Water Change Guidelines

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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DiverDan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 1, 2008
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As I start my new tank, I need to know how to do the water changes.

My FW tanks, I always raked the gravel with the hose and took out a lot of debris. Should I do this when I do water changes in my new SW tank? I'm assuming not, but want to make sure.
 
Yes it is the same process, but you should hold the hose a couple inches above the sand so that you can suck off the waste on the surface and not the sand. Also be sure to aggitate the soil or get some livestock that will because sand can trap unhealthy gases.
 
i am 50/50 on this. I have a done a lot of reading in the past and it has been mentioned to not disturped the deep parts of the sand bed while cleaning. this alters the natural cycle of bacteria. If you do a light surface cleaning this will remove fish waste, left over food and other such debris. As long as you have good water movement in the tank you can usually make the debris buildup in one spot, and which case you wont need to mess with the rest of the sand bed to much.
 
i dont know, from what i have read and heard it is better to disturb the sand because it harbors toxic gases but i could be wrong.
 
I think raking is the best thing to do because it also turns over the sand and if you have algae on the surface of the sand it will get covered and die.
 
talal101 said:
I think raking is the best thing to do because it also turns over the sand and if you have algae on the surface of the sand it will get covered and die.
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If Im correct the algae will die and start to decompose which will only fuel more algae!!!! Its best to try and remove any you can!!!!!!
 
Wyze said:
If Im correct the algae will die and start to decompose which will only fuel more algae!!!! Its best to try and remove any you can!!!!!!
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+1 covering algae with sand is not a good idea.
 
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