T Money
Aquarium Advice Regular
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2018
- Messages
- 68
I have 125 gallon tank with 9 juvenile cichlids and 2 plecos. I have 2 marineland emperor 400 filters. How often should I perform water changes?
Thank you for the feedback. Are there certain chemicals I should use during the water change?Hello T...
Water changes should really be done weekly and half the tank volume in gallons is recommended. Though, more is always better when it comes to changing the tank water. In short here's why: The trace elements in water change the longer it runs through a filtering system. Water when exposed to nitrogen from fish waste and nitrogen in the air reduces oxygen. Fish and plants also use trace elements to stay healthy. The longer water stays in the tank, the more it changes. By removing and replacing most of it weekly, you can maintain the best water chemistry for the fish and plants.
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Thank you for the feedback. Are there certain chemicals I should use during the water change?
You guys are amazing. I love this group. Thanks for everything.You need a dechlorinator. I recommend Seachem’s Prime.
Ok I got it. How do I ensure the added water is the right temperature?However, if treating the water beforehand isn’t an option, you can certainly add the total amount of dechlorinator needed to treat the entire tank before you add water. I use a Python water changer, so I’ve always treated the tank before the new water is added.
Usually partial water changes are done once a week...usually 1/4 at a time. But one of the reasons it's done is to keep down nitrates. Test the nitrate level before your water change. If it's very high, you may have to do it a couple times a week until you get it done. But usually once a week keeps the perameters good.I have 125 gallon tank with 9 juvenile cichlids and 2 plecos. I have 2 marineland emperor 400 filters. How often should I perform water changes?
I wrote before that 1/4 a week is the usual change. My tank is only 55 gal. and lately Ive been changing 1/4 of it every day for 2 weeks, but I had a male blue Gourami that died. I didn't know why until I looked at a dissection of one of his gills under my microscope to find gill flukes. So I treated my tank twice without water changes in between to make sure all parasites were dead. I didn't have to worry about nitrates building up because I have tons of the houseplant Pothos rooted in the back. The tank looks fine from the front, but the Pothos suck up the nitrates and grow like crazy. Here's a pic of the back of my tank.Usually partial water changes are done once a week...usually 1/4 at a time. But one of the reasons it's done is to keep down nitrates. Test the nitrate level before your water change. If it's very high, you may have to do it a couple times a week until you get it done. But usually once a week keeps the perameters good.
One more thing that I forgot to mention about water changes is to always to it while vacuuming the substrate of the aquarium. A lot of fish waste falls to the bottom never making to the filter. You may have already known that, but others also read these postings that may be new to the hobby. In truth, you should do partial water as often as you can.I wrote before that 1/4 a week is the usual change. My tank is only 55 gal. and lately Ive been changing 1/4 of it every day for 2 weeks, but I had a male blue Gourami that died. I didn't know why until I looked at a dissection of one of his gills under my microscope to find gill flukes. So I treated my tank twice without water changes in between to make sure all parasites were dead. I didn't have to worry about nitrates building up because I have tons of the houseplant Pothos rooted in the back. The tank looks fine from the front, but the Pothos suck up the nitrates and grow like crazy. Here's a pic of the back of my tank.View attachment 308517
I have a sand substrate that I vacuum when I do water changes. I don't push me vacuum hose into the sand. The uneaten food and the fluffy blobs of wish waste pull right off the bottom without disturbing the substrate with the vacuum about 3/4 from the bottom without leaving there to continue to decompose. My nitrates are almost always nil with my water changes and Pothos plants growing out of the back.One more thing that I forgot to mention about water changes is to always to it while vacuuming the substrate of the aquarium. A lot of fish waste falls to the bottom never making to the filter. You may have already known that, but others also read these postings that may be new to the hobby. In truth, you should do partial water as often as you can.
That's 3/4 inch from the substrate.I have a sand substrate that I vacuum when I do water changes. I don't push me vacuum hose into the sand. The uneaten food and the fluffy blobs of wish waste pull right off the bottom without disturbing the substrate with the vacuum about 3/4 from the bottom without leaving there to continue to decompose. My nitrates are almost always nil with my water changes and Pothos plants growing out of the back.