How do you peform your water changes?

I use dechlorinator regardless of the amount of water changed out.

tho in truth the existing water is going to dilute any chlorine you add with your new water so it most likely isn't going to be toxic. also one reasoin you can add the dechlor directly to the tank(mixing dechlor and water is not an instantaneous reaction)

I just like to play it on the safe side. since I raise discus I get in the habit of using dechlorinator i'd rather not forget once.

a couple thiongs i found out. I use prime. whenI was using the rate indicated on the bottle..I found that my angels spawns were not hatching out successfully. since then I found that others had seen the same thing. they added a bit more prime and this fixed the issue.

I started adding extra prime and viola..almost all the spawns are successful.
is use stealth heaters and keep them close to the bottom. I also utilize surge protectors ..these have on/off switches and outlets that are continually on(lights).

I just flip the switch and there is nothing to unplug.
 
jay733 said:
It's not necessary if you change 20% of the water or less.
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Have any technical references to back that up? Hope a newbie who isn't sure of whether he has chlorine or chloramine doesn't take your statement seriously. For the few pennies it costs for the security, it is foolish, IMO, to recommend not to, for any reason.
 
I am in the process of eliminating water changes. I have a system setup on my 265 that does it for me. I havent done a water change on it in 3 months and it's better than it's ever been.

1 gallon per hour drip in, and an overflow in the sump, an a lot less work:D

On my smaller tanks I just to large water changes with the python by siphoning out however much i feel like taking out, put in dechlor (enough to treat the entire tank, not just what I'm replacing) and refill:)

Gravel vacs everytime in small amount, and monthly on my tank with the drip.
 
rbishop said:
Have any technical references to back that up?
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This is where I got my info, http://****************/information/essentials_p2.htm#3 I already posted it but here it is again, click on the link and scroll down to number 3 and read under how much water should be replaced.

This is a trusted source too, the guys that say this info are from a petfish talk show and they have kept and bred fish for over 40 years, so they know what they are talking about.


If you want to put it in to feel on the safe side that's fine, but it's not necessary.
 
Notice, from your reference...

Water Should be Replaced? If you have a Fish Bowl, twice a week change 15% to 20% of the water. You can't use tap water straight from the faucet. Click here for the details on how to change water in your Fish Bowl.

If you have an Aquarium or Pond, twice a week remove 15% to 20% of the water and replace that water with fresh tap water from the faucet. You don't need to add Water Conditioner to the new water when you replace 20% or ...

"You can't use tap water straight from the faucet", which amounts to adding a dechlor agent.

The part that recommends NOT using a water conditioner is part of their statement for aquariums and ponds...???

So they say do not use it straight from the tap but do not use any conditioner. Sounds awfully conflicting and not good advice. I do not trust the advice of people trying to sell me things.

When you click on there links, they say to use bottled water, which wouldn't have the need for dechlor, and also wouldn't have the kh buffers most tanks need. They continue to describe how to make your own bottled water by filling bottles with tap water and adding conditioner, to have them ready for when you need them.

The next set of links recommend to use Am Quel Plus, which is a water conditioner for removing chlorine/chloramine, amongst other claims.

There is no documentation there to support their claim that changing more than 20% is harmful, in fact they even mention how much better the fish respond after a water change.

Sorry, but the info posted there does not provide trust or sound aquaria advice, IMO.
 
Hi everybody,

To the original post, I replace 20% each week. I unplug everything electrical and check the filter. I do the water replacement with a gravel cleaner. I do have live plants, but I vacuum around the plants so as not to disrupt their roots. I also have two large rocks that we take out when algae needs to be scrubbed off (with tank water).

As for the water conditioner, I re-read that article (I read it a long time ago) as well as the water conditioner link. I believe there was confusion because they are recommending different things based on whether it was for a fish bowl or an aquarium. I'll quote and bold, hopefully it'll be less confusing.

rbishop said:
Notice, from your reference...

Water Should be Replaced? If you have a Fish Bowl, twice a week change 15% to 20% of the water. You can't use tap water straight from the faucet. Click here for the details on how to change water in your Fish Bowl.

If you have an Aquarium or Pond, twice a week remove 15% to 20% of the water and replace that water with fresh tap water from the faucet. You don't need to add Water Conditioner to the new water when you replace 20% or ...
Click to expand...

I don't believe it is conflicting at all. If you have a fish bowl, don't use tap water. If you have an aquarium/pond the tap water will be ok and you do not need conditioner if it is 20% or less. However, if it is more than 20% you can use conditioner.

Under the water conditioner section of the site:

They recommend using bottled water for water changes in a fish bowl. They also recommend a way to use tap water + conditioner +letting it sit for 3 days if you do not want to use bottled water.

For an aquarium, they still recommend 20% or less each week. Tap water is still ok and water conditioner still not a requirement. However, if you replace more than 20% then you need to use conditioner.

It's just very different instructions depending on whether it is for a fish bowl or an aquarium.

As for their growing knowledge/experience, they say they have learned that more frequent water changes is better (more frequent, not more water per change). They also like to use the water conditioner, although they still insist it isnt necessary (although you may prefer it) if the water change is less than 20%.

Hope this helps!
 
yes it is necesary because if you have chloramine in your tap water and you do a 20% water change that will harm your tank.
just think 100 gallon tanks need 20 gallons a week.
if you dont put dechlorinator in your water, you'll put a good ammount of chloamines in your water. some will get dilluted mind you, but some of it wont and it will do what it was ment to do. kill bacteria and things living in the water.
 
Yes, and then click on all the sucessive links. They all narrow down to AmQuel ads and they repeatedly state to use it any time you add new water and even when you suspect other problems. For the fish bowl issue, the recommend bottled water, then tell you to make your own with tap water and add conditioner.

This isn't meant to be an arguement. The site also says never change more than 20% of water in one day. There are alot of discus breeders who must really be doing things wrong.

The point to take home and to the bank, is you should use the conditioner, and it is reckless advice to recommend not to, especially when so many communities use chloramine which will not age off like chlorine.

They recommend to use it, do so.
 
rbishop said:
This isn't meant to be an arguement. The site also says never change more than 20% of water in one day. There are alot of discus breeders who must really be doing things wrong.
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Didn't mean for it to be an argument. I was trying to offer clarification that they weren't conflicting - they were just different instructions for different types of tanks. Whether they're right or wrong in what they instruct for each type of tank is an entirely different matter. =P

Personally I do add water conditioner to every water change (was going to edit this into the first post but figured I would do a separate post to clarify I am not doing an argument). I live in an area that has massive water treatment, and if we don't drink the tapwater here, I sure wouldn't want to live in it. Back when I had fish 10 years ago, I lived in an area that did extremely minimal water treatment and water conditioner wasn't as much of an issue in my mind because (1) there was very little additives and (2) I did 10% water changes, not 20%. The fish lived for 4 years before my cat ate them :(

I think it is clear from this thread, though, there is no one single standard guide for water changes.
 
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