Building a routine

[Tyler777]

I want your advice bout how often should I change the water on my tanks n check the water parameters if things seem to be ok

And how often should I change the water n check water parameters when things are not ok.

I'm trying to make a routine plan to follow

 

[sharkweek178]

I was just saying in another thread. Water changes aren't just to fix bad parameters. Although they do that. The reason we do frequent water changes is to keep the tank water stable so that the parameters never get bad in the first place.
Personally, I rarely check water parameters on my established tanks. My tanks are heavily planted and the filters are for a higher grade tank than I have them in. I don't overstock or over feed. And I do frequent water changes. There's no reason that the parameters would be bad. If a fish shows signs of illness, I'll test. But otherwise, the test kit is for cycling a tank.
With that in mind, I generally do a 50% water change every week.

 

[MattW]

I agree 100% with @sharkweek178. For both of my tanks, it's a 10L water change every week with plant trimming and filter sponge cleaning if needed. For parameters, I test about once a month now. Both my tanks are well-established and very rarely do issues flair up.

 

[Tyler777]

I was just saying in another thread. Water changes aren't just to fix bad parameters. Although they do that. The reason we do frequent water changes is to keep the tank water stable so that the parameters never get bad in the first place.
Personally, I rarely check water parameters on my established tanks. My tanks are heavily planted and the filters are for a higher grade tank than I have them in. I don't overstock or over feed. And I do frequent water changes. There's no reason that the parameters would be bad. If a fish shows signs of illness, I'll test. But otherwise, the test kit is for cycling a tank.
With that in mind, I generally do a 50% water change every week.

Thank you

I agree 100% with @sharkweek178. For both of my tanks, it's a 10L water change every week with plant trimming and filter sponge cleaning if needed. For parameters, I test about once a month now. Both my tanks are well-established and very rarely do issues flair up.

Thank you

 

[GaryE]

I have a whiteboard near my tanks, because I always forget to input data on my phone. I mark every water change, and try to stay at 30% to 50%. I don't do water tests, as with reasonable stocking and not missing water changes, I know where things stand. That's harder when you're new to aquariums, but once the tank is stable, it tends to hold if you take care of it.

I can understand people whose tap water is polluted using tests to decide when a water change is needed, but otherwise, I think it's a poor strategy. I have a lot of tanks, but spend a lot less time maintaining them than I do caring for my dog. It isn't hard.

 

[BrianK]

I was just saying in another thread. Water changes aren't just to fix bad parameters. Although they do that. The reason we do frequent water changes is to keep the tank water stable so that the parameters never get bad in the first place.
Personally, I rarely check water parameters on my established tanks. My tanks are heavily planted and the filters are for a higher grade tank than I have them in. I don't overstock or over feed. And I do frequent water changes. There's no reason that the parameters would be bad. If a fish shows signs of illness, I'll test. But otherwise, the test kit is for cycling a tank.
With that in mind, I generally do a 50% water change every week.

I do everything the same but I only do about 20-25% water changes weekly.

 

[Tyler777]

I have a whiteboard near my tanks, because I always forget to input data on my phone. I mark every water change, and try to stay at 30% to 50%. I don't do water tests, as with reasonable stocking and not missing water changes, I know where things stand. That's harder when you're new to aquariums, but once the tank is stable, it tends to hold if you take care of it.

I can understand people whose tap water is polluted using tests to decide when a water change is needed, but otherwise, I think it's a poor strategy. I have a lot of tanks, but spend a lot less time maintaining them than I do caring for my dog. It isn't hard.

Thank you for ur advice

 

[BigBurgassio]

I do once a week usually a third but sometimes 50 percent, clean the filter in aquarium water in bucket.

 

[Tyler777]

I do once a week usually a third but sometimes 50 percent, clean the filter in aquarium water in bucket.

Thank you my friend, I appreciate your resp9nse

 

[Sparx]

I do water changes once a week, roughly 20-25% in both tanks. I do a strip test before every water change to make sure there aren’t any abnormal spikes as they are nice and quick, but I have a liquid test also which i have recently purchased for more accurate testing. I haven’t used it yet. As other people have mentioned, you shouldn’t really need to test an established tank unless there is an issue.

 

[Tyler777]

I do water changes once a week, roughly 20-25% in both tanks. I do a strip test before every water change to make sure there aren’t any abnormal spikes as they are nice and quick, but I have a liquid test also which i have recently purchased for more accurate testing. I haven’t used it yet. As other people have mentioned, you shouldn’t really need to test an established tank unless there is an issue.

Thank you brother

 

[Uberhoust]

In my 75 I change water weekly to every other week, typically replace 75% of the water. Slightly overstocked on this tank. Softwater tank doesn't require any adjustment to the water.

In my 20 gallon shrimp tank I change 50% of water every 3 weeks. This water has to be adjusted for mineral content as my tap water only has a GH less than 18 ppm.

Like some of the others I don't test the water on the 75 but I do for the 20. Primarily because of the need to mix the water.