I know this isnt feasible on larger tanks, but Ive found this to work really well with my 55s. Anyone else do many small changes like this?
Water change - 10% every other day + 30% once a week?
- Thread starter Oscarum monstruoso
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Ideally, don't you want to do about 40% change a month? That would work out to be 10% a week. If you have messy fish, you might have to increase the weekly/monthly numbers.
I change out almost 50% (240 gallons in a 500G system) of my water daily, with an 80%-95% change about once a month. 
We have our own well, so cost and chlorine aren't an issue. I use a DIY water change system and recently built a couple of heat-exchange units to save on heating costs.
We have our own well, so cost and chlorine aren't an issue. I use a DIY water change system and recently built a couple of heat-exchange units to save on heating costs.
Damn!Dan F;5104636; said:I change out almost 50% (240 gallons in a 500G system) of my water daily, with an 80%-95% change about once a month.
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I believe it's better to keep water conditions as stable as possible. I MAJORLY over filtrate and change out 10-15g per week from my 75g (not super big but not super small) and once a month substitute that with a 25g W/C. I try not to disturb my fish's environment too much if possible and personally dislike 40,50, 60% W/C people talk about doing but it's not for me to say what might work for me might not work for everyone else. But like I said I over filtrate and that probably helps. 
The tap or faucet is your best filter. That is clean water. The water in your tank is dirty, change it. Fresh water fish love fresh water.
The fish don't have to deal with nitrates and depletion of buffers in the wild. Unless they are right downstream of some serious agriculture.
The fish don't have to deal with nitrates and depletion of buffers in the wild. Unless they are right downstream of some serious agriculture.