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Water change process?
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How have I insulted you?????
I was planning to get involved in your thread to help you. (Even though you are already getting great help)
But if you feel my post was insulting you then never mind. I was just pointing out that people are going to have issues with your stocking and Texas was being very polite by not forcing it on you.
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Many people are not aware that they may have behavioral or temperature incompatibilities in their tanks. We bring it up, not to be rude, but to find out if you would like to talk about them. No one is attacking or criticizing or insulting you. We care about the health and the happiness of the fish, which is why we try to offer helpful advice and address someone's stocking.
No one is arguing with you, and there is no need to argue either. Most people are happy to hear what potential issues others see in their tanks. We can't force you to change anything, but one would think knowing what could happen in your tank would be beneficial to you, and that you'd be receptive to it.
Since you asked what I meant, I will address your stocking issues. You can take it or leave it. However, you do have stocking issues in your tank that will result in illness for at least one fish in the tank.
Dwarf gourami males will fight or bully each other. Females are hard to find and less colorful than males (usually a dullish silver color). A M/F pair is fine, but keeping two males will likely result in injury or death to one of the males.
Bala sharks need a much larger tank than a 29 gal, and they should be in groups. Kept in your tank, he will be stunted and lead a much shorter, and more sickly, life.
Neons should be in a larger group. 8-10 would be a good number for this tank.
No one is arguing with you, and there is no need to argue either. Most people are happy to hear what potential issues others see in their tanks. We can't force you to change anything, but one would think knowing what could happen in your tank would be beneficial to you, and that you'd be receptive to it.
Since you asked what I meant, I will address your stocking issues. You can take it or leave it. However, you do have stocking issues in your tank that will result in illness for at least one fish in the tank.
Dwarf gourami males will fight or bully each other. Females are hard to find and less colorful than males (usually a dullish silver color). A M/F pair is fine, but keeping two males will likely result in injury or death to one of the males.
Bala sharks need a much larger tank than a 29 gal, and they should be in groups. Kept in your tank, he will be stunted and lead a much shorter, and more sickly, life.
Neons should be in a larger group. 8-10 would be a good number for this tank.
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Right now I just have 2 nerite snails in a 4 gallon tank and I plan on getting a betta after the holidays but I'm trying learn as much as I can before then. I just got a python pro clean gravel vaccume and I used it tonight but I wasn't able to clean very much of the gravel before the water level in the tank got down to about 25-30%. So when I do get a betta do I need to take him out of the tank to clean? How much water should I take out at a time and how often should I clean the gravel? My snails seem to really poop a lot so I was excited to get the siphon!
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Its going to be hard to do a water change with a python in a 4 gallon tank. Your talking about the one that hooks up to the faucet right?
I do a 50% water change once a week on all my tanks and I think most people recommend it. I would not take him out because that is very stressful to your fish. You can clean one side of your gravel one week and the other the next week but I don't think it hurts to clean it all at one that's what I do and I haven't had any issues.
I do a 50% water change once a week on all my tanks and I think most people recommend it. I would not take him out because that is very stressful to your fish. You can clean one side of your gravel one week and the other the next week but I don't think it hurts to clean it all at one that's what I do and I haven't had any issues.
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This may be more suitable for a 4 gallon tank, compared to a Python.....
Topfin aquarium gravel vacuum
This and a bucket should work better for your application.....
Topfin aquarium gravel vacuum
This and a bucket should work better for your application.....
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Hello guys, I have a 5 gallon tank with a sponge filter, I started this tank like 4 moths ago and until yesterday it only have one apple snail! Yesterday I buy another apple snail and a female betta fish, I have 2 questions? First is that I not sure if its too much biological load? and second is that I don't know how much water chance every water change and how often should I do it? Thanks a lot
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Do you think that I can put another female betta?
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Another apple snail?
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The water changes should be weekly, but the amount I’m not sure enough to answer, and I would just keep 2 snails and the betta.
If I remember correctly, apple snails are also the largest freshwater snail, so they will need to given to someone with a bigger tank or you will need to upgrade in the next month or so
Platylover , I need some help explaining
If I remember correctly, apple snails are also the largest freshwater snail, so they will need to given to someone with a bigger tank or you will need to upgrade in the next month or so
Platylover , I need some help explaining
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I think the 2 snails would be fine with the betta. As for how much water you should change weekly, you should experiment how long it takes to get >20 nitrates and do a 50% water change and that is how often you should do a water change in that amount.
