Water Changing(method to your madness)

Hello!

I was wondering what everyone’s percentage and frequency is based on normal conditions. Ive noticed seeing a lot of people mentioning doing 50%+ water changes weekly.

In the past I was typically did 25% changes weekly maybe some more if I was going to be doing some rearranging and knew I’d be stirring up some substrate.

I know this can vary a lot depending on the fish you’re keeping, how heavily stocked you are etc. but just wondering in general what everyone does.

 

I do 50% weekly, sometimes a bit more, not because I have any solid reason for it but because they're small tanks (10g and 20g). By the time I do any amount of substrate cleaning with the siphon, half the water has already been emptied, haha!

 

I take the 5th because you would all yell at me!

 

I have 7 tanks a 55,29,20 long, a 10, an 8.8, and 2 5.5 and I do 50-75% WC's on all of them every 5-7 days

 

I have 7 tanks a 55,29,20 long, a 10, an 8.8, and 2 5.5 and I do 50-75% WC's on all of them every 5-7 days

Do you use a python (or similar method) or just carry buckets for your smaller tanks (20g and under)? I'd like to stop carrying buckets. I tried a water pump to at least help with putting water back into the tank (though obviously had to carry the same number of buckets), but I made the mistake of getting one that didn't have an on/off switch. I had to unplug it when the bucket ran dry, and something about having wet hands and reaching for a plug just didn't feel "safe," haha...

 

Probably the most accurate way would be to calculate the rate or nitrate rise and do water changes to keep it between 20-40 ppm.

 

Do you use a python (or similar method) or just carry buckets for your smaller tanks (20 gallon and under)? I'd like to stop carrying buckets. I tried a water pump to at least help with putting water back into the tank (though obviously had to carry the same number of buckets), but I made the mistake of getting one that didn't have an on/off switch. I had to unplug it when the bucket ran dry, and something about having wet hands and reaching for a plug just didn't feel "safe," haha...

I use an Aqueon water changer for everything except the 5.5's. I take a piece of airline and attach it to a skewer with elastics and start a siphon into a bucket with a turkey baster then use the same baster to try to congregate everything into the corner the airline is. I'll use this method for my 8.8 sometimes but usually just use the Water changer. I've even used the water changer in my 5.5's before afgter getting all the "waste " into one corner and letting it suck up about 50-75%.

 

On the fairly heavily stocked community tank I try for 25% twice a week, but sometimes life happens and it just gets it once. The new 10 gallon tank with three guppies and about 20 cherry shrimp is getting 10% twice a week, but I may up that as the numbers increase.

 

50-60% on most my tanks.

I siphon and vacuum into a bucket. Refill with a garden hose attached to the kitchen sink. Dose with prime then done.

Only buckets to carry are the dirty buckets, which is much less work than lifting a full bucket of clean water to dump into the tank almost the height of me lol

 

I only do water changes when the readings call for it. But keep in mind that I use RO/DI water and have a lot of plants.

 

90% every 2 weeks

 

I have 4 tanks 2-20s, 1-55 and 1-125. I change 50-75% every Saturday. 75% in the 125 without fail.

 

Every tank AT least 50%, then the followng day or day after that a 25% for the big tanks.

 

I am still doing a fishin cycling. So I check my parameters every day, and change water accordingly. That seems to be fifty percent every day or two right now. I have a 75 gallon and tried to purchase a python, but could not find one without going online. Instead I purchased the TopFin water changer. Love it, though it does waste some water and is hard to get the refilling water the right temperature. Without this I have about fifty feet from the tank to the laundry tub..including 6 stairs each way. No way could I do buckets. All new to fish tanks, and now just need to find a way for me to do the water change by itself.

 

I like one larger water change then many smaller .
You have to remove what is added IMO regardless of readings ?
Anything less then 50% leaves half the stuff you added still in the tank ?
I like to do 75-90 % on all my tanks weekly with fry and grow out tanks getting that much as often as daily .
An old buddy used to say 'change as much as you can as often as you can '..
Clean water is like fresh air ..Not sure their is any harm in getting too much ?

 

I have a good pump with it’s tubing to John and separate line from sink. Makes change zero to sixty 20 minute job. Not counting filter maintenance. Ilandvic turned me on to it.

And do water changes when nitrates exceed 15-20 ppm. My thought is any sooner is a waste of chemicals including Prime and trace elements. The change also varies the ph. Water temperature can be adjusted at sink and I can do it pretty much by fill. I also keep an eye on it at the tank too. My water pump is a hygger quiet 660.

With the correctly sized pump I can add at the same time as I discharge so 100% water changes are easy. I can understand this method won’t work for small tanks and are relegated to bucket but for my 75 gallon tank it works well. I did not add a switch to my pump. The electrical outlet is steps from tank and there is plenty of time to guage ta tank water level. Sorry for string of texts but thought it might help someone.

 

Hello!

I was wondering what everyone’s percentage and frequency is based on normal conditions. Ive noticed seeing a lot of people mentioning doing 50%+ water changes weekly.

In the past I was typically did 25% changes weekly maybe some more if I was going to be doing some rearranging and knew I’d be stirring up some substrate.

I know this can vary a lot depending on the fish you’re keeping, how heavily stocked you are etc. but just wondering in general what everyone does.

A third weekly . Mixed 50/50 with rainwater because my tap water is liquid rock.

 

Only have the one tank - only 120 liters.
Get the tank gardening done first and clean the inside glass then siphon out 60% (by the end of the week we have 80-100ppm nitrates due to daily addition of ferts) - siphon has a tap on the end which attaches to a long hose to the back of the house. In a dry summer we'll siphon into a 10litre bucket instead (we have two) and take 6 buckets out to put in our garden water butt.


Then it's filter maintenance if necessary. Then refilling with six buckets pre-treated water. Bucket on a stool and a two litre jug. With two of us by the time one bucket is empty, the next is full. Filling takes about 20mins. Top tip - add water through a collander - we can add water as fast as we like without whooshing up our sand. Then rearrange leaves put the lid on and clean the outside glass

 

I have a 20 gallon and change 25-50% every 7-8 days.
Out: Hose, suctionball, bucket.
In: bucket, small pump, hose

 

I have two 220 a 125 and a 75. I do two water changes a week on all of them. Method to my madness is every tank I can drain 50% out in ten minutes or less. Then I'll fill then back up which is the longest part. I can probably drain 50% out of both big tanks and have them filled back up in about 90 minutes.

 

Hello!

I was wondering what everyone’s percentage and frequency is based on normal conditions. Ive noticed seeing a lot of people mentioning doing 50%+ water changes weekly.

In the past I was typically did 25% changes weekly maybe some more if I was going to be doing some rearranging and knew I’d be stirring up some substrate.

I know this can vary a lot depending on the fish you’re keeping, how heavily stocked you are etc. but just wondering in general what everyone does.

10 percent weekly