Do Africans need a 50% Water Change?

[dcallen]

Hi,

I was talking to my LFS yesterday and they said that once my 70 gallon tank is fully stocked with about 10 Africans that I would want to do a 50% water change every two weeks and possibly every week if there were a few more fish added. I know that water changes have to be done once every week or two but is a 50% water change sound advice or just overkill? I was thinking that a 25%-30% water change would be sufficient.

Thanks...

[jimbo]

If you want to change the water once every two weeks, a 50% waterchange is no overkill, it is even absolutely necessary
A 50% waterchange every week will depend on the NO3 level (nitrate)
Normally a 30/40% every week will be sufficient.

[dcallen]

Jimbo,

Thanks for the input. One other thing I was curious about. The same LFS said that I could basically run a line that they sell from my kitchen sink and remove and add the water that way. The real question here is he said that I could add the water from the tap and then go over and add the dechlorinator after the tap water was already going into the tank. Is this a safe practice or should I resort to the old bucket method of adding and removing the water? Thanks again....

[Reiner]

I change about 25-30% every week on my 80 gallon tank. I run a hose from the tank to the toilet to drain the tank and then hook it up to the faucet adjust the temp and then run it directly into the tank. While it runs into the tank I stand there and let the dechlorinator drip in at the same time. I was scared at first but then heard of many people doing it that way and never had a problem with that method.

[dcallen]

Reiner,

Thanks for the info. Yeah the only thing that worries me a bit is putting in the water before it's dechlorinated, but since you have had success with this method it makes me feel better in doing it that way as well. I really hate hauling buckets back and forth, it takes too long to do the water change. Thanks again...

[Reiner]

Hey I even know of people that do it without dechlorinator and never had a problem either. But that's just 2 scarry for me. Also how much are they charging for the stuff at the LSF? I bought my hose ( 25feet) and faucet fittings at Home Depot for a total of under 10 bucks.

[dcallen]

Reiner,

Wow, I know that Africans are hardy but I wouldn't try that either, seems really risky. Well the LFS is charging a Kings ransom for the hose assembly with I believe 25 feet of hose it's around $39.99 which is absolutely ridiculous. Can you tell me the fittings and the size of hose that you purchased? That is definitely the way for me to go.

[Reiner]

I started with my standard Gravel cleaner from Petco that has a 5 foot clear hose that is 1/2 inch OD and 3/8 ID and the bucket method like you are doing. Then I went 2 Home Depot and bought 20 foot role of the same clear hose for 4 bucks a plastic tube piece that would connect the 2 hoses for 99 cents, a faucet fitting for a 3/8 ID hose for 3 bucks and a thread converter 99 cents with 1 side a small thread that would fit the hose fitting and the other side was a bigger OD that would fit my faucet thread since those 2 were different. The last piece is not necessary if your faucet fits the hose fitting already. hope that helps

[JSchmidt]

What they're trying to sell you is a Python, a device for drawing water out of your tank (to clean the gravel, remove old water) and refilling it. You can probably save a few bucks making your own, but whether you buy or build a Python, it will be the best fish-related money you ever spend. They make water changes/gravel vacuuming a snap, and as you are finding out, you change a lot of water when you keep africans.

When you add tapwater directly to a tank, you just add dechlorinator simultaneously. It will not cause problems. If your water has chloramines instead of chlorine, you may want to consider using Amquel, which not only wipes out the chlorine but also detoxifies the ammonia bound to the chlorine.

Your questions about how much water to change are important. First off, you should know that you cannot change too much water. The more you change, the better. You need to try to minimize differences between tap and tank water (temp, pH, GH, KH), but the more frequently you give your fish fresh water, the healthier they will be. Second, rather than guessing or having us supply you with some arbitrary percentage and frequency, your best bet is to use nitrate accumulation as your guide. Many experienced aquarists try to keep nitrates below some target number: 20 ppm or 40 ppm. (It helps to know your tap water's nitrate; if you start with 15 ppm in the tap water, you'll have a devil of a time keeping the tank nitrate below 20 ppm.) In an african cichlid tank, keeping nitrates under 40 ppm is pretty good, in my book.

HTH,
Jim

[dcallen]

Reiner and JSchmidt,

Thanks for all the help. I think I'll try to make a Python and do larger water changes. You are correct JSchmidt I can see where this will be the best money invested to date. It will make things so much easier and faster.


Thanks again for all the great info...
:)

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by Reiner
Hey I even know of people that do it without dechlorinator and never had a problem either. But that's just 2 scarry for me.

Me, too, since chlorines may be released with agitation or aging (but may not be), but chloramines need to be removed via dechlorinator.

I guess you need to know if chloramines are in there if you are thinking about taking that risk.