Water Changes - How Often?

Ryou

New Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Hi, I'm Ryou c: I'm 16 years old haha. Nice to meet you all ^^
I'm new to the forum, but I've been keeping fish for a few years.
Anyways, I was just wondering how often to do water changes in my relatively new tank, as I haven't .

It's a 7 gallon Eclipse that's about 2 weeks old. It's been cycled already with substrate/water - the readings seem to be consistently fine over a few days.
I have a large Java Fern (10 leaves that are 8-9") and a small unidentified Val (many leaves, 2-3" each) planted in 1.5" of pea gravel.
The plants seem to be doing well. I was also gifted a small piece of driftwood from my LFS, so that's in my tank too.

Right now I have an angelfish (nickel-sized body), 2 honey gourami (1 inch long), and a small cory (also 1 inch long).
I've been changing maybe 10% every other day or so and they seem to be doing alright.

How often would you suggest changing the water, and how much each time? Also, is my tank overstocked? I'm worried about that.
That's all the fish I plan to keep in this tank, and I'll be moving the angelfish to my 20 gallon when he starts getting too large.

Thanks for your help!

Whoops, typo.
"Anyways, I was just wondering how often to do water changes in my relatively new tank, as I haven't ." should be:

Anyways, I was just wondering how often to do water changes in my relatively new tank, as I haven't kept such a small tank before.
 
Your tank is not overstocked today but will be when your fish grow up. If the 10% every other day is keeping both the ammonia and nitrite levels under control, that is enough. Once the tank is fully cycled, you may find you will need to do larger water changes to keep up with the nitrate build up that a large fish population will cause. More than most other factors, your willingness to do enough large enough water changes often enough is most likely to be the limiting factor for any tank's stocking capacity. It does not account for size but will compensate for crowding. You angel will eventually be very uncomfortable in such a small tank.
 
Thank you for your help!
I'll eventually be moving my angel to my 20 gallon.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum

Keith.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum

Keith.

Hi welcome!

Good question regarding water changing iv started to do 50litres on the 4th day. Which is about 25% of my tank not sure if this is too much but my tank will be overstocked to limit aggression with the fish.

Take it easy
 
Thank you all for the welcomes and advice!

I think I'll continue to do the water changes as I am right now. They seem to be happy =)
 
hello & welcome.

That Angel will eventualy need a much biger tank than 20 gallon (I imagine you are talking us gallons?).
 
Ah alright, cool.
I actually measured my tank... and it's 30 gallons XD
A friend gave it to me and said it was a 20... but it seemed like a rather large 20 to me.

Would 30gal be okay? If not, how large is good?

It's roughly 30" x 12" x 19" (lwh).
 

Most reactions

Back
Top