How much water in a water change??

O

oddsoxdi

AC Members
Mar 14, 2007
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Ok, I'm very very confused. The man who was 'supposed' to know - the owner of the LFS told me that when you do a water change in a 20 gal that you're only supposed to change out 1-2 gallons once a month. This flies in direct confrontation of practically everyone else who recommend at least a 33% change. So who's right here? How much water should be changed and how often? I've been doing 1-2 gal every 2-3 weeks and the fish seem fine, but I don't want to be hurting them....
Thanks for your help.
 
Do an absolute minimum 25% a week. I do 50%. It won't hurt your biofilter since bacteria colonized the surfaces in the tank and the filter, not the water column. Start slowly to give your fish a chance to acclimate to their new schedule! Oh and don't listen to that guy anymore ok? :p:
 
or if you do listen to him, run it through us before you do it.. ;) i'm onboard with jess on this one, at least 25%, i do 50% give or take once a WEEK.
 
I do at least a 50% once a week; I have messy fish & no plants. You can do less than that if you have not got the first of those and have some of the second.

But absolute minimum - 25% weekly. You're not just changing out the nitrate-dirty water; you're taking out lots of other stuff that we don't/usually can't test for (hormones etc. as I understand it).
 
Many thanks to Jess, J double R and Coler for your timely and kindly help. Also thanks for not being as contemptuous to a newbie as another forum-site which shall remain unnamed (wikwink)

Now I shall go and begin the aging of the water.

Latah
 
oddsoxdi said:
Now I shall go and begin the aging of the water.

Latah
Click to expand...
I agree absolutely with the above.

However, make sure if you are using tap water that you do not have both Chlorimines & Chlorides... Chlorides will evaporate (aging water for 24 hours ensures this), but Chloromines do not evaporate, or if they do it takes a very long time.

You local water works department can readily tell you.

Welcome to AC! ;)
 
I do 10 gallons out ten in every week ( my tank is 29 gallons) once a month I do 50% tank change. when I get my python, I will do 50 % water changes a week. my wrists can not handle the 5 gallon buckets so soon as I get my python I am doing more :)
 
I did about a 40% change today and gravel vact....:)
 
I do ~50% on my 20gallon tanks; I don't do 50% on my 75g though more like 20% ... every week on both.
 
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