IME 20ppm nitrate isn't high enough for a wc with the fish you keep, most people change water around 40-80ppm, it all depends on your bio load, with 3 medium fish in a large tank id say 50% every two weeks or 25% every week!
If you tank ever reads nitrite or ammonia frequent wc are needed to dilute toxicity until bb is established and toxins are converted to nitrate.
A lot of old school guys think wc are bad because tap contains chlor/a and heavy metals, which is true, however a simple dechlorinator such as prime will rid of all that crap in you tap, making wc 100% healthy, now you need to make sure the incoming water that your adding to the tank is the same temp to avoid further stress on the fish caused by temp fluctuations. As long as you buffering capacity is normal your ph shouldn't be affected either!
If you really want to cut down on wc frequency try POTHOS (link in my Sig) the plant consumes and thrives on nitrates, my wc frequency has been cut in half, and I have 5 LG messy piranhas in a 125! Then just top the tank off every week to replace minerals!
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http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS
*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--2 MORE RACES LEFT! SEE YOU IN TEXAS BOYS! LET'S MAKE IT 3 BACK TO BACK WDC!*
If you tank ever reads nitrite or ammonia frequent wc are needed to dilute toxicity until bb is established and toxins are converted to nitrate.
A lot of old school guys think wc are bad because tap contains chlor/a and heavy metals, which is true, however a simple dechlorinator such as prime will rid of all that crap in you tap, making wc 100% healthy, now you need to make sure the incoming water that your adding to the tank is the same temp to avoid further stress on the fish caused by temp fluctuations. As long as you buffering capacity is normal your ph shouldn't be affected either!
If you really want to cut down on wc frequency try POTHOS (link in my Sig) the plant consumes and thrives on nitrates, my wc frequency has been cut in half, and I have 5 LG messy piranhas in a 125! Then just top the tank off every week to replace minerals!
_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS
*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--2 MORE RACES LEFT! SEE YOU IN TEXAS BOYS! LET'S MAKE IT 3 BACK TO BACK WDC!*
