Which water change schedule?
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If you keep track of water parameters, then this should give you a clue on how often and how much...
I agree with anona - nitrates should be your guide - just not your whole method. More likely than not, you wont have a planted tank that is a nitrate vacuum. Which means more likely than not your nitrates will rise fast enough to merit water changes that will also keep high levels of total dissolved solids, growth hormones, etc. out of the water. Obviously, if your tank is only producing 20 ppm every three weeks, then you would need to compensate and do more water changes even if the nitrates were fine.
As a beginner trying to set a schedule, let the nitrates be your guide.
That said, I do 50% water changes every week or so. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
As a beginner trying to set a schedule, let the nitrates be your guide.
That said, I do 50% water changes every week or so. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
In an unplanted tank, nitrates are a handy guide. Many hobbyists strive to never let nitrates rise above 20-40 ppm. As mentioned above, nitrates aren't the only thing we're trying to remove, but they're the easiest to remove (in an unplanted tank, anyway).
HTH,
Jim
HTH,
Jim
Vibe, check your thread on this question. I responded.
I do weekly water changes of 50-75% on my tanks. I occasionally take nitrate readings. Which are usually around 5 ppm. But I do the water changes even though the nitrates are low.
If I go two weeks without a water change I feel antsy. Omg, omg,omg...must change water.
I do weekly water changes of 50-75% on my tanks. I occasionally take nitrate readings. Which are usually around 5 ppm. But I do the water changes even though the nitrates are low.
If I go two weeks without a water change I feel antsy. Omg, omg,omg...must change water.
Okay, many of you have said that Nitrates are not the only thing you are trying to remove when doing a water change... well then what else are you removing and why? The new school of thought is the more the better (or at least it won't hurt) and I partially agree with this; however, for those of us who are just getting into this, or it is merely a hobby and not an obsession, doing weekly water changes just ins't going to happen. Sometimes it gets overlooked or its a very low priority on the list of things to do. So, that's putting me in the catagory of the old school of thought of less water changes. So, like I said why should be change the water if the nitrates are not high, just saying you should do so because it won't hurt anything isn't a good answer. Give me a reason to do so, by nature I'm a lazy person and don't plan on doing more work than is needed unless my fish might suffer.
Secondly, it has been said that if you have a planted tank that you will be doing water changes more often, once again, why? I would like to know because I eventually plant to put plants in my tank (I need better lighting first).
Secondly, it has been said that if you have a planted tank that you will be doing water changes more often, once again, why? I would like to know because I eventually plant to put plants in my tank (I need better lighting first).
Mykayel said:
Well, you're also removing solid waste, especially when you vacuum the gravel. Less waste = less ammonia/nitrite/nitrate building up. The fish will be healthier & happier with a clean tank. And you lessen the risk of develping old tank syndrome.
I change 25-50% per week. Doesn't take me longer than 1/2 hour.
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TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) There is all kinds of things you are removing with partial water changes. People only go by Nitrates as an indicator because they are relatively easy to test for as compared to the others. In the same reasoning, plant keepers often test for Iron as an indication of what all their numerous micro trace levels are. Alot of the uneaten food and poop from fish contribute to algae growth. And one of the most common failings of new fish keepers is over feeding.
As a new aquarium owner, it is actually more important to do frequent water changes than for the more experienced ones.
In this way, not only do you "reset" the water parameters to fix any mistakes you are making, but also to have less algae growth, and, very importantly, to keep your tank water as closely similar to your tap water as possible.
Often the very best and easiest way to fix any mistakes(overfeeding, chemicals getting in the water, overdosing medicine, etc.) is to do a massive water change.
If you do small, infrequent water changes, the 'cure' will just as likely kill them as what you are trying to remove by doing the water change.
As a new aquarium owner, it is actually more important to do frequent water changes than for the more experienced ones.
In this way, not only do you "reset" the water parameters to fix any mistakes you are making, but also to have less algae growth, and, very importantly, to keep your tank water as closely similar to your tap water as possible.
Often the very best and easiest way to fix any mistakes(overfeeding, chemicals getting in the water, overdosing medicine, etc.) is to do a massive water change.
If you do small, infrequent water changes, the 'cure' will just as likely kill them as what you are trying to remove by doing the water change.
