should i reduce the frequency of WC's if i'm heavily planted? Meaning leaving enough food for plants but not poisining fish,cause im under the assumption if im heavily to moderatley planted the plants have noticeable impacts on paramaters.All together i mean instead of 1 20% change once a week,maybe every 10 days or so instead......
Nutrient and Water change ?'s
- Thread starter Horiyoshi III
- Start date
My tap water has fairly high nitrates already so I don't worry about starving my plants with water changes. I actually think they benefit from them because the new water isn't depleted of trace minerals and nutrients yet. I change the water in my planted tanks at the same interval as my fish only tanks and my plants seem to be thriving. I don't have an exactly set schedule, but I change 30% to 50% of the water in each of my tanks every 7 to 10 days. I did change it more in the past because I had high trouble with high nitrates, but in my planted tanks, the levels never go above about 10ppm anymore. Some people who are very regemented about their fertilizing probably do a lot less changes than I do to keep the tank more stable(and use less ferts,) but the only things I really add to my tanks are fish food, kent freshwater plant, and co2, and I'm happy with my results.
Personally I change 50% of my water once a week for my planted tank. My fish only tanks usually get 50-200% each week. My fry raising tanks usually get 50% daily, or more. 20% isn't very much IMO. With heavily planted tanks, the ammonia nitrite and nitrate should not be high enough to hurt your fish. I have to dose excessive amounts of nutrients into my 135. Water changes are going to help your plants grow if you don't dose regularly with good macro and mirco nutrients.