Water change day.

[LBDave]

I use pumps and hoses. It’s a chore but down to a routine. I also scrub the aquariums. I agree that doing all the tanks in one day is too much so I do 2 different days. Both weekly.
I would change some water a bit more often but my wife wouldn’t like It. Hoses strewn about etc.
its some work but it’s therapeutic.
I get a kick watching my 2 Oscar’s rebuild their nests right after.
My bass just stare at me thankful thats it all over. When I fire up their pumps and the flow is back to normal they know all is well and life is good.

 

[aussieman57]

For most of my tanks it's a Python & submersible pump. The killifish tanks small hose & bucket.

 

[Cardeater]

I did buckets for years and neglected the tank till about 2018. Then I got back into the hobby, and bought a python and I can't believe I did buckets (even though sink is right next to the tank).

I bought some test strips from Aquarium Coop that show the 10ppm Nitrate vs the Tetra strips that I have that start at 20. I've been doing water changes more often than probably necessary. I see that my nitrate is around 10 when I change it every 3-4 days. With the tetra strip, it always just didn't match anything. Some like to keep their nitrates even lower than 20, and I probably will still change twice a week, but it's good to know I could probably go the whole week if I get too busy.

I rinse all the intake sponges I have, and my two sponges connected to a powerhead. That's probably the most annoying thing during the water change. I could probably just do it once a week or once every two weeks but I suppose the water takes time to drain, so I figure I might as well clean them (plus it takes out that stuff in the sponge that would create more nitrate after the water change, if I didn't take it out).

The two HOB filters, I probably service more often than most would, but I guess it's the same line of thinking for me: if I'm sitting there waiting, I might as well rinse them out and clean out that extra debris.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Water change day is on the weekend for me, usually Saturday morning, doing laundry as well which is in the same room. I'm still on pumps and hoses but down to one tank now so it seems to me like nothing. I usually play music and drink or smoke and just watch the tank. I've probably had 100+ water change incidents in my lifetime including overdraining, overfilling, frying heaters, frying pumps...I'm sure there will be more no matter how much I try to focus on the task lol.

 

[LBDave]

I did buckets for years and neglected the tank till about 2018. Then I got back into the hobby, and bought a python and I can't believe I did buckets (even though sink is right next to the tank).

I bought some test strips from Aquarium Coop that show the 10ppm Nitrate vs the Tetra strips that I have that start at 20. I've been doing water changes more often than probably necessary. I see that my nitrate is around 10 when I change it every 3-4 days. With the tetra strip, it always just didn't match anything. Some like to keep their nitrates even lower than 20, and I probably will still change twice a week, but it's good to know I could probably go the whole week if I get too busy.

I rinse all the intake sponges I have, and my two sponges connected to a powerhead. That's probably the most annoying thing during the water change. I could probably just do it once a week or once every two weeks but I suppose the water takes time to drain, so I figure I might as well clean them (plus it takes out that stuff in the sponge that would create more nitrate after the water change, if I didn't take it out).

The two HOB filters, I probably service more often than most would, but I guess it's the same line of thinking for me: if I'm sitting there waiting, I might as well rinse them out and clean out that extra debris.

Keep it clean. You are doing the right thing.