Sharkitty

The subject line pretty much summed up my question.

AlyeskaGirl

NitrAtes are good 20 or less. So you test and perform a water change if needed to keep nitrAtes low and water clean.

Iron waffle

Maybe twice a week until you can get it to 10-20. you could do more if you wanted. change about 50% of the water each time.

Shawnie

how much is 50% to get the nitrates 20 or under as others have said..test your tap water to make sure you dont have nitrates in the water.....size of tank and fish inside the tank also make a difference on how often..if you fill in your aquarium info, it helps alot what fish and what size tank is it?

Sharkitty

2.5 gallon mini bow with good filter, heater, and one betta. Tested the tap water, no nitrates. I'll fill in my info now . . .

I know nitrates are just a math thing - I suppose my only real question is whether there is a point at which you are changing the water too often and stressing your fish. But it sounds like the answer is no.

Shawnie

well IMO yes you can overkill on too much changing...If your readings are 0 - 0- and under 20, theres no need to do a water change except every other week....but thats just my opinion...they need some bacteria and not total spotless clean to live...ive read fish babies died for no apparent reasons and sometimes I wonder if people are over dueing the cleaning part and not just letting nature have its way sometimes...certainly that doesnt mean let them live in their own waste by any means tho ...and deffinately a 50% change is due in a 2.5 gal with 40 nitrates...I will tell you from experience, that the smaller the tank, the harder it is to keep stable...believe it or not, my 75 gal is much easier (even if the times you do change water and clean it, its back killing LOL ) to keep water parimeters great than my 3 gals

Lucy

Sharkitty, I thought the water was changed to get the nitrates down before the betta was added.
Do you still have the clown pleco? He really should have a bigger tank. Being in the wrong size tank can stunt his growth and produce too much ammonia which drives up the nitrates.
Nitrates in small amounts are not harmful but once they get over 20you're fish can run into problems.
You'll probably need to do water changes at least twice a week until you re-home the pleco.

Sharkitty

Took the pleco back a few hours ago. He was hard to catch, which was the only reason he didn't go back Tuesday. I did do a massive water change before I brought Finneus home. I didn't realize that 20 was the magic number (stoopid newbie), and my retest showed 30-40 (same as just a few minutes ago).

I'll happily change the water as often as necessary. Seems like 50% today gets me to 20 and 50% tomorrow gets me to 10 - so long as you guys don't think that's overkill with the water changing.

Sharkitty

I am still eying a 5-gal mini bow (wouldn't add anybody). I wish Walmart wasn't $22 cheaper than my LFS since I'm boycotting them . . .

Shawnie

oh I didnt realize there was a plec in there...sowwwy !

Sharkitty

There's not! He went back to the store!

Shawnie

but prior to returning him, is probably why the nitrates are so high....nothing a 50% change wont fix..then if that doesnt do it, another tomorrow....

Sharkitty

Okie dokie. Thanks.

Lucy

That sounds about right to me and the tank should level off and you should be able to go to weekly maintenance.