Joe G

I test my water at least once a week, ( wensday ) and do a 25 % water change every week ( Saturday or sunday ). I notice when i test my water everthings is wear it should be. If water test shows water is OK, do i still need to do a 25% water change one a week.

atmmachine816

Yes I would say so since they want new water, you can cut back on how much water you do, I only do 10% and my water is fine in my large tank and my dad doesn't want me doing much more than that anyways.

Joe G

sounds good, i will try that for the next couple of changes and keep testing water. And see what happends.

Butterfly

There are disolved solids you can't test for and they need to be removed, also there are trace elements that your new water adds back and your plants use them so I usually do at least 25% each week.
Carol

Boxermom

Just imagine you living in a toilet. Wouldn't you want the water changed regularly?

atmmachine816

I just said 10% because that is always what I have been told and I usually do 5 gallons so I guess that's more than 10% but I do that when my dad isn't home, he doesn't like me "wasting the water", my mom doesn't mind though.

Butterfly

Do you have house plants or a garden out side? Do what I do and put your used aquarium water on them. Now the waters not wasted
Carol

kerryve

I really hate water changes cos my tank is so big, but its just something everyone needs to do to ensure your fishes' health. I do as much as I can, I do it on a Sunday and Change about 200liters at a time about 50g I dont have a gravel vac yet so I scoop the water out with a 1litre Jug... hehe. will be getting a vac soon, so i can pick up all the rubbish at the bottom of the tank - Pleco seems to keep that pretty clean though.

Marc

Before I had plants I did about 15 gallons a week in my 55g, about 8 gallons every 2-3 days. (just a tad too much....)

Not sure why, maybe I just didn't notice, but after I got plants my pH had gone down from 7.4 or so to 5.8 and any large water changes made the pH jump. Now I change about 3 gallons at a time every 2 days and it's working great for me.

Yeah, kinda got off track, but what I meant to say is... just check water parameters before and after so you don't end up causing any spikes.

dahly

Fresh water fish love fresh water! I have changed 25-40% every week since I started in the hobby 10 months ago. When you gravel vac, as I do, you'll see "stuff" being removed from your tanks gravel throughout the water change. Some hobbyists advocate 50% changes everyweek. Check your water chemistry and keep the water fresh. Your fish will thrive! Glenn

Boxermom

Much depends on the size of the tank. The smaller the tank, the more water changes (in both amount and frequency) needed in order to maintain healthy conditions. Very small tanks often do best with 100% water changes. Larger tanks are more stable and, therefore, require less maintenance but still need some. It also depends on the stocking. One can have a heavily planted, low bioload tank that never needs water changes. The heavier the bioload, the more water changes become necessary.

Joe G

So far in my 10 gallon tank i have only done 25 % water change weekly, But i have not vacuumed gravel yet. i have lots of live plats and they seam to be doing very well. and fish happy . when i test water it is at a safe level. I do pas siphon over gravel to suck up loose waist, that is on the top of the gravel.