water changes from the top or bottom.

[bitteraspects]

all the water in the tank is the same... however all the "crap" collects on the bottom.. its a wise choice to take the crap out of the tank...

indeed.

if you look around the forum, or just ask around, you will notice an average of 25-30% WC weekly. this includes filter vaccuming, and for some, filter cleaning. obviously, the cleaner the tank, the happier your fish. however, as mentioned, you will need a good amount of bio-filtration if you do a lot of WC. you dont want to remove the beneficial bacteria.

 

[Dr Joe]

arowanaoscar sorry for all the derails.

If your tank has any circulation the water will be approximately the same through out. If you have detritus (garbage) it is best that it is removed. People with gavel substrate usually vacuum the gravel first and if that doesn't use enough water up, just leave the vacuum in to syphon out the balance, since the vacuum head holds the hose in the tank.

Fact is if you do alot of W/C's there won't be enough of nutrients for a dependable bio-fiter, hence you will have a weak bio-filter and leave yourself open to spikes in the water chemistry.

I suggest that members of this thread reread the nitrogen cycle and if there are further questions on it start their own thread and ask if they understand it correctly, as no man is an island.

Now, if there are anymore derailments, time off can be given to access your prose.

Dr Joe

.

 

[Merbeast]

congrats, youve justified letting your fish swim in their own toilet. i however suggest a more realistic and caring approach to fishkeeping.

The point of a water change is to dilute pollutants. Your fish are always creating them, including during and after you vacuum the gravel. In an established tank, fish waste is quickly broken down into nitrates and dirt. You remove the dirt when you gravel vacuum, you remove the nitrates when you do a water change. Nitrates will eventually kill fish (in high enough concentrations), dirt just sits on the bottom looking dirty. Doing a gravel vacuum once a month in an otherwise well maintained tank is absolutely no problem.

 

[arowanaoscar]

arowanaoscar sorry for all the derails.

If your tank has any circulation the water will be approximately the same through out. If you have detritus (garbage) it is best that it is removed. People with gavel substrate usually vacuum the gravel first and if that doesn't use enough water up, just leave the vacuum in to syphon out the balance, since the vacuum head holds the hose in the tank.

Fact is if you do alot of W/C's there won't be enough of nutrients for a dependable bio-fiter, hence you will have a weak bio-filter and leave yourself open to spikes in the water chemistry.

I suggest that members of this thread reread the nitrogen cycle and if there are further questions on it start their own thread and ask if they understand it correctly, as no man is an island.

Now, if there are anymore derailments, time off can be given to access your prose.

Dr Joe

.

Thanks for the helpful info dr.joe

 

[COLDasICE]

I vacuum with every weekly water change. I have white sand so it's a lot easier to see the waste accumulation. With sand substrate most of the waste will sit on top of the sand. I vacuum what I can see then stir the sand and vacuum a little more. Then I leave my vac about 3/4 of the way down in the tank to remove the remaining amount of water I want to remove. Your accumulation will vary from tank to tank depending on which fish you keep, and what and how much you feed. You may not necessarily have to vacuum every week but many ppl choose to.

 

[heavyhitter]

arowanaoscar sorry for all the derails.

If your tank has any circulation the water will be approximately the same through out. If you have detritus (garbage) it is best that it is removed. People with gavel substrate usually vacuum the gravel first and if that doesn't use enough water up, just leave the vacuum in to syphon out the balance, since the vacuum head holds the hose in the tank.

Fact is if you do alot of W/C's there won't be enough of nutrients for a dependable bio-fiter, hence you will have a weak bio-filter and leave yourself open to spikes in the water chemistry.

I suggest that members of this thread reread the nitrogen cycle and if there are further questions on it start their own thread and ask if they understand it correctly, as no man is an island.

Now, if there are anymore derailments, time off can be given to access your prose.

Dr Joe

.

Yes this is the best advise. Thanks Dr. Joe you beat me too it.

In short:
1. Vacuum all the crud up. All that waste can potentially lead to an ammonia spike. The more waste you can get out of your tank the healthier it will be.

2. Your nitrate is not just stuck at the bottom of a tank but rather disperssed through the tank.

3. Too frequent, water changes can do more harm than good.

4. Remeber that nitrogen cycle. The only way to get rid of your nitrate is to change the water.

 

[aldiaz33]

IMHO, if you're taking the time to do a water change, you should vacuum the substrate as well.

 

[tcarswell]

if you just scoop from the top and dont vaccum out detrius, the water change is pointless. definitely clean the bottom

Pointless?! Lowering nitrates and ammonia is pointless? No matter what refreshing the water is necessary just because you didn't get all the poo doesn't make it pointless if you have good circulation your nitrates should be the same throughout the tank water. Im getting sick of your attitude

 

[tcarswell]

IMHO, if you're taking the time to do a water change, you should vacuum the substrate as well.

BitterAspects: simma down. I've read a few of your recent posts and you've been pretty abrasive. Even though I agree with you, we're all here to learn more about the hobby. You seem to know your stuff, but you also like jamming it down people's throats. You're condescending and that's why you've been getting into these battles with fellow MFKers. If you're only here to get a rise out of people, find somewhere else to do it. If you're generous enough to share your knowledge, do it politely.

Wow apparently I am not the only one.