Water Changes

[HyperCube33]

I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting another
tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the biggest problem
with our small apartment at the moment...

Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water you
change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!

[atomweaver]

"HyperCube33" > wrote in
:

> I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting
> another tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the
> biggest problem with our small apartment at the moment...
>
> Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water
> you change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>

Unless you are trying to maintain certain more demanding species (discus,
etc.) the most often used rule of thumb I've seen is 20% water changes,
made weekly (for freshwater tanks).

Other tip: If you are getting back into the hobby, re-learn everything you
can about cycling a tank.

Netmax's Aquarium website helped me the most when I got into the hobby (I
like the way its laid out)

http://www.netmax.tk/

I've killfiled most of the trollers who plagued this forum in months past,
but if they become a problem for you, most of the previous posters here
migrated to a moderated forum, called "The Freshwater Aquarium";

http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium?lnk=gschg&hl=en

Regards
DaveZ
Atom Weaver

[HyperCube33]

"atomweaver" > wrote in message
...
> "HyperCube33" > wrote in
> :
>
>> I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting
>> another tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the
>> biggest problem with our small apartment at the moment...
>>
>> Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water
>> you change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>>
>
> Unless you are trying to maintain certain more demanding species (discus,
> etc.) the most often used rule of thumb I've seen is 20% water changes,
> made weekly (for freshwater tanks).
>
> Other tip: If you are getting back into the hobby, re-learn everything you
> can about cycling a tank.
>
> Netmax's Aquarium website helped me the most when I got into the hobby (I
> like the way its laid out)
>
> http://www.netmax.tk/
>
> I've killfiled most of the trollers who plagued this forum in months past,
> but if they become a problem for you, most of the previous posters here
> migrated to a moderated forum, called "The Freshwater Aquarium";
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium?lnk=gschg&hl=en
>
> Regards
> DaveZ
> Atom Weaver


No kidding. I learned why one species of our fish died/got sick and didnt
breed now, woops!

[Dick]

On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 08:10:27 -0500, "HyperCube33"
> wrote:

>I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting another
>tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the biggest problem
>with our small apartment at the moment...
>
>Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water you
>change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>
I have 5 tanks varying from 10 to 75 gallon. I change 20% twice
weekly, I neglect filter cleaning in favor of water changes.

I use a Python siphon on the 29 and 75 gallon tanks. I am fortunate
that I can use the community water with no treatment, I run straight
from the kitchen faucet.

I use a siphon and bucket for the 3 ten gallon tanks.

I have followed this routine for over 3 years and quite satisfied. I
keep maintenance routines simple as I am more likely to reliably
follow them if they are simple. I am a hazard with chemicals and have
killed fish once, so really am pleased that my community water content
allows direct substitution.

dick

[Dick]

On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:25:44 GMT, atomweaver >
wrote:

>"HyperCube33" > wrote in
:
>
>> I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting
>> another tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the
>> biggest problem with our small apartment at the moment...
>>
>> Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water
>> you change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>>
>
>Unless you are trying to maintain certain more demanding species (discus,
>etc.) the most often used rule of thumb I've seen is 20% water changes,
>made weekly (for freshwater tanks).
>
>Other tip: If you are getting back into the hobby, re-learn everything you
>can about cycling a tank.
>
>Netmax's Aquarium website helped me the most when I got into the hobby (I
>like the way its laid out)
>
>http://www.netmax.tk/
>
>I've killfiled most of the trollers who plagued this forum in months past,
>but if they become a problem for you, most of the previous posters here
>migrated to a moderated forum, called "The Freshwater Aquarium";
>
>http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium?lnk=gschg&hl=en
>
>Regards
>DaveZ
>Atom Weaver

Good news! The trollers have been gone for a month or 2. Two posters
are currently having a squabble with each other, but none of the
attack everyone and impersonate everyone stuff.

I would clear the killfile as some of the names were acquired from
regular posters. If needed you can start filtering again.

dick

[HyperCube33]

What the hell 'Dick'?

Flame on.

[HyperCube33]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 08:10:27 -0500, "HyperCube33"
> > wrote:
>
>>I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting
>>another
>>tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the biggest
>>problem
>>with our small apartment at the moment...
>>
>>Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water you
>>change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>>
> I have 5 tanks varying from 10 to 75 gallon. I change 20% twice
> weekly, I neglect filter cleaning in favor of water changes.
>
> I use a Python siphon on the 29 and 75 gallon tanks. I am fortunate
> that I can use the community water with no treatment, I run straight
> from the kitchen faucet.
>
> I use a siphon and bucket for the 3 ten gallon tanks.
>
> I have followed this routine for over 3 years and quite satisfied. I
> keep maintenance routines simple as I am more likely to reliably
> follow them if they are simple. I am a hazard with chemicals and have
> killed fish once, so really am pleased that my community water content
> allows direct substitution.
>
> dick

So you run strait from the tap, into a bucket and then dump it into your
tank without "gassing?"

[HyperCube33]

What conditions prompt a water change? What test kit results (high nitrates,
etc) would be an indication for a partial water change?
Debris buildup...blah blah.

Any favorite tools used to change the water?

