WATER CHANGE
- Thread starter swordtail
- Start date
With my juvenile tank i feed 2-3 times a day and 10% water changes every other day but really don't have a formula,change the water in the evening usually.
My established tanks i feed twice a week and water changes twice a month,again no particular formula for time of day or before or after feeding.
My established tanks i feed twice a week and water changes twice a month,again no particular formula for time of day or before or after feeding.
do you guys do water changes like every day???? I ask because I thought it is supposed to be once a week...Jason_S;2952171; said:I usually feed the fish when I get home from work, then eat myself and then do water changes
gregkarr09;2953319; said:
Great question!.................there is no real standard. Each tank of fish is gonna be different. I have a 125 african tank w/ 30+ fish in it that only takes 20% weekly yet I have another tank same size with 4 red terrors that takes 50% weekly...............buy a test kit and test weekly try 10-20% and mid week see what the nitra/amonia levels are, if high try another 20% etc........... this will give you an idea of how much water actually needs to be changed............there are a lot of variables - diet, filtration,overstocking,understocking,type of fish, etc...........that make water parameters a-specific to each individual tank.
BUT keep in mind that too much water being removed can cause damage to your bacterial colonies they need the ammonia/nitrate to serve.
Otherone;2954961; said:
Good post. I change the water every week about the same time each week. I have single, male fish in each tank and I do a 60% water change each time on each tank. I have kept this schedule for a long time. Main thing is to be consistent. Get a good nitrate kit and check the levels. Reagent kits are better than color strips IMO.
I just make sure they eat then after that its a go. just dont do a water change first. otherwise they might be spooked into not eating
So what happens to your tank if you dont do a water change?
And what is a clear sign when to do one>?
And what is a clear sign when to do one>?
Guess i missed the boat on this one bc I havent done a water change in 5 years on my freshwater tanks they have 20x+ Filterturnover hr with a thin sand bottom tank that has no dead spots where debris can collect
Finalfire9;2958523; said:
Ammonia levels will sky rocket which produce Nitrite and Nitrate. Poison basically. And before you or anyone asks or says they have their fish in the tank and they're alive and healthy...... The answer is because they were in the crap while it went to sh_t. Trust me the fish are not healthy in those conditions.
I challenge people who do not do water changes to do them for 2 month, weekly, also add prime to remove the chlorine and tell me what the fish are like and how they look. If you tell me the same you're not paying attention to them.
You don't want any signs as when a water change is due! Try at the very least to do them every other week at a minimum.
Otherone;2954961; said:
Benefical bacteria does not consume nitrate, it produces nitrate.
Your fish produce enough ammonia to keep any amount of BB alive. Doing 50% daily water changes may reduce the amount of BB, but your fish would be much happier and healthier.
