125g water changes

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primofester

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 20, 2009
35
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PENNSYLVANIA
I have a 125G tank with some of the following-Chocolate cichlids, Jurapari, Severums, large Black Ghost Knife, Ornate Polypt, and a few catfish

I am doing a 20% water change every week and 1/2. I just wanted to see if everyone thought that was too often, or not often enough.

Ran into a problem of a high ammonia spike after last change- water was 4 ppm
Water out of tap was atleast 2 ppm -I checked after change

Really messed up tank

Can you call the local water authorities to get a list and schedule of when they are adding their chemicals to the water.

Just looking to see if anyone has had a similar problem, or has any suggestions.
 
I'd call the water board and ask wtf they have that much ammonia in your water. Make sure you don't change all of your filter material when you do your water changes. Alternate them because you need all the nitrifying bacteria you can get. Hell if your water stays 2-4ppm ammonia out of the tap I might think about an RO unit.
 
I have had Nitrate issues and there are federal standards on chemical levels. My nitrate was just below the threshold of being "illegal" Since they are federal standards you could probably look up the acceptable limits on google. Someone gave me a fact sheet but I no longer have any idea where it is.
 
IMO that is a fine schedule for water changes I do a 40-50% every 10-14 days. I used to do weekly when I had less than 325 gallons to work with.
 
primofester;2824523; said:
IS it possibly too much and too often
I was considering changing it to a weekly 10 % change
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I change water for primarily one reason and that is to keep my nitrates at less than 20ppm.

Where are your nitrates at? If less than 20ppm then extend them some.

There are other reasons besides nitrates (remove protiens, add trace elements etc) but nitrates is the biggie for fresh water fish.
 
I've had my 125g for over 5 years. Recently because I redid the tank....turned gravel into sand, got new fish for the most part, etc I've been doing 15-20% water changes 2-3 times a week. I've been doing so to combat planaria (which came from when I bought live plants), cloudy water from the sand (guess I didn't wash well enough), and to help the levels get back to normal from going to an overstocked tank with huge fish to understocked tank.

I didn't empty the tank, take out the fish, or mess with the filters so I left the bacteria colonies alone. I recently had to clean out the filters little by little though.

I don't think you're doing too much. I change normally change mine 20% once a week.

I have 2 AC 500's and a UV sterilizer. That's all I ever had in that tank and it's always been enough. I am looking to add on a canister though in order to cut back on the maintenance of the tank.
 
And no, it's not possible for too much too often. Fish love fresh water, they thrive on it. That's the best and natural way to defeat most problems and diseases in the tank.
 
2songbirds;2824738; said:
And no, it's not possible for too much too often. Fish love fresh water, they thrive on it. That's the best and natural way to defeat most problems and diseases in the tank.
Click to expand...
What he said.

I would definitely use some prime or amquel+ to help with your ammonia from the faucet as well. :nilly: I thought I had the worst water
 
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