Water Changes

[Joanne_]

Hi

Just wondering how often people change the water for their size tank and how fully stocked it is ?

I have read that some people only change their water twice a year, a guy I know has never changed his water and some change their water every three days which made me think, will this affect the fish ? Having the water changed so often ?

So just wondering what the majority of people do

 

[mattyeatsmatts]

I've always thought that leaving the water for too long can make it "stale". And replacing it adds minerals and other stuffs to the tank.

EDIT: Oh and I do 25% changes weekly for my 30L

 

[Rox]

10 GL, 5 fish

I do it whenever there's lots of poop tbh. (which is about once every 8 or 9 days) My tank specs (ammonia, nitrate, etc) seem to be 100% perfect no matter what, so the fish poop is the only factor really...

 

[CezzaXV]

I do mine twice weekly, probably around 70% as I'm right on the upper limit of how much I can sensibly stock in my 60L. The large water change doesn't seem to bother my fish so I reason why not.

Having said that, I tested my tank water before my water change today and the nitrate was the same as it comes out of the tap (I'm quite heavily planted). If it continues I'm going to consider just doing one change a week.

 

[mattyeatsmatts]

Spose if your heavily planted, then the nitrate is not so much of an issue

 

[Ruskull]

I do about 30% on each tank every week & a half. I would really like to do it every week but I procrastinate a lot.

For a 20 gallon it takes two 5 gallon buckets about 2/3's full and I do a steady three 2/3's full 5 gallon buckets for the 36 gallon. I do them throughout the week after I get home from work. My son's 20 gallon is next tomorrow night, and then the other 20 gallon. Sometimes I do those 2 the same night.

 

[Joanne_]

At the moment I change about 30% of the water every week but will be changing to 30% mid week and 30% + vacuum at the end of the week as the nitrate levels are high.

 

[KISSfn]

25-30% every week.