Small Water Change vs Large/Should You Gravel Vacuum Pool Filter Sand?/Wavemakers

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Pazzoman

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 5, 2009
3,001
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81
New York
Hey Everybody,

I have pretty much stocked my grow out tank to a good limit. I'm trying to think of the best water changing routine I'm thinking of doing between a 5 gallon water change every other day...which comes out to about 20 gallons a week which compared to my 85 gallon of total system gallons of water...it turns out to be a little more then 20% a week. Is it better to do smaller water changes more often or does it really not matter?

Also should pool filter sand be vacuumed?

Where are the best places to add wave makers?


Thats all I can think of, thanks everyone!
 
Never used sand so I can't comment on cleaning for that. But larger water change is always better, and you remove all the poop also. For my 50 I do once a week 50% water change plus daily spot cleaning(vac poop off the bottom) which comes out to about 5 gallons of water every spot cleaning. More is always better.
 
Pazzoman said:
Hey Everybody,

I have pretty much stocked my grow out tank to a good limit. I'm trying to think of the best water changing routine I'm thinking of doing between a 5 gallon water change every other day...which comes out to about 20 gallons a week which compared to my 85 gallon of total system gallons of water...it turns out to be a little more then 20% a week. Is it better to do smaller water changes more often or does it really not matter?

Also should pool filter sand be vacuumed?

Where are the best places to add wave makers?


Thats all I can think of, thanks everyone!
Click to expand...



Whats you water parameters looking like? Filtration? With your fish load you will need adequate filtration matched with adequate water changes. Now seeing as how you did mention any of those things in your post I can not say one way or another if a 20% water change a week with be enough. I myself do smaller water changes at about 20-30% twice a week. I adjust my water changes depending on my water conditions.

Yes pool filter sand should be vacuumed. I vacuum sand every time I do a water change.

The best place to add a wave maker is going to be where ever it works the best in your tank. I have mine in the front upper right hand side f the tank. However that may not be the ideal position for yours. It all depends on the layout of your tank. Your best bet is to pay around with it until you get it right.
 
Hot Slime said:
Never used sand so I can't comment on cleaning for that. But larger water change is always better, and you remove all the poop also. For my 50 I do once a week 50% water change plus daily spot cleaning(vac poop off the bottom) which comes out to about 5 gallons of water every spot cleaning. More is always better.
Click to expand...

Larger is not always better. I prefer to do smaller water changes because it is less stress for the fish. And it makes it easier to sustain a environment with less fluctuations in water parameters.
 
Hey everyone will pick up a proper aquarium vaccume cleaner

Water has been zero in ammonia and Nitrite and Nitrates <10 for about the past month when first introduced...this tank has gone thru a 2 month cycle....when cycling finished it was capable of bringing 4ppm of ammonia to 0 in less then 12 hours.

In the tank:
12x orange head Geos
10x rummy nose tetras
5x clown loaches
6x silver dollars
4x albino bn plecos

Seems pack right? However all these fish are at 1 inch...as I'm trying to get them to grow another 2 inches...as then they will all be moved into an upcoming 300 gallon.

Also for filtration, 33 gallon sump, filter sock and 5 gallons worth of pond matrix.

I will look into possible using garbage cans with wheels...then water changes would be easier or just a really long water changer tube.

Last but not least, I do notice using a ceramic bowl in the tank...is a great way to put food in for the fish to eat instead of having it scatter around...if unclear about this idea let me know I will take a video.

Thanks Everyone!



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I also agree smaller water changes puts lets stress on the enviroment as I do just 20% weekly.I would like to see a video of the ceramic bowl in the tank for feeding.I have 2 fish that as soon as I drop food in it's gone very quickly.
 
On my established community tanks that are mainly older fish I do larger. On my more populated growouts I do less water but more often. On the pool sand I siphon the poop with just the hose and not the vacuum attachment after that i gently run my fingers through the sand to just stir it up a little. Then if needed I vacuum again.
 
^^^^^ On a side note I have to agree with your Ray Lewis comment he is one of the best modern day LBs to play the game!!!!!
 
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