water changes.....how much is too much?

[Lupin]

anything over 50% water changes is to much

No, it isn't. It depends on your stocking loads and water parameters. A sudden big replacement though can certainly bring shock to the fish killing them assuming the tank has an Old Tank Syndrome.

That wouldn't alter the temperature, Ph?..think about it

Yes, that certainly will unless you try to control those variables to avoid shock on the part of the fish.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

I've got well water from our own private well and don't use any water conditioners, my fish are thriving, especially the Oscars. Anything over about a 60% water change I age, I only use up to about 60% (max) tap water. The reason for that is well water is stored 150-200 ft underground under pressure. There's mega amounts of undissolved CO2 in it and it can potentially deprive the fish of oxygen. I've accidently drained it down to 75% on the Blood Parrot tank once and had to refill with only tap water & they did fine although I try not to make a habit of it :-O You can check to see if you've got undissolved CO2 in your well water by testing the pH straight out of the tap, then let a bucket of water sit for 24 hrs with a bubbler in it to let it gas out and test it. If the pH is higher in aged water then you've got undissolved CO2 in your well water, it's real common. My kh/gh is the same whether aged or not.
Just FYI

 

[IKeepPacu]

personally, i depend it on the fish. when i had sensitive fish such as rays and some small, frail community fish, i would change only 25%.

with my 250g pacu/cichlid tank and my parents goldfish tank, i generally change around 75% a week, and have done so for years with no ill effect. match the water temps, then i always used stress coat, and more recently prime right as i start to add the fresh water, and thats it.

my fish are seemingly happy, healthy, and all grow nicely and show great colors. my tap is around 7.6ph and thats about all ive ever checked it for.

 

[N.C.]

i am also on well water, thats really not my concern its the constant temp change.

 

[N.C.]

right now i have 2 p-bass an ornate bicher, butti tilapia and pleco

 

[Passionate 4 pikes]

Fish looooove fresh water. What you're doing right now could be continued for their whole life and would do nothing but GOOD for them. I change 30% of the water every day when I have baby fish in a tank. I've had zuchinni cloud the water like that, too. Don't be afraid to syphon the bottom, that gets all the 'gunk' out of there.

I agree. i used to do 50% waterchanges everyday the fish were always active and in top notch health.
in the river the have millions of gallons of freshwater going by every second our glass boxes dont really compare.

 

[oscarluvr]

If youre using well water from your private well it wont have chlorine in it unless you put it in there.Conditioners arent needed.
You can change 100% of your water daily and it would not affect the biofilter,the bacteria live on surfaces and in the filter,the amount of bacteria floating in the water isnt signifigant enough to affect the cycle.

 

[dragonfish]

Do 50-60% all the time without any ill effects. If done frequently there aren't any problems.