Very Frequent Small Water Changes

[Dread]

For the last 3 months, I've been doing daily 9% Water Changes, about 4 to 6 times each day. I was wondering if this will be disasterous for my fish in the long run, equvelent to large weekly changes, or better for the fish? My schedule is usually as follows:

Wake Up, 9% W/C (I wake around 3 P.M.)
My Lunch, 9% W/C (About 7 P.M.)
Dinner, 9% W/C (About Midnight)
When I Take a Shower, 9% W/C (3 or 4 A.M.)
When I Go To Bed, 9% W/C (7 or 8 A.M.)

Bi-Weekly I clean substrate and do a 30% W/C.


Is this schedule effective? Is there anything I should do to improve this schedule? Or this is adequate, more than adequate, etc?

 

[loach43]

Why so many waterchanges?

 

[Dread]

It's just convient for me. I can do them in about 5 minutes, so why not. I don't like doing large (50%-75%) water changes each week, since I have no python, only a bucket and hose. I find it a hassle to carry the bucket back and forth, so I only change about 5 gallons out of a 55 gallon tank, so it's only 1 trip. That schedule is pretty rough since those events are just general things, since generally, I just do Water Changes of this size each time I shower (4-5 times a day. I just take showers when I'm bored. Have since I was a kid). The stocking list for the tank should've been mentioned.

2 Convicts (Female 3'', male about 4'')
1 Albino Cory Cat (1'')
6 Juvie Tiger Barbs (After a very unpleasent experience last time. T-Barb massacre, all these are under 1'')

 

[OscartheGrouch]

That a bit too much water changes for so little fish IMO. Thought you had something like discus.

 

[sma]

are you nocturnal or something?

 

[Dread]

That a bit too much water changes for so little fish IMO. Thought you had something like discus.

Nah, no Discus. Someday, though. What is the reason you think it is too much? I don't want to consider the workload, only the health of fish and quality of water.


And no, I'm not nocturnal . I work online at night, so I have very odd hours.

 

[loach43]

Seems way over the top to me. How do you age the water with so many changes? or do you buy dechloring agents by the truckload?

 

[OscartheGrouch]

I'm sure 5 gallons a day would be enough. Get a test kit if you're worried about your fish. Yes, 3 squirts of dechlor per 5 gallon bucket will run you dry quick even if you buy by the gallon.

 

[Dread]

Well the water paramaters are prestine, I'm just worried the fish won't be doing so well later on down the road. For now, their colors look darker than ever, and their vigor is amazing. My cons always come over to where I pour the bucket in the tank. They rush over to "play" in the new water. They rush up and wiggle around in it, and let it push them to the bottom, and then come zooming back. I'm pretty much using the "take care of your water, the water will take care of your fish" approach. So far it's working, I'm just curious about the long term.

 

[Blub Blub]

I was under the impression that large sudden changes in parameters could be bad. If that is the case small frequent water changes might be better than large changes. As long as your nitrates are at low levels, I don't see why it would be a problem.