ok my filter cant keep up with my piranhas. the water is very very dirty. fish chunks and fish waste and plant crap. i dont have a gravle cleaner or and undergravle filter so i was jw if i could do a 100% water change to get in the tank and clean the out of it? good idea or bad?
100% water change good or bad?
- Thread starter The Real 118
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could but what about the water i dont want to get a new filter i have two a aqueon 55 and a top fin 20
Bad idea! But if you can store >60% of your water you can empty the tank, clean it and refill w/ your aged water. Extreme overkill compaired to using a gravel vac though.
Bad idea. Too much of a change too fast. I've done it before with different kinds of fish (by accident) and they did fine. But I wouldn't risk it on purpose.
I'm sorry, but you just flat can't maintain an aquarium without a gravel vac.
I'm sorry, but you just flat can't maintain an aquarium without a gravel vac.
I use the Python hose that you can hook to the sink, they're $30 at WalMart. If money's an issue just get the cheapest one you can.
i dont know why you would not use a gravel vac. its easy fast and since your doing a water change anyways you might as well clean the gravel .. i would say MOST aquariums should never have more then a 50% of the water changed at one time
now i know there is going to be 352,346 (give or take a few) people who say you can do more .. and i had a tank dump 35 out of 40 gal on the floor and put the last 5 gal and 50 gal of fresh water into a new tank and the fish did ok .. but i say its a good rule of thumb no need for more then 50% after that you could be doing more harm then good.
now i know there is going to be 352,346 (give or take a few) people who say you can do more .. and i had a tank dump 35 out of 40 gal on the floor and put the last 5 gal and 50 gal of fresh water into a new tank and the fish did ok .. but i say its a good rule of thumb no need for more then 50% after that you could be doing more harm then good.
I agree with those that are strongly suggesting you get a gravel vac… it will make your life a LOT easier…
The python is okay… but you can buy a 25’ vinyl hose and fittings to hook it up to your sink for about 1/3 the price. I’ve been using a vinyl hose for longer than Pythons have been on the market and it works great…
And for those suggesting a 100% water change is a bad idea… please explain why… because I do not agree with you at all…
There are some precautions that should be taken. The single reason a 100% water change can be a bad idea is when the tanks water parameters are different than your tap water’s parameters (pollutants not included). When a tank has a high concentration of organics then the PH will often crash/drop. If this has happened in your tank, then yes a 100% water change will cause a large PH swing which is bad for your fish.
But if you test your tank water… and test your tap water… and the PH is the same (or real close)… and you ensure the temperature is the same (or real close) when you refill the tank… there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing a 100% water change.
I hate seeing people give such short answers that do not explain their reasoning. Very often it allows people to be mislead into neglecting their fish. Explaining your suggestions allows people to actually learn from what you have to say… or choose not to take your advice if they do not agree with you…
If, your tanks PH and your tap water’s PH are different… then I suggest getting your gravel vac and start cleaning your tank… after you drain about 20% of the water… refill the tank… repeat… repeat… repeat…
The python is okay… but you can buy a 25’ vinyl hose and fittings to hook it up to your sink for about 1/3 the price. I’ve been using a vinyl hose for longer than Pythons have been on the market and it works great…
And for those suggesting a 100% water change is a bad idea… please explain why… because I do not agree with you at all…
There are some precautions that should be taken. The single reason a 100% water change can be a bad idea is when the tanks water parameters are different than your tap water’s parameters (pollutants not included). When a tank has a high concentration of organics then the PH will often crash/drop. If this has happened in your tank, then yes a 100% water change will cause a large PH swing which is bad for your fish.
But if you test your tank water… and test your tap water… and the PH is the same (or real close)… and you ensure the temperature is the same (or real close) when you refill the tank… there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing a 100% water change.
I hate seeing people give such short answers that do not explain their reasoning. Very often it allows people to be mislead into neglecting their fish. Explaining your suggestions allows people to actually learn from what you have to say… or choose not to take your advice if they do not agree with you…
If, your tanks PH and your tap water’s PH are different… then I suggest getting your gravel vac and start cleaning your tank… after you drain about 20% of the water… refill the tank… repeat… repeat… repeat…
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