[Tynk]

HyperCube33 wrote:
> What conditions prompt a water change? What test kit results (high nitrates,
> etc) would be an indication for a partial water change?
> Debris buildup...blah blah.
>
> Any favorite tools used to change the water?

Hyper....
The conditions that prompt a water change are:
Being that it's a tank and not open water which is constantly refreshed
naturally.
Ammonia readings...if it's not zero, water changes are needed. (new
tank syndrome, etc.)
High nitrite readings. (new tank syndrome).
High nitrate readings. (old tank syndrome).
Over feeding.
Before or after medicating.
New fish added (after quarantine period).
Probably some I have forgotten too, hehe.
Now you asked about what test kit results would indicate a water
change. That of course would depend on the individual kit, as they are
different and have different numbers. It would make it so much easier
if there was one standerd test for each, but there a several brands and
even different types from the same manufactor.
So that was a bit of a loaded question and one that cannot be answered
without a specific test kit in mind.

[Dick]

On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 17:48:24 -0500, "HyperCube33"
> wrote:

>
>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 08:10:27 -0500, "HyperCube33"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>I havent been into the hobby for a while and I'm considering getting
>>>another
>>>tank and have some questions, but water changes would be the biggest
>>>problem
>>>with our small apartment at the moment...
>>>
>>>Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water you
>>>change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>>>
>> I have 5 tanks varying from 10 to 75 gallon. I change 20% twice
>> weekly, I neglect filter cleaning in favor of water changes.
>>
>> I use a Python siphon on the 29 and 75 gallon tanks. I am fortunate
>> that I can use the community water with no treatment, I run straight
>> from the kitchen faucet.
>>
>> I use a siphon and bucket for the 3 ten gallon tanks.
>>
>> I have followed this routine for over 3 years and quite satisfied. I
>> keep maintenance routines simple as I am more likely to reliably
>> follow them if they are simple. I am a hazard with chemicals and have
>> killed fish once, so really am pleased that my community water content
>> allows direct substitution.
>>
>> dick
>
>So you run strait from the tap, into a bucket and then dump it into your
>tank without "gassing?"
>

Yep, been doing it for over 3 years. Not only do I reduce hazards due
to my clumsiness, I can easily move fish from one tank to another if
need be. A year or so ago I decided to separate the boys from the
girls among my live bearers. I was more worried about those I didn't
move. The stress was quite noticeable among those left in the
original tanks. One small male in the 75 I couldn't catch, so moved
several females instead. He stayed in hiding for about a week.

I hope the caveat was plain enough, do check your local water content
before trying this.

dick

[atomweaver]

"HyperCube33" > wrote in
:

> What conditions prompt a water change?

For me, the condition called "Sunday"... :-)

> What test kit results (high
> nitrates, etc) would be an indication for a partial water change?
> Debris buildup...blah blah.
>

Yes, nitrates, etc people use water parameters as a "trigger" for a water
change, some to great success. For me, its more like an oil change; you
do it at 3K to 5K miles, not because the oil has degraded fully, but as a
preventative measure against undue wear on the engine that would result if
you were to let the oil fully degrade. BTW, I hate analogies...

Also, some things (like total dissolved solids) are difficult for the
home aquarist to measure. A 20% water change a week keeps the Old Tank
Syndrome away. (say it to yourself like "an apple a day...") Its risk
management against future trouble.


> Any favorite tools used to change the water?
>

Some 5 gallon buckets, and a manual siphon gravel vac. My tap water needs
some "attention" before it can go into the tanks, so no pythons for me...
*shrug*

DaveZ
Atom Weaver

[Larry Blanchard]

Dick wrote:

>>Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water you
>>change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>>
> I have 5 tanks varying from 10 to 75 gallon.**I*change*20%*twice
> weekly, I neglect filter cleaning in favor of water changes.
>

I do a 10%-15% water change once a week. I do a minor filter clean, i.e.
rinse out the sponges, twice a month. Every other month I do a complete
filter disassemble and clean.

My tanks are all heavily planted. If yours are not, more frequent water
changes should be done.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[Dick]

On Thu, 07 Sep 2006 08:46:13 -0700, Larry Blanchard
> wrote:

>Dick wrote:
>
>>>Are there any guidelines by how much (50%, 100%?) of the tanks water you
>>>change out, how often, any other tips and or suggestions!
>>>
>> I have 5 tanks varying from 10 to 75 gallon.**I*change*20%*twice
>> weekly, I neglect filter cleaning in favor of water changes.
>>
>
>I do a 10%-15% water change once a week. I do a minor filter clean, i.e.
>rinse out the sponges, twice a month. Every other month I do a complete
>filter disassemble and clean.
>
>My tanks are all heavily planted. If yours are not, more frequent water
>changes should be done.

I clean my filters when there is more water bypassing than going
through the media.

I think 'filter' is a misnomer, I think 'strainer' more accurate. My
theory is the media reduces the solids size via erosions making the
particles that pass easier for the bacteria to use.

I like plants almost as much as my fish. My tanks are all 'low light'
limiting selections, but what I have thrive well and don't need
supplemental fertilizers.

I am dedicated to low maintenance answers.

dick