Shmoe

We do 30% water changes and vacuum the gravel on half of the tank each week. We also feed all of our fish 2 (and sometimes 3) times per day. We do not over feed - no flakes hit the bottom of the tank. The Bettas each get 3 pellets per meal. Somedays the gang only gets fed once per day. Sometimes they get frozen squares of various food (thawed) right before tank cleanings.

Our tanks hang out around 0-0-10 and have a pH of 6.5, soft water.

I was told today that we should be feeding every other day, except for the bettas - 3 pellets per day for them, and that I should only be doing water changes and vacuums once a month.

What do you think?

Amanda

I say I should do them once a week, but I usually do them once every 2 weeks.
So many tanks, so little time.

Shawnie

this has been asked alot and it always falls on ones own preference and what works for you ....

for me, on my overstocked tanks, they get one ever 6-7 days and on my others , every 9-14 days.... I dont have huge fish anymore (oscars) but when I did , I was doing water changes every other day...

if your way has been working for you , why change it

on feeding, if you dont have waste on the bottom and your readings are that good, id keep doing what your doing

Shmoe

That is how I feel. My wife has had fish for years and this is sorta her routine. She says we could move to every other week and see how that works. We will, of course, keep an eye on how happy our fish are and the water chemistry.

I was just wondering what you guys thought. Thanks!

prairielilly

Completely agreed.

Everyone's got a different opinion, and every source (I find especially LFS's) will tell you what you 'should' do to make your care routine 'better'. Then again, if the fish are healthy and happy with things just the way they are, then...wait, haven't we already achieved the goal?

agabr123

i'd just keep your routine, whatever works for you probably best. personally, i do weekly water changes of about 50%, and i feed all of my fish twice a day, the bettas get four pellets every feeding (adults get six if they are the atisons pellets which are smaller than hikari pellets).

na/mustang1

personally i do a 25 -30 % water change and vacuum weekly

Emory

*ahem*coughs*apparently our water is not so great Shmoe*coughs
(I'm "the wife" mentioned above.)

Don't know if it is our kit or our water but I am taking water to the local mom 'n pop fish store to double check our water.

Here goes:
5 gallon with one betta: pH 6, 0.5 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, temp 81

10 gallon QT: pH 7, ammonia 0, NitrIte 0.25, NitrAte 0.1, temp 78

10 gallon with Betta: pH 6.8, Ammonia 0.25, NitrIte 0, NitrAte 0, temp 80

29 gallon freshwater community: pH 7.2, ammonia 0, NitrIte 0, NitrAte 40!, temp 78

We had been averaging 0 - 0 - 10ish for the longest time

capekate

Hi Emory
have you tested your water from the tap? I dont know if you are using city water or well, but you may want to check your tap to see what readings you get there, that may have affected your tank readings.
It sounds like both your 10g and 5g are in a mini cycle and I would really watch them carefully and up those water changes and use Prime til they are giving you stable readings again.
Your 29g tank sounds like it may need a vacuuming at least once a week rather than the two weeks, as your nitrate is high in that one. But at least that tank appears to be cycled lol..
I would be curious to see what the LFS gives you for readings. Are you using test strips or test tubes for water tests?
best of luck.. its a good thing that you decided to go ahead and check, now you can do what needs to be done to keep your fish babies healthy and happy.

aquarist48

As far as water changes are concerned, do what works best for your fish and your tanks. I have a large tank with large fish (Pics coming soon by the way folks. Have to get film developed and then I can scan them) I do water changes religiously every 10 days changing out 25g's each time. So by the end of the month I've exchanged 75g's and or 1/2 of my tank. One of those changes during the month I vacuum.

Don't neglect the water changes. If they aren't done on a routine basis your fish will not live to their life expectancy. Too, don't forget to change the filter floss regularly. No water changes and a dirty filter mean the fish are swimming in their own waste.

Emory

When the lfs opens I plan on taking tap water and water from the tanks to see what their readings are. Hopefully my API kit is bad and my tanks are good. Unlikely, though since I just got the thing back in October or November.

I have no clue what could have thrown them into a mini-cycle. No recent changes on my part or the fish's. The 5 gallon and 10 gallon in question each have one Betta, plus the 10 gallon has an otto. The 10 gallon QT.... same thing - no changes. Our water changes and vacuuming remains on the same schedule with the same rotation of vacuuming locations.

Our water is not well or city water. Our neighborhood is out in the county and has it's own water company.

Chemistry readings "within normal limits" for weeks, established feeding routine, established cleaning routine. What happened! Did I hold my tongue wrong when we were filling the tanks? lol

I'll post the lfs's readings as soon as I get back.

Thanks guys.

Emory

So my chemistry results are right on target with the LFS's test results. And, our tap water appears to have phosphates showing at 1 PPM.

We will have to work to get back into shape and then try to do a PWC every two weeks instead of weekly.