Water Change Rate

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

Coolboy55

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2009
10
0
0
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Hi everyone,

I just set up a constant drip water change system and I was wondering what the ideal water change per day would be. I have a 40 gallon tank with 6 small clown loaches, 5 mollies, 5 swordtails, and 1 small pleco (I realize that the clowns and the pleco will need a larger tank soon). I'm changing about 3% per day right now. What should I aim for?

Thanks,

CB55
 
Coolboy55;3971393; said:
Hi everyone,

I just set up a constant drip water change system and I was wondering what the ideal water change per day would be. I have a 40 gallon tank with 6 small clown loaches, 5 mollies, 5 swordtails, and 1 small pleco (I realize that the clowns and the pleco will need a larger tank soon). I'm changing about 3% per day right now. What should I aim for?

Thanks,

CB55
Click to expand...
Welcome to MFK!!
33-50% of the total volume weekly or 13-20 gallons weekly or 2-3 gallons per day right in there ought to be good...IMO
 
Howdy,

Coolboy55;3971393; said:
I just set up a constant drip water change system and I was wondering what the ideal water change per day would be.
Click to expand...

Congrats, that's the best thing you could do. I love my drips.

The key to a drip system is that you wash out pollutants at the same rate they are generated. Thus, you should conduct some water chemistry measurements (especially nitrates, phosphates, but also pH) and adjust the flow of your drip so that your tank water is very close to, or identical to, your tap water parameters. Nobody can give you specific advice that work for your tank. It very much depends on your feeding, and you will have to adjust it as your fish grow, and if you add more fish.

Having said that, I drip my 10 gal tanks @ 1 gal/day. My 220 gal tank drips @ 2 gal/hour. I.e. I drip 10-25% of tank volume per day. You have to remember that a drip is less efficient than water changes, because not only old water but also new water leaves your tank thru the overflow. Thus, your total monthly water usage has to be higher than your water changes were before.

Best of luck,
HarleyK
 
Harley, you have opened my eyes to concepts in Driping I didn't think of...thank you, there are factors I havent been figuring in and that is why my dripper isn't installed still...
They really are more, than auto water changers...;):D :thumbsup:
 
Cool. We're all here to be inspired :thumbsup:
For me, it was Neo who I learned the beauty of drip from. Now I can't imagine life without...

I'd be interested how Coolboy55 plumbed his drip. Pics?

HarleyK
 
HarleyK;3974179; said:
I'd be interested how Coolboy55 plumbed his drip. Pics?

HarleyK
Click to expand...

I still have some rearranging to do to get the setup looking neat and tidy, but for now it's functional at least.

The fish are sleeping now, but I'll post pictures tomorrow. I'm fairly new to the hobby (~2 years), so I still have a lot to learn, but I haven't lost any fish and they are all growing well and look healthy, so I must be doing something right! :)

CB55
 
Let the water tests be your guide.

3% per day may be plenty, or 5%, or 10%. Depends how big those loaches and pleco get before your move them out.

Just adjust your flow rate to keep the nitrate level down to the level you want.

Ian
 
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