What is the difference between doing one 50% water change once per week and five 10% water changes for five days in a row? Is one way or the other more beneficial?
% of water changed
- Thread starter Silvertongue700
- Start date
The first thing that jumps to mind for me is that it's easier on yourself if you do it in one "hit", rather than getting your python out every day. That would get pretty annoying for me.
As long as you use your dechlorinator and ensure the temps are correct there is nothing wrong with big water changes, though some would argue sensitive fish don't always like big water changes.
I do 80% min water changes and never had any issues. Each hobbyist is different though.
As long as you use your dechlorinator and ensure the temps are correct there is nothing wrong with big water changes, though some would argue sensitive fish don't always like big water changes.
I do 80% min water changes and never had any issues. Each hobbyist is different though.
Do some basic math.
100 ppm nitrates after 50% change = 50ppm nitrates
100 ppm after 10% = 90
90 after another 10% = 81
81 after another 10% = 73
72.9 after another 10% = 66
65.61 after another 10% = 59 ppm
This is not taking into account the effect of additional nitrates being added over the same time.
If the water chemistry of your tap is significantly different from the water in the aquarium, then more frequent, smaller WC's will be less stressful on the inhabitants.
Much better to do smaller frequent water changes but its not convenient for a lot of people as previously stated. Personally myself I do around 25% twice a week. There's zero problem doing 50% in one go per week in an established aquarium I just prefer to split this over the period.
If convenience is not a consideration, then the best option is to suction the bottom of the tank for poo and food waste everyday as part of the 10% every day for 5 days. This prevents the organic matter from turning into ammonia and then eventually into nitrates. If you wait until day 5 for a 50% water change, then organic matter turns into nitrates. Overall, changing 10% of the water and vacuuming the substrate everyday for 5 days will reduce more nitrates than a 50% water change and substrate cleaning on day 5.
Also, changing 10 gallons a day and substrate cleaning on a 55g takes less than 5 minutes, adding in the time for refill, then the whole process takes me less than 10 minutes from start to putting the hose away. This is more convenient for me than dedicating over 30 minutes in one shot.
Also, changing 10 gallons a day and substrate cleaning on a 55g takes less than 5 minutes, adding in the time for refill, then the whole process takes me less than 10 minutes from start to putting the hose away. This is more convenient for me than dedicating over 30 minutes in one shot.
I prefer to do 30-40% water changes every other day. It keeps my nitrate level non-detectable, by changing between 90% and 120% per week.
The fish I keep come from waters, with undetectable nitrate, and it also keeps pH vey stable, at around 8.2, the pH of the waters they come from.
The fish I keep come from waters, with undetectable nitrate, and it also keeps pH vey stable, at around 8.2, the pH of the waters they come from.
Impossible to say what method is best, unless more info is supplied. This is not a one size fits all mathematical equation.
As an example, in my mature tanks, with my mature bio-filters, my tap water, and my fish, I could perform a 100% water change with no issue, but I would never advise the next person to attempt that without knowing exactly what they are dealing with. My tanks get an 85-90% water change weekly.
As an example, in my mature tanks, with my mature bio-filters, my tap water, and my fish, I could perform a 100% water change with no issue, but I would never advise the next person to attempt that without knowing exactly what they are dealing with. My tanks get an 85-90% water change weekly.
Theoretically, five 10% changes a week might be a little better, but how about ten 5% changes a week? Maybe better still? So where do you draw the line?
If I only had one tank, I might do 5 changes a week, but I have three tanks running right now (two 90 gallon, one 135), sometimes four, so I am not going to be doing changes five times a week.
If I only had one tank, I might do 5 changes a week, but I have three tanks running right now (two 90 gallon, one 135), sometimes four, so I am not going to be doing changes five times a week.