When you guys do a water change....

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I leave my canister on when I do water changes and it really doesn't pose a problem. Only time i turn it off is when i do the maintenance on the filter obviously. when you see the fish waste and debris coming out of the output nozzles after you turn on the filter, that's the tank water that was stuck in the ribbed hosing that didn't go through the filter and the media. you can think of it as "back wash"

it's actually a good sign, because now you know your filter is "grabbing" the waste and is doing it's job
 
Canester Filters with ribbed (not smooth) hoses like Fuval that have been set-up and running for a while (6 months or more) will spit debris when turned back on if the water level was allowed to drop below the intake while it was running. This is very common with these filters. I turn off everything except the lights when I do water changes. I don't turn on heaters or filters untill the water change is complete. I have had this happen to me too, most of it filters back out. If it really bothers you start over and do another water change.
 
Canester Filters with ribbed (not smooth) hoses like Fuval that have been set-up and running for a while (6 months or more) will spit debris when turned back on if the water level was allowed to drop below the intake while it was running. This is very common with these filters. I turn off everything except the lights when I do water changes. I don't turn on heaters or filters untill the water change is complete. I have had this happen to me too, most of it filters back out. If it really bothers you start over and do another water change.

+1 u do wc when ur no3 hits 40-60ppm assuming ur tank is already cycled.... Test

Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
40-60ppm of nitrate? I try to keep mine below 10, do you think I'm overdoing my water changes?

Keep your nitrates as low as possibile. Some people get 20PPM or more out of the tap, so you have to go with what you have. If you can keep your nitrates below 10 that's great. I don't think you can over do water changes. Keep doing what your doing.
 
Keep your nitrates as low as possibile. Some people get 20PPM or more out of the tap, so you have to go with what you have. If you can keep your nitrates below 10 that's great. I don't think you can over do water changes. Keep doing what your doing.

+1.

I also do not turn off my filters when I do a wc. I just go as low as the intakes allow me to go and then fill 'er back up. To get to my plug ins it's a bit of a pain in the arse.
 
Keep your nitrates as low as possibile. Some people get 20PPM or more out of the tap, so you have to go with what you have. If you can keep your nitrates below 10 that's great. I don't think you can over do water changes. Keep doing what your doing.

+1.

I also do not turn off my filters when I do a wc. I just go as low as the intakes allow me to go and then fill 'er back up. To get to my plug ins it's a bit of a pain in the arse.

Thought so, thanks for the replies
 
I leave mine on, but I turn them down to half flow so water doesn't splash everywhere.

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40-60ppm of nitrate? I try to keep mine below 10, do you think I'm overdoing my water changes?

10 ppm is great! Most mfk's with the big fish and overstocking will never be under 10ppm. I shoot for 40ppm in a week and I'll change when it hits that. What really matters is not to have high nitrates for a consistent long period of time. I know people who hit 100pm, but it's only after 7 days and they do a wc on that day.
 
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