How often can I do a water change?

[Melfice]

Wow...I was doing a 20% change every 2 weeks, and my lfs told me that changing the water too often is not good. They recommended changing 20% once a month.

No. 20% is a min everyweek at least. Nothing is better than clean fresh water for your fish.

 

[pnyklr3]

Do you vacuum the gravel everytime you do a water change? I do, and the lfs told me that doing that every week would remove much of the beneficial bacteria and , yes *wink* hurt the cycle. I do agree with fresh water being better, and that's why I was doing my changes every 2 weeks (thought that it would be better than every 4, and thought that my fish would be happier! ) Looks like my schedule will be changing!!!

 

[Melfice]

Do you vacuum the gravel everytime you do a water change? I do, and the lfs told me that doing that every week would remove much of the beneficial bacteria and , yes *wink* hurt the cycle. I do agree with fresh water being better, and that's why I was doing my changes every 2 weeks (thought that it would be better than every 4, and thought that my fish would be happier! ) Looks like my schedule will be changing!!!

Everyweek I do different parts of my tank (or just over the gravel itself). I don't always need to clean the gravel. So, I just try to get all the water from the bottom area of the tank.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi bubs

To go back to your original post on this topic, on a cycled tank that has fish in it, you could safely change 50% or so of the water each week. This will dilute the color in your water each time and soon it will be as clear as you can get it. Don't be in too much of a hurry if you are starting your filter with new filter media. In a couple of weeks it will become populated with beneficial bacteria and that will decrease the possibility of the cycle being disturbed.

If you are in doubt about whether you have taken too much, monitor your water test results and if you see ammonia or nitrites showing up, ease up for a while and just take enough to keep the ammonia and nitrites at zero. The beneficial bacteria will quickly reproduce and your tank will get back to normal shortly.

Now I noticed that you said you had sand on the bottom. The care of sand is a little different than that of gravel and, since I am not very knowledgeable about that, I suggest you start another thread to ask specifically about it. Others will surely help you there.

 

[bubs]

Thanks to all of you who have contributed in helping me understand.It's all new to me and I'm trying my best to get through what they say is the worst couple of weeks, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The time and effort you put in in answering and "being bothered" is so much appreciated. What a fantastic web page and I know that I will be back to you with other threads. Thanks again.