cold water. Works almost without fail.

I find this mimicks the temperature adjustment and helps to keep the water even cleaner. If they're happy, they'll do it!!

Pete.

I dont believe in doing a 75% water change ....


Even when I move house I only do at most 60%, yeah I might reduce water doing to a bare minimum of about 15 to 20 % but the water I take out I put in storage containers and take it with me and re add later.

That way I think the maximum change I do at one time is possibly 40%, or may be 45%.

Then it is one bucket pre heated and then one or two buckets stood with no heater over night.

In my breeding tank I do two buckets out and two in every other day.

In my grow out tank I do one bucket out and one bucket in twice each week.

In my display tank in the lounge I do two buckets out and two buckets in just once a week.

I have not put temp's down as my temps vary depending when I am wanting the BN to spawn

hope this helps.

OH wow , that's risky business...Have you ever had a cycle start up after that kind of change?

i nearly passed out when i heard about regulAR 75% WATER CHANGES IN A FISH TANK...

I more than often try to keep mine at 25% as far as I know - which to me is ideal as most of the time
it works out at two buckets out and two buckets in

Just ideal as I have arthritis in my wrist and shoulder and I am dreading starting a 6 foot tank up which I have planned
shortly after my next move. So needless to say I am looking at alternative options of adding water which may includeusing a old power head or pump to pump the water into the next big tank from a water butt in my back garden

regards

LJ

wolverine wrote:

i nearly passed out when i heard about regulAR 75% WATER CHANGES IN A FISH TANK...



LJ

Yea, I think the source of the reading i'd done on this was only saying to go for a 75% once a year lol to encourage breeding.
I just do 25 -30% PW similar to others taking out, then putting in, in stages during the week.