How do you do your water changes?

[jeebus]

I add it when I start refilling the tank. If the amount of chlorine in the tap were extreme, I imagine it would cause problems but it's not an issue at our house. Thank goodness.

+1 this and what Jesper said. I add copious amounts (not overdosing, but just generous dosing) of my water treatment.

Lazy man's way - python, garbage can w/pump on wheels and go to town.

I have a 35 gallon BRUTE trashcan on a castor dolly, with a small pump that I used to use. I would manually siphon the water from the tank into the trash can, then would either drain the can (I installed a brass pet-**** at the bottom) or pump the water out. Then I would re-fill it and add my water treatment. Then I would pump it back into the tank.

It was 10x the work compared to the python.

[geoff_tropheus]

Drain to some amount over 50% and up to 90% weekly-bi-weekly. Then re-fill with tap water and add Prime, in intervals as it is filling, as if I changed 100% of the water.

While the tank is draining I always clean my small/fine filter. Cleaning my big filters I have to wait on refill because it ties up my sink.

It takes me anywhere from 20 mintues up to 2.5-3 hours to do my maintenance. On average I'd say about 1-1.5 hours.

Monday I do the 300 gallon
Tuesday the 115 and the 150
Wednesday All the smalls(20L,20L,29) and the other 150
Thursday both 180's

[J-WS6]

Weekly, drain 95% so the fish are flopping on their sides, refill 25% to get last bit of debris, drain again down the 5%, then refill. Add epsom/aquarium salt and buff ph to 8.2 with baking soda. Done!

[geoff_tropheus]

I clean my big filters maybee 3-4 mmonths. My small filters bi-weekly-monthly.

Big Filters : 2262, 2260, 2250, FX5
Small Filters : 2217, 2028, AC 110, XP4

[eklikewhoa]

Weekly, drain 95% so the fish are flopping on their sides

[J-WS6]

Only way to roll man.

[J-WS6]

A water change isn't a water change unless beer is involved.

[eklikewhoa]

I posted how I do 100% water changes a while back and a few asked how.... when I told them I drain it till they are flapping around some felt that it was inhumane.

I've had several females spat fry while doing those water changes.

Now I will say that I would not be doing the large water changes without the carbon filter though or without Amquel+plus, read/heard too many instances with dead/sick trophs, water changes and Prime.

[J-WS6]

Inhumane? The fish would beg to differ, because once the tank is full again, they're personality it completely different. They're all over the place, flashing beautiful colors, herding, etc.

Man, I'd like to get my hands on one of those large carbon bottles, but I've been using Amquel+plus since I've started the hobby. Works great.

[eklikewhoa]

I agree!

It's stoopid how happy they look after having the water drained on them!

I'm ordering the larger carbon bottles which hold a full cubic ft. of carbon for added sense of security for my water changes. I agree with the amquel, I have been using it since I was about 11 along with NovaAqua and have to say it does the job every single time!

[wesleydnunder]

Six of my tanks get a weekly 50% partial. Prime is added during refilling. The discus tank gets at least three 50 to 70% partials a week. On the occasions when I've accidentally let too much water drain, the discus freak out and wind up scratching themselves pretty bad on substrate and hardscape, so emptying until they flop around is not an option for me. I temper the water at the tap, then add prime and refill.

Mark

[andrewh]

I do small percentage daily water changes. Well I guess I should rephrase that, the tank automatically does small percentage daily water changes . After 7 days the total amount is roughly 25-30% (and adjustable).

I installed a Tee fitting off the output of my canister which then has a hose (3/8") to my washing machine's drain (through the wall to the next room - laundry room). A solenoid is connected to a timer so that it opens once a day to allow the desired amount of water to drain out.

I then have a 1/4" Tee off the refrigerator's water line where it gets double carbon filtered, then hits the tank. The inlet is controlled by a solenoid controlled through a float switch within the tank. Anytime the water level drops, the float switch turns on the inlet water. Regardless if its due to the automatic drain as described above or due to evaporation, or a gravel vac. Tank automatically fills itself back up.

Since there is relatively small amounts of water incoming to the tank, I don't worry about temp.

Theory behind my system is to allow the nitrates to drain off daily instead of letting them build up all week long, to then greatly reduce them. This also gives the tank a daily source of freshwater. And since both the inlet and drain features use electric solenoids as the controller, if the power goes out the system is deactivated (both solenoids are NC - normally closed - so it takes electricity to open them. No electricity they do not open).

Here's a link to my DIY thread with pics (pics start at post #50).

My next evolution of this system will be an RO/DI unit as the inlet with an automatic fert dosing system so I can control the macro/micro nutrients precisely at all times.

Though I'm not as diligent as I should be, I try to test the tap water after each rain, or if we haven't received rain for a while (say once a month to once every other month).

[schance]

very impressive set up andrew

[tbui1178]

...and buff ph to 8.2 with baking soda. Done!

So baking soda will increase the ph level? If so, how much are you supposed to put in?

[andrewh]

very impressive set up andrew

TYVM