Water changes?

[beerad555]

I hear and read so many different opinions on water changes, how often and how much at one time. I would like more opinions or direction to more info on this subject.

Some say only 5 to 10 % at a time some do 50 % at a time.

I have 2 fish, 1 7 inch Jag and a 10 inch common pleco in a 125 with 2 hobs, and have been told that twice a month at 15 % water change is sufficient.

water checks out fine at this rate with this bio load, is this enough ?

I also am oxygenating tank well.

 

[BODYDUB]

You should'nt need to do but maybe one w/c a month of 50% with only 2 fish in that big of a tank. And as long as you have good filtration on it......

 

[Blue2Fyre]

How ever often it takes to keep nitrates low. I do large water changes weekly to keep my nitrates below 20. They are usually around 10. But my tank is pretty over stocked. In my smaller tanks I do water changes less often because it doesn't seem needed.

 

[soxfan692]

With that stocking, I'd say 10-20% weekly, 50% monthly.

 

[TheCanuck]

Base your changes from your nitrates.

 

[Kolkri]

Since I am doing weekly anyways I just do big 40 to 50% ones on my two big tanks.

 

[Allan01230]

I do 25% weekly on my 80 which is lightly stocked. My 39 hex has a large black moor goldfish and a large oranda so that tank gets a 50% weekly water change. The goldfish are cool at there large size but messy.

 

[beerad555]

You should'nt need to do but maybe one w/c a month of 50% with only 2 fish in that big of a tank. And as long as you have good filtration on it......

Well I have been doing about a 15 to 20 % once a month for the last 2 months and have had the water checked before each w/c and good to go on both 0. So I figured I was ok but I constantly see where people do water changes like every week and 50% at a time and thought I may not be changing enough.

The LFS tells me smaller changes more frequently( 5 to 10 %) at a time is better and that a 50 % change( all at once) is way to extreme so it got me wondering.

I have a emperor 400 and a whisper 30-60 (HOBs) and was told that this is sufficient?????????

I also am using well water.