Are daily water changes safe?

[J_69]

My tank is fully cycled, and I personally don't mind doing daily water changes of 10-20% (your thoughts?) if it helps my tank remain crystal clear.... Is it safe to do this or am I getting rid of beneficial bacteria quicker than it can multiply?

Cheers

Jack

 

[Chicklette]

I would do 10%. It will be fine, it will keep your water parameters balanced, just don't forget to add conditoner.

 

[J_69]

Excellent! I'm glad it's safe because I would prefer to do them in all honesty... I'm prepared to put the effort in and besides, it's only a 2 minute job! (& yes always condition water =D)

Thankyou!

 

[Lupin]

Beneficial bacteria do not stay on the water column but the filter media. There is no reason why you cannot do 20% at all. Some even do water changes up to 90% daily, most particularly discus enthusiasts.

 

[J_69]

Beneficial bacteria do not stay on the water column but the filter media. There is no reason why you cannot do 20% at all. Some even do water changes up to 90% daily, most particularly discus enthusiasts.

Thankyou, that's useful info!

Am I right in saying you're meant to clean out the filter media in tank water?

Cheers

 

[Lupin]

Just to clarify, when you clean the filter media, clean it out only when it is already clogged with lots of muck. Swish it in old tank water until it is a bit clean. Don't use hot water and chemicals which could otherwise kill the beneficial bacteria. Cleaning filter media is usually done every few months or until the filter clogs up.

The bacteria colonize the filter media and other hard surfaces such as decorations, not the water column.

 

[Mac.]

Beneficial bacteria do not stay on the water column but the filter media. There is no reason why you cannot do 20% at all. Some even do water changes up to 90% daily, most particularly discus enthusiasts.

^agree
20% is not a problem at all

 

[J_69]

Just to clarify, when you clean the filter media, clean it out only when it is already clogged with lots of muck. Swish it in old tank water until it is a bit clean. Don't use hot water and chemicals which could otherwise kill the beneficial bacteria. Cleaning filter media is usually done every few months or until the filter clogs up.

The bacteria colonize the filter media and other hard surfaces such as decorations, not the water column.

Ahh I see, so when I clean it I'm not tugging and squeezing at the media to get all the muck out? Only partially clean? It jsut gives you the impression that muck and dirt are sitting in your tank and making it dirty... But that's not the case?

 

[Lupin]

Ahh I see, so when I clean it I'm not tugging and squeezing at the media to get all the muck out? Only partially clean? It jsut gives you the impression that muck and dirt are sitting in your tank and making it dirty... But that's not the case?

Squeezing is fine. The only reason you partially clean them is to retain as much beneficial bacteria alive as possible. In some cases though, if the media becomes completely worn out, you have to replace them with new ones. Not all but only the worn out ones.

I'm not getting the one in red font though.

 

[J_69]

Squeezing is fine. The only reason you partially clean them is to retain as much beneficial bacteria alive as possible. In some cases though, if the media becomes completely worn out, you have to replace them with new ones. Not all but only the worn out ones.

I'm not getting the one in red font though.

I mean with regards to only partially cleaning the media... If you put it back in and your not convinced it's entirely clean it just gives the impression that your just putting muck back into your tank...? And I thought you had to clean them out alot more often then every 1-2 months, even though I only have the one tiny puffer, so you're probably right, and yes it makes sense to retain as much bacteria as possible.

My only query when people say to retain the bacteria is does it not multiply anyway? Or does it do this at a very slow rate which is why it's best to retain as much as possible?

I have an Eco-Bio block which I think I messed up because I didn't use to dechlorinate the water, thus killing the bacteria (fool!).. but even so, now that block can be used to colonize new bacteria, right?

Cheers