# Do the typical household fish stress if the tank is not cleaned? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408 "2018-09-15T21:27:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408/21 "2018-09-17T01:28:10Z")
I can’t afford fancy filters and stuff. As to water, should I collect rain water, get it from a pond, buy distilled at Wall\*Mart? Then do I need to add chemicals to make it right for the fish? Just went and measured the tank. 15 gallon tank. I have now looked at a bazillion fish with google and NADA. Not a Tetra but has a single big stripe, the rest is sort of goldish green, small pointy face with very small mouth for their size. Got 2 of those about 3 inches long. 3 spotted little catfish under 2.5 inches and 4 goldfish, 2 are maybe 2.5 inches long and two little ones about 1 inch long. ( I did not know we had those.) They swim strong like the adults. See no fighting, no dead fish.Cheapo tank given to us + the fish except for the cat fish which the wife says she bought at W\*W. Interesting critters. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408/22 "2018-09-17T01:45:24Z")
You don’t really need an expensive filter. I was talking to some fellow aquarists last month about filters and they are all using cheap sponge filters - some even prefer them to the expensive canister filters. Opinions vary, but the major downside with a sponge filter is aesthetics for most people (the need for water current can be provided via powerhead). You can even do a DIY sponge filter if you really want to go cheap. The fish with the stripe you describe could be lots of different fish without knowing any more details. The most common thing I see in stores near me that fits that description is a Taiwanese algae eater, but it certainly could be something else. I have several different species of minnow in my tank that fit the description; but they were all sourced from a local creek not a store. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408/23 "2018-09-17T01:49:13Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > I can’t afford fancy filters and stuff. > As to water, should I collect rain water, get it from a pond, buy distilled at Wall\*Mart? > Then do I need to add chemicals to make it right for the fish? Rainwater is great. Even tap water if you agitate\* and let it settle for the chlorine to get out. Chlormine takes longer. > **[How Long Does It Take To Thoroughly Dechlorinate Tapwater? | Water...](https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/how-long-does-it-take-to-thoroughly-dechlorinate-tapwater.68436/)** > > Short version: How long does it take to really neutralize the chlorine in my tapwater, such that it won't kill off any beneficial bacteria when I add it back in to the tank? > > Long version: When I do water changes, I usually have the water sit out... - pour it back and forth between two buckets. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408/24 "2018-09-17T20:38:10Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > You had to admire its dedication and strength though… [“I guess he made it…It’s been more than a week since he went over the wall.”](http://aquanerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Gary-Larson-Fish-Escaped.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408/25 "2018-09-18T17:33:13Z")
Some time back I agreed to take in a Betta the neighbors’ kid had lost interest in. The poor critter was so neglected they hadn’t even named him. They dropped the fishbowl at our door while I was out. No wonder they didn’t want to be seen – the bowl was small and cloudy, filled with floating poop. It was the filthiest environment I’ve ever seen a living fish in. And he was barely living. He spent most of his time immobile, only occasionally stirring pathetically. I am no fish guru, but I knew enough not to make drastic changes, so I did 50% water changes once a day. After several days, the water appeared to be every bit as filthy and stinking as it had started out, and he wasn’t interested in eating. I decided drastic change was necessary, and bought an entire setup with 2.5 gallon tank, filter, gravel, plants, thermometer, tank heater (Bettas like it warm), and a small bubbler (which they don’t totally need but it can help). He perked up immediately and began to swim around in the new environment. He still had an illness called “popeye” that made one of his eyes protrude, but he seemed more normal in behavior. Treating the popeye was next priority, and I put several medicines in the tank. Also he needed a name, and his rich color led me to christen him Blueberry. Unfortunately the popeye never responded to salt stirred into the tank or any medicine. He lived 47 days in my care. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-typical-household-fish-stress-if-the-tank-is-not-cleaned/821408.md?page=1)