On 25 Jul 2006 14:27:52 -0700, "carlrs"
wrote:


Aqua/\Man wrote:
I've kept a 75 gal for over a year now. It holds mostly small species
under 3 inches. I change out around 20 gallons every week. Some have
told me that I was changing too much water too often.

Should I curb the amount I'm changing?


All the fish appear fine, with a loss of a couple of cardinal tetras and
a swordtail over the course.

Water changes are important, so is how you perform them. Getting out
organic waste via vacuuming is important (carefull with vacuuming
around plant roots), this way you lower your nitrate levels (which over
time will stunt growth and lower disease resistance).
To me it sounds like you are doing fine, but check your nitrates, ph,
and KH before and after.
For further information there are some good articles about this he
http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/

Carl

I never vacuum the bottom. Little is showing anyway due to dense plant
growth. I took off the bio wheels and I don't use charcoal. I only
clean the filter media when the water behind the media gets too high
and runs passed the media. When I do change media I do it with the
filters running, just pull the frame and replace with another frame
and media.

I like to keep things simple, it helps to avoid not doing the changes
at all.

dick