Water changes

[Lamie]

Hi there
I have been wondering if this water changing system is working. It's a 70 L tank
Monday I do 10 litres (1 bucket change)
Then Thursday I do 20 litres water change (2 buckets)
Is this too much or too little? Or not quite right.

 

[Fishmanic]

How long has the tank been set up?
Is your tank cycled properly?
What is your stocking?
Is your tank heavily planted?

If cycled, you are better off doing one larger 50% water change every 7 to 10 days or so depending on whether you are lightly stocked or more heavily stocked. If nitrates are about 20 ppm or less just before the water change, the above suggestion should be fine. If much above 20 ppm, an even larger water change may be necessary.

 

[Attenbruh]

That should be fine, Remember to put some plants in if you can as it will "Clean" the water and keep it stable during the week but read up on the different parameters the plants change. If you wanted you could do a 50L change on Thursday, but keep an eye on the water during the week to make sure. If your water isn't stable and spikes during the week then you could resort to your previous plan. Also what fish do you have in there and is your tank cycled?

 

[Byron]

It would be more benefit to do the volume at one time, rather than divide it. My article on the forum here explains this.

Regular Partial Water Changes

Byron Hosking November, 2010 (rev April 2021) Nothing is more important when it comes to aquarium maintenance than regular partial water changes. The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies here. One frequently reads of products that will reduce the need for...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Lamie]

That should be fine, Remember to put some plants in if you can as it will "Clean" the water and keep it stable during the week but read up on the different parameters the plants change. If you wanted you could do a 50L change on Thursday, but keep an eye on the water during the week to make sure. If your water isn't stable and spikes during the week then you could resort to your previous plan. Also what fish do you have in there and is your tank cycled?

Hi there, thanks. Yes, I think it's cycled. I didn't know what that was untill recently. I have platys and danios and 1 guppy. I have baby fish as the platys keep breeding. I have had fish in for over a year so it's probably cycled. I have plants in there. 50 litres sounds like a lot. Do you mean a 50% change.

 

[Attenbruh]

Yes sorry that's what I meant.

 

[Lamie]

It would be more benefit to do the volume at one time, rather than divide it. My article on the forum here explains this.

Regular Partial Water Changes

Byron Hosking November, 2010 (rev April 2021) Nothing is more important when it comes to aquarium maintenance than regular partial water changes. The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies here. One frequently reads of products that will reduce the need for...

www.fishforums.net

I'm not actually putting any minerals into the tank when I do a water change though am I? There are no benefits in the water in terms of nutrients because I have soft water but it is good to put clean water in to keep ammonia levels down?
Like I drink it but really there is no benefits to drinking it other than stopping dehydration.

 

[Byron]

I'm not actually putting any minerals into the tank when I do a water change though am I? There are no benefits in the water in terms of nutrients because I have soft water but it is good to put clean water in to keep ammonia levels down?
Like I drink it but really there is no benefits to drinking it other than stopping dehydration.

Water in a tank with fish slowly becomes polluted. This is the "clean" aspect; "clear" water is a different thing and clear water can be totally polluted. We do water changes to remove pollution. The fresh water added is like "a breath of fresh air" to the fish. Minerals in the source water will obviously be added, but this is a secondary benefit. Removing as much water at one time is necessary to maintain healthy fish. My article linked previously explains this.