mix up gravel before water change?

[AquariumNoob13]

when you do a water change, are you supossed to mix up the gravel so that you can get rid of the waste and stuff that is left in there? and i have 1 Electric Blue Ahli, 1 JD, 1 White Assorted African, 1 Pleco, and 1 Minnow type thing that doesn't appear to be a minnow since it is more agressive then all of my other fish. how often and how much water changes should i be doing? currently i am doing weekly 25% water changes. is that too little for the fish i have?

[j_chicago]

you should use a gravel vacuum to get the stuff out of the gravel. sticking the end of the tube into the gravel will pull the waste into the hose with out clouding the tank.

[AquariumNoob13]

ok. what is a good brand for gravel vacs?

[spirals]

assuming the tank is big enough for the fish listed, i'd go with a Python :) hooks up to the sink so disposing large quantities of water isn't an issue (or filling it back up for that matter). if you want to dump buckets I've had no issues with my Top Fin one (and they're cheap).

[AquariumNoob13]

i have been dumping buckets so far and have had no problem with it yet, but am i doing the proper amount of water changes for the fish i listed?

[J double R]

i would go for more like 40%, but 25% weekly is better than nothing at all, that's for sure.

[AquariumNoob13]

ok! i will start doing 40% then. um.....someone told me that i should do water changes 2 times a week. is that accurate?

[j_chicago]

Some do 2 changes per week, others one, and some lacking on proper maintence do once a month or less.
If you do 2 WC, that means you can do a smaller %. but I would agree, one 40-50% or two 25-30% WC a week.

[divingne1]

I have a question about the python cleaners...so from what I understand, it hooks up to your faucet so you can fill the tank back up quickly right? That doesn't allow you to condition the water before it goes into the tank right? Is it harmful to the fish to have them in that unconditioned water for a few minutes?

[j_chicago]

you dose the water in the tank for the full amount of tank capacity before you fill the tank back up. If you are doing a 50% WC on a 100g tank, you does enough contioner for 100g, not 50g. Python also says the python gases out the chlorine out as you fill it up, not sure if thats true thou.

[AquariumNoob13]

ya. i've been putting in double the amount of condititoner to the amount of water i changed.

["13"]

I never do water changes only add water as it evaporates. water is crystal clear fish have beautiful colors and are super healthy. But i wouldn't recommend that you do it this way stick to water changes.