A few questions

[Xabien]

Hello again.

My first question is, is it bad to change the water too often? I have been cleaning the sand in my tank almost everyday and had to put about 15% of the water back in.

My second question is about a new tank i just bought. It is a corner tank. It is about 20 gallons (I think). Has anyone got any suggestions of what I could have in here? Some interesting fish would be nice

Thanks

 

[Allivymar]

Coupla questions Xabien:

Why are you water changing so often? I'm guessing its something about the sand but its not clear. Are there any fish in there? Are you doing a fishless cycle? If the answer to both is no, then frequent water changing won't make a difference; without an ammonia supply the tank cannot cycle. If you are changing BECAUSE there is high levels of ammonia then it makes more sense as you don't want to subject the fish to high levels of ammonia. If there are fish in there, and you are water changing 15% every day, you may slightly affect the nitrifying bacterial colonies negatively as you are removing ammonia which is their food source, but again, you don't want to subject the fish to the ammonia.

 

[LondonGman]

Someone should please correct me if I m wrong but I do not think there is anything wrong in cleaning your sand as often as you do.
The only problem I can see is that you fishes may not like you in their tank daily but other than that nothing.

However i do not know how much water you are taking out of the tank. i would not recommend more than 20% a week so that your fishes do not have to constantly adapt to the water conditions.

 

[targaboy78]

Hi LondonGman,

Someone should please correct me if I m wrong but I do not think there is anything wrong in cleaning your sand as often as you do.
The only problem I can see is that you fishes may not like you in their tank daily but other than that nothing.

I look at it this way...
What happens to all the beneficial bacteria required for the Nitrate Cycle?

Xabien, do you have a "canister style" filter?
If you do, then as long as you don't also clean out the canister at the same time, you should be OK.

Otherwise, your tank may go into a constant cycle.

Or am I missing something?

 

[Terry]

Hi Xabien,

I am a bit confused :? as well,
Why are you having to clean your sand everyday .

 

[Sinuhe]

However i do not know how much water you are taking out of the tank. i would not recommend more than 20% a week so that your fishes do not have to constantly adapt to the water conditions.

I think the redommended amount depends a lot on how much the tap water is different from the tank water. If the pH, hardness, and other numbers are close to each other, then there shouldn't be a problem with changing more than 20% at once. I change about 30% weekly, and my fish don't seem to mind at all.

 

[Scottw68TN]

Changing water is good 20% 30% 40% a week its good as long as Ph and temp don't swing around as sinuhe says. It seems the original posts may refer to the poop sitting on the sand since it does show up pretty quick. Probably being done for aesthetic reasons (It would be good to know why Xabien). If its just the surface scum then Xabien is probably not affecting the good bacteria much. Having said all that everyday is alot I hope its not needed for water quality issues otherwise you need to treat a cause as well as the effect. So Xabien why everyday?

 

[Xabien]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

My water quality is fine. Put I have 3 mollies which have the biggest poo's I have ever seen! They just eat and poo all day and it is on the surface of the sand. So all I want to do is hover it away. but when I do I take about 15% of the water with it. But the pooh problem is dying down a bit now.

Thanks