Siphoning/water changes for a 10 gallon tank?

Don't move the fish!!! Siphoning the water may disturb them just a little, but they'll get over it quickly. Think about it, all you're doing is sticking a tube in the tank, removing some water, then adding more water... that doesn't really freak out fish so much. They will be disturbed by the movement in the tank but will get over that really quickly. Honestly it won't hurt your fish.

I, like you, used to take my fish out to clean the tank... you should never do that! It's really not necessary. Instead, change out the water with the siphon but be sure to leave enough water the cover the fish. You can change out as much water as you like as long as the water you leave in the tank still covers the fish and they can still swim around left and right.

Also, there's no reason to leave the fish in the bowl for 24 hours if you happen to take them out of the tank, you ought to have been roughly temperature matching (your hand is okay) the new tank water. It doesn't need to be EXACTLY the same temp but close is good enough. And then put the fish back immediately. The whole time they are in the bowl they are experiencing stress because it's a small confined space. You want to get them OUT of there as soon as possible.

But anyway you don't need to put them in a bowl. Just leave them in the tank when you siphon!! Much less stressful and also less work for you anyway.

If you're using a siphon, you can leave the fish in the tank. Siphon out 10-15% into a bucket. Rinse your filter media in it, then pour it out (or use it to water houseplants). Fill the bucket up with clean water that is about the same temp. Add dechlorinator, and use the siphon in the reverse dirction to put the water back in the tank. The fish won't even notice. :)

First, keep the fish in the tank. Siphon is less disturbing than taking them out of their home and out of a controlled (filtered and heated) and familiar environment.

Secondly you should take back your pleco and get a Chinese or golden algae eaters. Plecos grow big, and grow fast. They can reach over two feet and need a tank size of at least 55gal. The Chinese or golden algae eaters only get to about five inches.

I've had a pleco now for about 4 months, when I first got him he was only 2 inches, now after all this time he is about 9 inches.

Leaving the fish in the tank is far less stressful than moving them.

Ideally, you'd be performing more in the 20-25% weekly water changes, using a gravel siphon. You will need to add stress coat, or another water conditioner/chlorine + chloramine remover to the new water before you add it to your tank. The new water should also be at the same temperature as the old.

On another note, your stocking is out of order.

10-gallons is very small as far as aquariums go, and very few fish can be kept in them.

Your Guppies are fine.

Blue Gouramis can grow to be 6" and need 20-gallons minimum.

Rosy Barbs are active, schooling fish, that need to be kept in groups of 5 or more, in around 30-gallons. When kept alone and in cramped conditions, RBs will become aggressive towed their tank-mates.

Plecos come in many kinds. The most common is one of the many variations that are sold as Common Plecos. These fish grow to be monsters, and need 75-gallons. The smaller species of Pleco, such as Bristle Nose Plecos grow to be 5" or so, and need at least 25-gallons.

I suggest that you either upgrade to a 30-gallon for the fish you have, along with the additional 4+ Barbs you'll need, or return all but the Guppies from whence they came, and stock your tank with 10-gallon compatible fish.

This site offers a good list of fish suitable for 10-gallons, along with some good stocking ideas:

http://theaquariumwiki.com/Stocking_a_10_Gallon_Ta...

It is incredibly important for the survival of your fish that you research their needs and compatibility before you bring them home.

Here are some good profile sites for that purpose:

By species/kind:

http://www.peteducation.com/category.cfm?c=16+1911

Alphabetically:

http://www.aquariumlife.net/fishsearch.asp

you do not ought to take the fish out of the tank. you will have a water heater and a thermometer to make the temp at seventy six-seventy 8 levels f. Do a 25% water replace and get mardel drugs for ick. then you definately do not ought to get rid of the carbon from the filter out or strengthen the temp, this stresses the fish out. The mardel works for 30 days so which you do not ought to shop measuring and including. After 3 weeks do yet another 25% water replace.

No leave them in the tank. Moving them stresses them out and kills them. Just don't touch anything just start the siphon and start sucking water/poop out into a bucket and refill the tank and put water conditioner in it.

i would keep them in theare take out 1-2 gallons of water get some water cleaner it works instant use it on the water then put it the tank