what size water change do you do?

[Lauren]

Just currious. What size and frequencies are your water changes?

I do 20% every two weeks in my 20 and 10 gallon and 10% weekly in my 45. I'd do more in the 45g, but when the water input nozzle for the filter gets above the water line it causes wicked currents.

[jonathan03]

I do about 20% weekly. Its a lot, but it seems to be working well.

[Lauren]

not too much, some people recomend 25% at least once a week.

[kveeti]

It's different for each tank. My 10 gallon doesn't show nitrates (I have to add them as KN03) so I do 25% just to do a water change.

In my 28 gallon, testing over several weeks determined that it takes approx 30% to keep my nitrates under 10. Every few months I retest to see if my water change levels need to be increased or decreased, but usally it stays pretty much the same.

[terror]

for me , i do 40 % water changes weekly in my 85 gallon tank and 200 gallon tank :)

[fishpoor]

40% weekly

[Rebgen]

25% a week for my 12 gal. due to high nitrates. Once my 55 gal. is stocked I'll probably do the same regimen. Both tanks are/will be moderate to heavily planted.

[RTR]

I do 1/3 to 1/2 volume partials weekly, depending on the tank.

[Raskolnikov]

~20% 2 x week on my 30g
~100% weekly on my 55g
~100% weekly on my 75g
~30% weekly on my 210g

Water is heated, treated with Prime, and aged at least a day before I change. There is minimal to no difference in the pH or temperature of the changewater, and I've noticed improvements after switching over to larger water changes. Unfortunately, I can't prepare enough water at one time to do larger changes on the big tank.

[Lauren]

how do you manage 100% water changes? Do you do it in stages? some this day, some the next day?

[blitzen25bm]

my 60 gallon grow out gets 20% daily the rest gets it changed a lot less. i should do more but im usually too busy kinda makes me feel bad but atleast i understock even my betta gets a 5 gallon.

[The Arbiter]

I have 0 nitrite and little nitrate, 10% every week.

[JosephMCorbett]

I do between 25%-40% weekly depending on how lazy I feel.

[fishinAZ]

50% once a week in my 29 gal

[Remmy]

30% weekly

[Raskolnikov]

how do you manage 100% water changes? Do you do it in stages? some this day, some the next day?

I bring the water down to the point where it is enough to keep a few inches above the fish, and then start filling the tank as I continue to remove water from the end of the tank opposite the input. My input pump moves water just slightly faster than my python removes it. Naturally, I can't get a full 100% while letting any water remain in the tank due to the fact that I'm actually diluting the last bit of the water a few times over before filling it up, but it's close enough for me. Thus, ~100%.

I definately would never attempt this without having the preparation resevoirs for the change water to match the tank water.

[ambrosiamonkey]

I do 40% water changes weekly on my 50 gallon. Getting a Python changed my life in this regard- the difference between a 20% and 40% water change without a Python is significant, but with one, it's no biggie.

[acefred]

I do anyplace from 16-22 gal every 2 weeks on my 45 gal tank. Old gravel vac (drain out door to lawn or snow now) and refill with 2 gal buckets. not that hard or long to do.

[A7ESF]

30G - 6 Tiger Barbs and 4 Brevis = 50% Weekly
20G - 4 Platy, 4 Guppy, 5 Cory, 1 Bamboo Shrimp, 2 glass shrimp =50% Weekly
10G - 1 Betta = 50% Weekly
10G - 10 Platy Fry = 50% Weekly
I use to less untill I got the missing parts for my python. Now that it's working again total time to do all four tanks is less then an hour.

[Aqualung]

25% every other day usually. Sometimes I miss a change and do 40-50% to make up for it.

[Harlock]

I do 50% water changes and gravel vacs every 5-7 days on my 29 gallon planted tank.

[Lauren]

a side question: how many of you add a % of RO water? Do you have the RO filters in your house, or do you have to get it from a different source? I would probably change a lot more water if it were easier for me to get RO water.

[lousybreed]

wow some of you really love doing water changes!!! I do about 30% in my 15 gallon, it is so easy it takes me 10 minutes. every month i vac the gravel and clean sponge filter and filter pad. the sponge is washed, well more like squeezed in siphoned water so the bacteria are not killed.

[ChileRelleno]

In my 75 gal (see my tank specs) I generally do two 20-25% PWC's per week and rinse my filters media and media box weekly, this is necessary to keep NO3 (nitrates) down at acceptable levels (0-40ppm, 20ppm or less avg).
My 10 gal's get 20-25% PWC's and filters done about once a month.

[Obsidian]

30-40% twice weekly in my 25 gal planted.
30% weekly in 25 gal non-planted
40% weekly, sometimes twice weekly in 20 gal coldwater tank

[pl*co]

At least 25% weekly. 10-15% more if the nitrates are higher than usual.

[Ems]

Water changes as follows!:
50Gallon - 20% weekly
90Gallon - 15% 2 times weekly
10 Gallon tanks - 50% weekly
For my betta fry: 90+% daily
For my other betta tanks: 50% weekly
I think that covers it... lol

[pjfish]

Wow! Seems like you guys really like to do water changes. I've been doing about 20-30% water changes every 2 weeks, but maybe I'll switch to every week based on what others seem to be doing. I change the filter monthly.

I have a question for everyone: how much time do you spend on cleaning and other maintenance activities?

[pl*co]

pjfish, maybe you don't need to do more frequent water changes than you already do. Test your nitrate level after one week and see what you think. I'm sure there are other considerations, but I can speak from recent experience on this one. :o

[Kasakato]

Planted- 30% weekly
Non-planted- 50% weekly

I spend about 1 hour caring for 3 small tanks. This includes water changes, feeding, fert dosing, filter cleaning and moving stuff to make me happy. ;) (Unless you just happen to mess up and flood the floor :) pl*co knows)

I use a Python for water changes. It is the best aquarium tool I have ever bought. Water changes are quick, and pain less.

[Slappy*McFish]

50% weekly here, as well...

[RTR]

Daily I spend between one and two hours on the tanks, at least once a week an evening or afternoon of about 4 hours - so well under an hour per week per tank.