Edit: Changed the percentage after more thinking. Gabriel-CR
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50% weekly is fine. I do around 80% on my aquarium weekly, with no troubles - which is much larger. In such a small tank, it doesn't take a lot to empty and refill - a couple of gallon jugs would do well - so 50% isn't really a whole lot.
(Not to mention, apple snails get large and are pretty messy... a larger waterchange would be a good thing for all inhabitants IMO... but are you sure that you don't have a mystery snail, while in the same genus, grows a lot smaller.
(Not to mention, apple snails get large and are pretty messy... a larger waterchange would be a good thing for all inhabitants IMO... but are you sure that you don't have a mystery snail, while in the same genus, grows a lot smaller.
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Well, for the bioload it really does depend on what apple snail you have. If it’s just a mystery two should be fine, particularly if you have some plants to help with the nitrates. But if it’s a regular apple snail I don’t know if I’d two or even one for that matter. They have big bioloads and get large, I can see them comfortably staying in a 10 gallon with a betta. It seems like it would be very cramped... I could also see the bioload being a major issue as they mature.
I do suggest making a thread and seeing what kind of snail it is, this way we can properly answer your question on the bioload.
As for waterchanges, a good place to start is between 25-50% weekly, but as you potentially have a very large bioload it’s likely better to do no less than 50% weekly, perhaps 75% instead.
If you get a liquid test kit(which I highly suggest) then you’ll be able to monitor how your water works and go from there.
Sometimes you don’t really need to do a waterchange every week and the parameters will not get all messy. Take my planted 10 gallon for example, it’s fine to just do small waterchanges weekly or take a week off.
I know some of the things were relatively answered, but wanted to give my input as well.
I do suggest making a thread and seeing what kind of snail it is, this way we can properly answer your question on the bioload.
As for waterchanges, a good place to start is between 25-50% weekly, but as you potentially have a very large bioload it’s likely better to do no less than 50% weekly, perhaps 75% instead.
If you get a liquid test kit(which I highly suggest) then you’ll be able to monitor how your water works and go from there.
Sometimes you don’t really need to do a waterchange every week and the parameters will not get all messy. Take my planted 10 gallon for example, it’s fine to just do small waterchanges weekly or take a week off.
I know some of the things were relatively answered, but wanted to give my input as well.
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Ok I will start a thread! But one last question if they are mystery snail my aquarium bioload is fine? I can keep it like this? Thanks
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This question apparently invokes quite a bit of debate whenever you bring it up, so here we go;
How much and how often should you change the water in your tank?
I'm about to begin my first tank, and I have read that 15 to 20% change is enough,
and you can even skip a week if your water test says everything is fine (never delay more than one week though).
Meanwhile my friend (also about to begin) keeps going off that you need to do at least 50% weekly, no exceptions.
To be clear, we're talking regular maintenance, not the nitrate cycle start.
The parameters are; 20G tank, planted, heated, fully stocked, with some janitor species (kuhli, shrimp).
So please do tell, what ritual do you think is best, and why?
How much and how often should you change the water in your tank?
I'm about to begin my first tank, and I have read that 15 to 20% change is enough,
and you can even skip a week if your water test says everything is fine (never delay more than one week though).
Meanwhile my friend (also about to begin) keeps going off that you need to do at least 50% weekly, no exceptions.
To be clear, we're talking regular maintenance, not the nitrate cycle start.
The parameters are; 20G tank, planted, heated, fully stocked, with some janitor species (kuhli, shrimp).
So please do tell, what ritual do you think is best, and why?
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You were correct when you said it can be quite the debate. Everyone does this differently. You just need to find what works for you and your tank. You'll see what I mean once you're months in. As for me, I do weekly 25% water changes, every Sunday, in both my 10 gal and 29 gal tanks. It has just become part of my weekend routine. Saturdays I test my water to see what is going on and almost always my nitrates are only at around 5 but I still change the tank. I personally work better with structure and schedule. I don't want to get in the habit of 'skipping a water change' because my nitrates are still low. Could I skip a week? sure. But this just works for me. Putting new water in the tank has more benefits than just affecting your typical parameter readings.
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I have a heavily planted tank and use lots of ferts. I do a 40% to 50% water change weekly (EI method).
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It all depends on your tanks and the water your replacing it with. My water is terrible so an 80% water change would kill most of the fish. An 80% WC can also change the parameters in your tank to quickly. I recommend a max of 50% and a min of 15%. Fish keeping is not an exact science. You have to find what works for you.
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