water change

[danuk]

hi all, ive had my 120 litre tank set up a week and a half now, and all is well, the fish seem happy etc, and the water test i did last week was all reading ok! So do i need to do a water change? and if so, how much, and how often etc. As the waters all clear now and settled etc, i dont see the need to disturb it all, or im i wrong or do i only change the water if theres a problem with the readings!!!!!

Help!!!

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi dan,

when you say set up - has it cycled?



www

 

[guppymonkey]

Yes you need to do water changes. Since you just set up your tank recently the water conditions would be okay. But you tank isn't cycled. In any established tank there are bacteria that break down waste matter. In a new tank these bacteria aren't established yet. As they start to grow in the tank they will convert your fish waste and any food that is lying on the bottom into ammonia. Ammonia is a toxic chemical. A different bacteria will break down the ammonia into nitrite which is also toxic. And finally after about a month a third bacteria will break the nitrite down into nitrate which is less deadly. So that your fish survive this stressful time you need to do water changes. Some people (like me) are fanatics and change the water in their tanks all the time. Since you sound like not quite as fanatical I doubt you will do that many water changes. I would say that for now change 20% of the water every two weeks. And then after the filter and tank have the bacteria established you can go down to changing 20% every month. These water changes are necessary and will give you happy healthy fish, think of it as your tank getting a bath to clean it up.

 

[Idolz]

Hi,
You shouldn't wait until your fish have a problem to do a water change, doing a small water change (20%) weekly or biweekly helps prevent from causing problems in your tank. Gup Monk is right, your tank is new and doesn't have the right bacteria unless you used the biospyra fishless cycle stuff. Also make sure that your fish eat every bit of food you give them so there is none leftover on the bottom, leftover food usees up oxygen in the water to break down. Hope that your fish work out for you.
Good luck.