How Often To Do A Water Change?

[ZoddyZod]

The important thing is that you're changing enough water that the nitrate is being removed quicker than it builds up.

exactly! The main purpose of the water change is to bring nitrate levels down to near to the same level as the water that you introduce.

 

[nanoMama86]

Zod, I have a question. I have the 100 gallon breeder, right? It's fully stocked but everybody is still growing and I have been aiming for 50% every friday.

My tap water seems to be making everybody itchy, as after I change everybody is miserable, flicking and scratching. After about a day, though, they stop. My ph is matched and so is temp. Any ideas?

I use prime. Sorry to hijack?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hi,
I tried to do a search but it just returned too many topics. I'm just after a straight forward answer to how often i should perform a water change on my tank?

Its an established jewel rekord 70 litre running a Fluval U3 filter, stocked with;

5 x Gold barbs,
2 x Garra rufa
2 x Platys
3 x Endlers
1 x wcmm
1 x bristlenose plec
many shrimps and snails and no live plants.

I currently change 1 bucket (about 10-12 litres) a week. Is this over doing it? If so what should i be looking to do?

Thanks for the help,
Shaun.

That's a lot of fish for a 70l tank, definitely overstocked by at least three species, nitrates will be going through the roof with <20% weekly water changes. In all honesty I would be doing that amount almost daily, especially as your BN (read poop machine) gets bigger.