I have a largemouth bass and two bluegills now in the 125 along with a crawdad. I'll change the water 30% next weekend. So some of you guys change your water once a week. What is the point of having a filter than? Changing it once a week is what I do with my betta in his bowl.
When is it time for a water change?
- Thread starter Bluegill
- Start date
NITRATES are the main reason for doing water changes. Get yourself a test kit and test your water parameters ammonia and nitrites need to be at zero, this your filtration should take care of. Nitrates should be kept at 30-40ppm and can only be reduced by water changes.
I would not recommend over a 20% a water change for your tank. Large 40-50% changes are fine if done on a weekly basis. Since you have not done a change you tank's water parameters may be extremely different then the tap water and could cause problems.
I would not recommend over a 20% a water change for your tank. Large 40-50% changes are fine if done on a weekly basis. Since you have not done a change you tank's water parameters may be extremely different then the tap water and could cause problems.
Bluegill;1429493; said:
Read my last post...
Filtration is to remove ammonia and nitrites which will easily kill most fish or at the least damage their gills and other organs and reduce their lifespan.
Ammonia and nitrites are converted to nitrAtes by your biological bacteria (the stuff living on your filter media), which is less harmful but still toxic in large amounts. Your water changes are to remove nitrAtes. You also remove other organic buildup by doing water changes, not to mention you should be siphoning the gravel or bottom periodically to remove solid waste which will also break down and end up as nitrAtes.
I usually do just 10-15% water changes each week with good results. All my parameters are fine unless I over feed or add fish or something.
If you haven't done a WC in a long time, DO NOT DO A HUGE WC NOW! Your fish have actually aacclimated their system to the lower, acid pH, caused by living in it's toilet & the toxins should be removed slowly, by doing daiily 20% WC for a week. Then you can get on a more regular weekly WC schedule. I do 75% weekly on all my tanks (other than SW). Get a Python for ease of WC.
See: OLD TANK SYNDROME
See: OLD TANK SYNDROME
I've had my pet bass for 2 years now. Usally I do not change the water until it turns cloudy or there is a smell like pond water. Recently I have been vaccuming the gravel but I never change the water every week. The beginning of February I'll do a 20% water change but before that I am going to pick up nitrate test kit and an ammonia test kit to see where my water stands before I change it.
Bluegill;1432085; said:
Congrats on giving your fish an early death. Hopefully the test kits will influence you to get a better routine. I know it did for me
As far as changing water goes, buy a test kit. When the nitrates reach an unacceptable level, change the water. Test again. If they are now acceptable, test until they become too high again. Eventually you'll figure out the "groove" of your tank. Nitrates are not the only reason to change water, they're a very good indicator of when it's due.
