water changes - Aquarium Advice

darrin34 · 02-07-2007, 08:44 PM

My tank is a 55 gallon with about 9 different varieties of cichlids . I do a 25% water change every week. I was wondering if once and a while should i do a 50% or more and is once a week to much

ksfishguy · 02-07-2007, 09:02 PM

I would think 25% a week is plenty. What type of filtration are you running and how many fish are in the tank? The water looks great from the picture. Do you test your water parameters?

darrin34 · 02-07-2007, 09:06 PM

i am running a cascade 300 and i constanly check my water according to the pet store my chlorines are low and my ph is about 7.5 think thats what they said last and i have 9 large and one 3 2 month old fry that hatched

Voodoo Chilli · 02-08-2007, 09:00 AM

Although keeping the pH stable and any chlorine out of the water are both important points, you also need to keep on top of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in your tank.

As far as doing larger water changes goes, that's entirely dependent on whether or not your tank needs it. Knowing about the other water parameters I mentioned would help you determine this.

triazole · 02-08-2007, 10:56 AM

looks like you have primarily malawis. more fresh water every week will only do them good.

maxwell1295 · 02-08-2007, 04:15 PM

For a 55G Malawi tank, I would seriously consider adding some more filtration to that tank. Adding a AC70 or AC110 would do wonders for water movement and mechanical filtration. If you like the canister you have, get another one and double up on them. The Rena Filstar XP2 would also be a good choice for a canister.

**Zagz** · 02-08-2007, 08:04 PM

I would add more filtration and do larger water changes periodically. I have 125 gal cichlid tank and I run approx. 1500 gph through the tank. I also do 50% pwc every week.

Idealconcepts · 02-09-2007, 05:40 PM

As others suggested, you want to check your Amonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates on a regular basis. 50% a week is fine as long as you use declor, or age your water, and the water is fairly similar temp and ph and hardness. You could break it up and do 2x 25% water changes a week. On my large tanks I do 50-70% water changes and the smaller tanks 50-85% water changes once or twice a week. I don't recommend this unless you are aware of the risks. The more often you can introduce clean new water to your tank the better, there people out there with automatic water changers that change anywher from 5% to maybe 50% of water a day everyday.

ksfishguy · 02-10-2007, 02:03 PM

I run a Magnum 250 HOT and a Emperor 400 on my 55, great water!

02-08-2007, 09:00 AM	#4
Voodoo Chilli Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Niota, TN Posts: 871 Images: 1	Although keeping the pH stable and any chlorine out of the water are both important points, you also need to keep on top of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in your tank. As far as doing larger water changes goes, that's entirely dependent on whether or not your tank needs it. Knowing about the other water parameters I mentioned would help you determine this. __________________ Current species: Neolamprologus multifasciatus Lamprologus stappersi

02-08-2007, 04:15 PM	#6
maxwell1295 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 887 Images: 7	For a 55G Malawi tank, I would seriously consider adding some more filtration to that tank. Adding a AC70 or AC110 would do wonders for water movement and mechanical filtration. If you like the canister you have, get another one and double up on them. The Rena Filstar XP2 would also be a good choice for a canister. __________________ 125G Mostly Malawi Tank 75G Malawi Mbuna 7G Office MiniBow 125 Gallon Mixed African Thread, 75 Gallon Mixed Malawi Thread

02-09-2007, 05:40 PM	#8
Idealconcepts Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Moved Posts: 247	As others suggested, you want to check your Amonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates on a regular basis. 50% a week is fine as long as you use declor, or age your water, and the water is fairly similar temp and ph and hardness. You could break it up and do 2x 25% water changes a week. On my large tanks I do 50-70% water changes and the smaller tanks 50-85% water changes once or twice a week. I don't recommend this unless you are aware of the risks. The more often you can introduce clean new water to your tank the better, there people out there with automatic water changers that change anywher from 5% to maybe 50% of water a day everyday. __________________ "Talk does not cook rice" - old Chinese proverb (I think it means stop talking and start doing)

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02-07-2007, 09:02 PM	#2
ksfishguy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hutchinson, Kansas Posts: 338	I would think 25% a week is plenty. What type of filtration are you running and how many fish are in the tank? The water looks great from the picture. Do you test your water parameters?

02-07-2007, 09:06 PM	#3
darrin34 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 32	i am running a cascade 300 and i constanly check my water according to the pet store my chlorines are low and my ph is about 7.5 think thats what they said last and i have 9 large and one 3 2 month old fry that hatched

02-08-2007, 10:56 AM	#5
triazole Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 418	looks like you have primarily malawis. more fresh water every week will only do them good.

02-10-2007, 02:03 PM	#9
ksfishguy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hutchinson, Kansas Posts: 338	I run a Magnum 250 HOT and a Emperor 400 on my 55, great water!