Water Change

[irvinecokeith]

My tank has been cycling now for about 2 months. It finished its cycle about 2 weeks ago. I was curious when you fellow monster fish keepers recommend me actually doing a gravel vac. I have 6 fish in it now, and Im sure the bottom is dirty. Please advise. Thank you to all of your support

 

[brianp]

Vacuum at lib

 

[FishPower]

i would do a light gravel vac.. like around 1/3 of the tank because i remember doing a full gravel vac on a newly cycled tank and got a mini bloom.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I would just gravel vaccuum a portion, but definitely not too thoroughly, or the whole tank

 

[MommyJulia]

Yeah I agree with above, a light gravel vac will be good.

 

[dmed]

You didn't mention what size tank, what kind of filtration, planted or not, what kind of fish, and what are the fish eating?

If the tank is not planted, vacuum all the gravel thoroughly. Change 50% of the water once every week adding conditioner to the new water. Note that in really huge tanks you can't remove the entire 50% at one time, so the tank size is important.

Beneficial (nitrifying) bacteria live almost exclusively in the filter, very little in the gravel, and not to any appreciable degree in the water column. Gravel vac and water change will not "undo" your cycle. Detrius and decaying food in the gravel are not good for the fish, neither are the nitrates that are building up in the water unless you have lots of live plants.

 

[haynchinook334]

what fish do you have? every weekend, thats when i do mine.

 

[irvinecokeith]

Its a 55 gallon, 2 peacock bass, 2 ruby red jewels, ruby oscar, and a indo dat

 

[dmed]

Your fish are going to be messy eaters of messy food.

Don't skimp on the gravel vac.

Weekly thorough vac, weekly 50% water change.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

Its a 55 gallon, 2 peacock bass, 2 ruby red jewels, ruby oscar, and a indo dat

you're going to have to do some massive water changes with that stocklist. also, the jewels are probably getting eaten soon