I have a python that's how I gravel vac but not thmy kind that you put on a faucet those always leak and won't stay on for me so I use the one that you start pumping with a hand pump and those work really good
How do you guys actually do water changes exactly?
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Personally I would look into a drip to save you tons of time. Unless you have your water changes included in your workout routine
I did 30% water changes weekly when I first got into rays. I also for good measure and time permitting would do a change after heavy feeding.
I would do it as you mentioned. The only issue was during cooler months or if your water heater is only 55 or so gallons and your tanks take more. LOL
I use Prime, Alpha, and Dechlor
I would do it as you mentioned. The only issue was during cooler months or if your water heater is only 55 or so gallons and your tanks take more. LOL
I use Prime, Alpha, and Dechlor
You guys say the drip method is life altering?? How cost effective are they and what are things that have gone wrong?? Are they automated if so how often do you run maintenance checks??? I don't want to need an engineering degree to clean my tanks?
Tank clean should be simple quick and cost little! LOL
Better put what are the pros and cons???
I am sure there are simple setups to more sophisticated setups where it is more about the system than the fish. LOL
Convert me please with your experiences.
Tank clean should be simple quick and cost little! LOL
Better put what are the pros and cons???
I am sure there are simple setups to more sophisticated setups where it is more about the system than the fish. LOL
Convert me please with your experiences.
Do you guys test your water daily?? Or use instrumentation to alert you to the water parameters??? ph or ppm meters? Is there an ammonia meter???
I use a drip but I still do sporadic water changes especially after a big glass clean etc... I also siphon out my sump to remove the mulm build up which is probably mostly the old and dead bacteria and mechanical waste.
You do need to check the drains and not become complacent and once per yr I swap out the membranes in the heavy metal axe that I use to remove chlorine and chloramine.
I also grow pothos (devils ivy) to eat up nitrate that the drip,doesn't remove, it grows VERY slowly in low nitrates and very quickly in tanks with high nitrate.
I cannot fathom why anyone would ever need to do more than 50% water change unless struggling with under filtration or too high nitrates?
70-80% weekly just shouts to me that either you are changing more that you need or the filtration is not up to scratch?
You do need to check the drains and not become complacent and once per yr I swap out the membranes in the heavy metal axe that I use to remove chlorine and chloramine.
I also grow pothos (devils ivy) to eat up nitrate that the drip,doesn't remove, it grows VERY slowly in low nitrates and very quickly in tanks with high nitrate.
I cannot fathom why anyone would ever need to do more than 50% water change unless struggling with under filtration or too high nitrates?
70-80% weekly just shouts to me that either you are changing more that you need or the filtration is not up to scratch?
I agree. My goal is to do very good water with the aim of giving them even better water quality, not just enough.
For those who use drip systems; I have the local city water and I'm sure it has chlorine and such in the water. What do you do to get rid of it before it enters your tank?
