1st water change help....

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
S

solidconceptgroup

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 19, 2010
100
0
0
somewhere close to you...
I'm going to do my first water tomorrow and I'm in need of some help...

I have a 250 gal tank that has been running for about 1 month now. I add my first 4 piranha's two weeks ago and 3 more last saturday....I also added some driftwood and plants last week as well...The water is getting dark from the wood so my LFS guy told me to do a water change.

I was thinking of doing a 30-40% water change? I was told just to drain the amount need and add the new water along with prime and a little salt. I will also change my sock filter in my sump and change my carbon bag that's in with the sock...anything else I might be missing?

Thanks....
 
Have you taken any water test. look at your test and let the determin your water change. If you have high levels then i would do a 30% then 20% every other day untill your water is healthy your still in a new tank and its cycliing right now change or clean the sock and do use prime. you have a pretty big load on a new tank right now depending on the size of your piranhas. hope this helps. dont rush things with a new tank take your time enjoy it let things grow. my 2 cents
 
vette76;4102557; said:
Have you taken any water test. look at your test and let the determin your water change. If you have high levels then i would do a 30% then 20% every other day untill your water is healthy your still in a new tank and its cycliing right now change or clean the sock and do use prime. you have a pretty big load on a new tank right now depending on the size of your piranhas. hope this helps. dont rush things with a new tank take your time enjoy it let things grow. my 2 cents
Click to expand...


well my ph and nitrite levels are good and I had my ammonia levels checked on saturday and they where great....I just want to get the brown tint outta the water...not to mention I was told to do a water change every 2wks?
Should I just wait? Any tips to get my water clearer? This totally changes my plans on doing a water change....
 
I'm going to do my first water tomorrow and I'm in need of some help...

I have a 250 gal tank that has been running for about 1 month now. I add my first 4 piranha's two weeks ago and 3 more last saturday....I also added some driftwood and plants last week as well...The water is getting dark from the wood so my LFS guy told me to do a water change.

I was thinking of doing a 30-40% water change? I was told just to drain the amount need and add the new water along with prime and a little salt. I will also change my sock filter in my sump and change my carbon bag that's in with the sock...anything else I might be missing?

Thanks....
 
I was thinking of doing a 30-40% water change? I was told just to drain the amount need and add the new water along with prime and a little salt. I will also change my sock filter in my sump and change my carbon bag that's in with the sock...anything else I might be missing?

Sounds good, would only add temperature..
Try to get the new water close to the same as what you take out.

One more question:

Can the fish be in the tank during all this....?

Yes.
 
just a heads up .. most people will say (and i agree too) that the carbon is unnessary unless your cleaning out a medication .. also do you have a test kit to test the water paramaters cause if not id recommend one. and finnally with cichlids you should look in to doing water changes at least once a week of 20-40% ish , but that percentage also depends on what your test kit shows
 
usually you should do water change every week but that really depends on your bio load and your water parameters. with just 7 piranhas (how big are they??) in a 250 gallon you probably can get by with once every 2 weeks for now. usually 20% water change will be enough unless your parameter is way off.
just use prime on the new water you'll be adding back to the tank and don't need to use salt every time. Salt should be use for treating illness or wound, they are fresh water fish and should remain so. here's some good information on salt from an other site. if you want to look into it more click here
the tannins from the wood is what causing the water turn into tea color, depends on the size of your woods it could take a good amount of time to remove them completely with water change. you'll probably not see much difference couple days after the water change since your woods will keep releasing tannins and turn the water brown again.
if the filter media isn't dirty you don't need to change it out during every water change.
if you have carbon in the filter that should take care the tannins tho..maybe not enough???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom