Water Changes

[tgo]

My tank is a fully-stocked 15 gallon, and I never seem to have alot of nitrates (0- 5ppm max) after each weekly water change (40%-50%).

It is a lightly planted tank with slow-growing plants like mosses and ferns, and I think this is why my nitrates always stay low. I heard that I want them at about 20ppm for optimal plant growth, and to reduce chances of getting blue-green algae. I figured less water changes would work to conserve nitrates. Would it be ok to do water changes only when there is more nitrates than the plants should ideally have?

 

[yvez9]

biweekly is fine if you ask me.
I change about 40% every 2-3 weeks

the key is to not overfeed your fish as this will rapidly pollute your water

 

[Curiosity101]

Removal of nitrates isn't the only reason we do water changes.
They are neccesary to replace a whole host of naturally occuring minerals and compounds.

In your position I would introduce a plant fertiliser to up the Nitrogen and Phostphate content of the water.
And lower your changes to 30-40%. But keep them weekly.

 

[merlinblack]

Removal of nitrates isn't the only reason we do water changes.
They are neccesary to replace a whole host of naturally occuring minerals and compounds.

In your position I would introduce a plant fertiliser to up the Nitrogen and Phostphate content of the water.
And lower your changes to 30-40%. But keep them weekly.

40% per week is a lot, Id have no weekend let with my three 5 foot tanks lol.
You could try using Purigen, it absorbs the proteins that turn to nitrate.
Not sure hopw good it is, i've started using it and my nitrates still went up but then I have it in a bag made from a stocking in the bottom of a filter but the filter gets blocked. if i keep washing the bag to make sure it doesnt block then hopefully it will work well.

 

[Curiosity101]

Or you'd think of your fishes quality of life first and buy/make a 'phython'. It'd cut down on time and effort considerably but still give the fish freshwater.
I agree 40% is quite a bit. But 30% is a good amount to change a week. (Unless you have fish that specifically dislike water changes, eg. Snakeheads)

Adding chemicals to the tank because you don't want to do larger waterchanges or asses your stocking levels is lazy.

By the way, the original poster isn't having a problem with high nitrates. They are having the reverse problem.

 

[Jallen]

Every 2 weeks is fine as long as you are doing about 30% each time. Get a fertiliser with nitrates in it also (if you find you get algae from it, dose less) and dose as the packaging says.

 

[tgo]

I decided to do a 15-20% water change every week and see how it goes. I have been told I shouldn't need ferts on a small, low-light tank because the fish should provide enough nutrients.

I thought about Flourish since it does have nitrogen listed on the label, as well as trace elements. Is this a good bet? I could dose it along with the Excel I'm using. I can't get Tropica Plant Nutrition here, are than any other brands with similar products? Thanks for your help.

 

[Curiosity101]

I was told I don't need ferts as I have a low-light low tech tank. But if your test results show low nitrates then they show low nitrates whether it is the 'norm' or not.

Flourish sounds ok to me...but your phosphates may also be low, so you may want something to give them a bit of a boost aswell.

 

[confused mermaid]

Wow....I do almost a 50% water change every weekend in my 46 gallon. But then again due to miscommunication between myself and my son we are slightly overstocked. (don't bawl me out.....they're all small fish) I said SLIGHTLY overstocked. My tests always come out good, I just do it because I don't want to take a chance on a dirty tank

 

[Curiosity101]

Hey some people technically would call me overstocked!

But I have a beastly external and quite heavy planting. Plus I keep up my water changes religiously!
My nitrates don't even touch 10ppm between water changes.

 

[confused mermaid]

Hey some people technically would call me overstocked!

But I have a beastly external and quite heavy planting. Plus I keep up my water changes religiously!
My nitrates don't even touch 10ppm between water changes.

ur tank is gorgeous. How big is it? I have gravel because I don't know how to take care of sand and I can never keep my live plants in there.

Hey some people technically would call me overstocked!

But I have a beastly external and quite heavy planting. Plus I keep up my water changes religiously!
My nitrates don't even touch 10ppm between water changes.

ur tank is gorgeous. How big is it? I have gravel because I don't know how to take care of sand and I can never keep my live plants in there.

Oh, nevermind...I see your stats.