Water changing for a 42g hex aquarium?

[Zagggon]

I usually change a gallon of water a week on my 10g tank but for my new 42 g hex tank im not so sure. The water seems to be clear and the fish are fine so im not sure as to whether or not i should actually make the water changes. What do you all think?

 

[Lateral Line]

You should change water regulaly regardless of how it looks. Doing so removes the end products of your biological filter, predominantly nitrates, (which you cannot see). These build up over time, and in small tank, water changes are the only really economic way of removing them.

Generally in a tank with a reasonable stocking level, change 20-25% of the water a week. Don't forget to add a dechlorinator to the replacement water.

 

[Cat]

I'm fairly new to tropicals ,when you change the water, won't it bring the temperature down alot?
Had this 4ft tank running nearly 2 weeks, how much of that should I change?

 

[Lateral Line]

You should aim to replace about a fifth to a quarter of the water a week, so drop the level by roughly that much, if your tank is 300mm deep drop it by 70-75mm for example. Use your gravel cleaner as necessary. The water you put back should be treated with a good dechlorinator, and roughly the same temperature if you are going to put it all in at once, (some people let a hose trickle in the replacement water for several hours).

Put some tapwater in a bucket that you use for fish only, add some water from the kettle, when the temperature is right, dump in your dechlorinator and away you go. Repeat unitl filled again.

I'm assuming you are not using any special water like RO or whatever. I also assume you have a sensible stocking level, overstocked tanks require more water changes, either more frequent, or more water each time.

Remember, if when dropping your water level you will expose any electrical gear that should be underwater, heaters, powerheads etc., turn them off until the water level has been restored. They can be damaged running them dry.

 

[Cat]

Thank you Lateral

Its not over stocked not many in it yet.

I'll let the hose trickle in like you said and I'll turn the electrics of

(Forgot go library)

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> I'll let the hose trickle in like you said

Some people do it that way. If you chose to do it like that, you need to let the water trickle in slowly enough so the heater compensates for the introduced cold water.

Obviously, if you have turned the heater off, that will not happen and you will drop your temperature. If you're going to use that technique, make sure your heater is fitted in such a way as it doesn't need to be turned off when changing water. It is not usually difficult to arrange the heater like that. Powerheads are a bigger problem as they tend to be near the surface.

 

[Rubicon]

Maybe this isn't "right" but I've been doing this since the beginning and haven't suffered fishy deaths after water changes.

My tank thermometer comes off real easy, and I fill the tank via buckets from the bathtub faucet. ( started off using the sink tap but its too damn slooooow ). I run the water and with the tank thermometer I get the water temp out of the tap within a couple degrees of the tank water. Add a small splash of water conditioner to each bucket and let the bucket sit long enough to allow the cloudiness (fine air bubbles) to disappear, and then into the tank it goes.

I should add that this place isn't on the the local water system, but on a well, and according to the basic aquarium tests it's pristine water. ( the fishes certainly don't seem to mind it) but I add conditioner anyway just because.

Nothing fancy about putting new water in the tank. Open lid and pour.