water changes

[nitrous]

when do u do them and how much to take out
also how neccasry and useful is it?

 

[Jchillin]

20-30% weekly is fine. Since you have a planted tank, no need to do deep gravel vacs, just skim available surfaces.

 

[nitrous]

alright thanks

 

[Tiffi]

Absoulutely neccessary and useful. There is dissolved matter like nitrate and many many other "chemicals" in the water, that are normal in low concentrations. Since they are dissolved the filter can't really take them out, and in higher levels they are harmful to fish etc.

Therefore you need to make waterchanges, since you're having a lot more fishes and resulting trash in the tank than it would occur in nature in a comparably small area .

 

[nitrous]

alright ill do that sometime this week

 

[Guest]

Water changes are necessary to remove Nitrates that build up from your biological cycle. In nature water is naturally absorbed and "changed"... but in our little habitats we have to do that for them by removing water and replacing it.
The nitrogen cycle Ammonia-nitrite-nitrate.. then the nitrates keep climbing. Since you have plants they will use some but not all.
I change at least 50% when i do water changes, but it depends on how often you do it. If you do it weekly.. maybe only 20-30 percent, monthly i would do much more. I do mine weekly to biweekly.

 

[nitrous]

should i do a water change even tho i am still in the cycle?

 

[rich311k]

Yes. You have fish in the tank you should be changing water just about everyday.

 

[Zagz]

It is especially important to do pwc's while cycling with fish. Like rich said doing everyday would be best. Easiest method for water changes is a python water change system. No need for buckets then.

 

[bosk1]

Easiest method for water changes is a python water change system. No need for buckets then.

I bought one as well, and I am loving it. When I was getting ready to buy the tank, one of the things that made me hesitate was visions of my childhood when my dad would fill all these 5 gallon buckets for his water changes. I was not looking forward to that!

 

[nitrous]

are these water changing systems expensive?

 

[Gryph]

I'm all for the elbow grease method. Gravel vacuum. Bucket. One gallon containers filled with aged water. But I also don't have a tank over twenty gallons right now, either...

Put yer back into it, lads! Back in my day, we didn't have any o' those fancy Python dealies! We carried our buckets uphill both ways, in th' snow, and had to suck out the chloramines with a drinkin' straw! And we were grateful!

 

[talloulou]

I love pythons cause they make it easier to do larger water changes more often with little effort. And I believe you can never do too many water changes.

 

[nitrous]

are gravel changes neccasary?

 

[RoK]

Price on the python depends on how many feet you need it to be, 25' being the shortest and cheapest. Definitely worth the money.
http://bigalsonline.com/search/?typ.../catalog3-1&keywords1=python+no+spill&x=0&y=0

are gravel changes neccasary?

If you mean taking out the gravel from the tank when it gets "old" and putting in new gravel, no. If you mean vacuuming the gravel then yes because most of the poo, leftovers, and stuff rotting goes under it.

 

[rich311k]

Gravel vacuums are necessary, but dont do one until you cycle is over.

 

[FishFingers]

Put yer back into it, lads! Back in my day, we didn't have any o' those fancy Python dealies! We carried our buckets uphill both ways, in th' snow, and had to suck out the chloramines with a drinkin' straw! And we were grateful!

Thanks Gryff I needed cheering up!