Water Change - Little and often or big once a week

[RD.]

I would start by checking local water supplier, pH, alkalinity, chlorine or chloramine, levels of either/or disinfectant residual at tap, pretty much every element - so that you understand your starting point, and as others have explained, how best to proceed. How much Prime at this point is the least of your concerns.

 

[RD.]

Btw for smaller daily water changes, I would personally not dose for the full tank volume. Seachem only recommends this (according to head chemist and CEO) to speed up the process of neutralizing chlorine residual, and converting any free ammonia to a fish safe form.

 

[RD.]

The most recent report that I could quickly find was from 2019, assuming that you don't filter or soften your tap water.

RSB-Water-Quality-Regulations-1.0-1.pdf (rsbdubai.gov.ae)

Seems like chlorine treated, but it varies quite a bit, as does the value for pH. Limits for nitrate are 50 mg/l, but not sure what typical tap water levels would be?
You might be best to ask locally, at one of the shops, or fellow aquarists in your area. Hard to give solid advice, without knowing exactly what you are getting out of your faucets.

 

[JackEmerson]

the wife isn't keen on having a bunch of blue containers around the house.

Ha, perhaps there should be a separate forum that serves as a support group to our spouses. They put up with a lot My wife is not too happy with all the orange Home Depot buckets all over the place.

 

[esoxlucius]

There is not a one size fits all water change regime for everyone.

This comment by neutrino sums it up completely, in one sentence.

You can copy what other hobbyists are doing regarding water changes, but doing that may not be the right way for your system.

You need to know your supply water and your aquarium system intimately. And we all have different opinions on maximum acceptable nitrate levels too.

Sadly, it's so common to read about these situations here on MFK that I hardly even notice anymore.

IMHO, the biggest single change in the aquarium hobby over the past few decades is the progression of beginners who know nothing about the maintenance of their fish/biomedia/water. Back then they were neglecting their overcrowded 5-, 10- or 20-gallon tanks. Now the tanks are much bigger, and the fish are larger and much more expensive and exotic...is that progress?

Sadly, many beginners want to run before they can even crawl! They bite off waayyy more than they can chew without even knowing the bare bones of the hobby.

 

[ken31cay]

Ha, perhaps there should be a separate forum that serves as a support group to our spouses. They put up with a lot My wife is not too happy with all the orange Home Depot buckets all over the place.

For the 18 months or so that I kept Discus was the worst. I didn't hear until afterward but my wife swears she was searching online for a colorful full-sized fish suit to wear around the house so I would notice her more. Funny and scary at the same time.

 

[G8zzaj]

Thanks for all of the comments everyone,

I have asked about water conditions but the consensus is that it changes by region so I have ordered a TDS monitor and will update once it arrives and I have tested.

 

[duanes]

Living in Dubaii , it is probably safe to assume, your tap water is desalinated sea water (like my tap water here on an island off the coast of Panama).
After the desalinization, buffers are normally added to bring pH up to make it aethsetically drinkable, but how far is the question.
Here in Panama it comes from the tap at an 8.2 pH, and resists change.
For me.....keeping discus, or any other Amazon soft water species would be an exercise in futility, unless I had an RO unit, and artificially added tannins.

 

[RD.]

For me.....keeping discus, or any other Amazon soft water species would be an exercise in futility, unless I had an RO unit, and artificially added tannins.

...... a common misconception in this hobby, is that all Discus require soft water, when in fact, most do not. They live long healthy lives in water with pH 8.2. The only issue (at least for breeders) is that to maximize egg hatching, soft water is required.

 

[RD.]

I have asked about water conditions but the consensus is that it changes by region so I have ordered a TDS monitor and will update once it arrives and I have tested.

You should be able to determine what the various parameters are for your region. pH values are just a start.