water changes

[Bogdan]

I didn't do water changes in my tank since I started it (about 2 years) and do not intend to do any. Just top it off. My plants and fish grow fast, spawn regularly, water parameter are stable. Why would I do 70% water changes every week?
If you keep "hogs" sorry discus or sicklids packed like a sardines in a can then you probably should keep the fresh water running constantly :).

[Zulaab]

Bogdan is this a heavily planted tank or no plants at all ?

[myjohnson]

I was thinking of buying a copy tonight to read this article. You can borrow it when I'm done, Thai. )

Even better, borrow Geoff's and then let me borrow that copy.

[myjohnson]

Bogdan is this a heavily planted tank or no plants at all ?

+1, planted tanks work different. I have my fishes packed like sardines in a can so I probably should keep the fresh water running constantly.

[cichlid1409]

can you sum up the article for people that don't have a copy?

basically , they compare the standard 20% WC with a 10% daily and a 70% weekly. shows how all wastes can build up (not just nitrates) over a period of time. changing only 20% a week you barely put a dent in the accumulated waste leaving 80% and it continues to build up without signifigant lowering of wastes. 10% daily pretty much keeps a constant waste level that is not very low at all. and 70% takes out a good amount of waste so every week it builds back up but is reduced enough so it doesn't get too bad.

i like darbex's idea of 70% every other day but it comes to a point for me where its not fun anymore and becomes a chore so i wouldn't ever do that.

[eklikewhoa]

WOw 70% weekly... that's hogwash.

[cichlid1409]

WOw 70% weekly... that's hogwash.

it's aliiive! i know who would change that much water at once..... i would have to thank Ek for telling me about massive water changes.

[Darbex]

It almost is but that is also the time I will just sit and watch them at the same time since I dont really do anything just monitor the water. When I had Africans I did weekly about 50-60%. On my angel and Apisto tanks. I change water when I can hear the water falling from the pipes to the top of the water which is about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks but those are heavy planted tanks so they take care of themselves pretty much. I only do about 40% in those just to cycle in some fresh water also so I dont disturb the pH level to much since it is CO2 as well.

[geoff_tropheus]

I dont want my hobby to become my job. But...I do have a schedule..

Monday - 300 gallon and 115
Tuesday - Both 150's and my 3-20's
Thursday - Both 180's
Saturday morning - overflow

Each night takes me 2-3 hours depending if I am only waterchanging or also doing a filter.

Each tank I change 50 to 75% depending on my mood or if I got somewhere to go

[wesleydnunder]

My discus get 60-70% every other day. The other tanks get 50-80% weekly.

I'll have to check out that article. Robert T. Ricketts has been an advocate of large-scale water changes for years, while Diane Walstad(sp) uses a system much like Bogdan's.

Did the article mention DOCs and non-volatile acids?

Mark

[76dragon]

I do about 50% water changes to the 2 300 Gallon tubs 3 times a week. I have it plumbed so that all I have to do is open the valve and the water goes into the grass. I just have close the valve and turn the water on to fill it back up. It takes me about half an hour for the ponds.

On the 150 inside, i just change it on Saturday mornings if I am in town.

[supadave]

Hey 76dragon.... I bet your grass is really pretty and green around those 300 gal ponds.)

[lilmissruffcountry]

If I were to do as many WC's as some of you...I would have too many plecos to know what to do with...as it is, I already have enough, so when I think I need more, is when I power feed, an do a few cold WCs...the guppies don't really care, as long as they have food, they are fine with a 5-10% every week or 2...

[PhishPhreek]

I still think that if you need to do water changes that often, your tank is tooo small.

[myjohnson]

It's a matter of balance. Fish waste and tank size ratio determines the exact amount of water change needed to keep nitrates low and avoid a slow build up. But that ratio is hard, if not impossible, to determine for hobbyist.

I do large water changes to make sure I'm over that ratio.