Is It Ok To Add A Very Small Water Change Every Few Days

[LookingToLearn]

Hi!
I have a moderately planted 55 gallon tank with 2 goldfish and 2 apple snails (also some newly added MTS! )
I do a 25% water change weekly but, lately, I have been doing a very small (3 gallon) water change every couple of days. I swear, my fishes are pooping machines! I have been doing the small changes so I can do just a quick vaccuuming of the poop over the top of the gravel so I don't have to look at it. lol

Is this OK? I just want to make sure that I am not cleaning tank too much. I only rinse the filters out once weekly and I do that in the tank wanter..

 

[kj23502]

Hi, it's just fine. You could do 25% everyday (although it would get time consuming) if you wanted to and as long as the water going into the tank is treated w/declorinator it'd be fine

To give you an example, some people when battling certain things do 90% changes. Small ones won't hurt either

This is from weekly maintenance in the new tank section:

Filter. If you noticed that your filter's flow rate has been reduced in the past week, it is likely due to clogs. Take your filter media and give it a light rinse in the bucket water. NEVER CLEAN A FILTER USING PLAIN TAP WATER, as the chlorine will kill all of the cycle bacteria. You're not trying to make the media look new again (a well-loved sponge will be permanently discolored), but rather just removing scum and large water-clogging particles.

Otherwise, you may not need to do it every week.

 

[LookingToLearn]

Hi, it's just fine. You could do 25% everyday (although it would get time consuming) if you wanted to and as long as the water going into the tank is treated w/declorinator it'd be fine

To give you an example, some people when battling certain things do 90% changes. Small ones won't hurt either

This is from weekly maintenance in the new tank section:

Filter. If you noticed that your filter's flow rate has been reduced in the past week, it is likely due to clogs. Take your filter media and give it a light rinse in the bucket water. NEVER CLEAN A FILTER USING PLAIN TAP WATER, as the chlorine will kill all of the cycle bacteria. You're not trying to make the media look new again (a well-loved sponge will be permanently discolored), but rather just removing scum and large water-clogging particles.

Otherwise, you may not need to do it every week.

Thanx so much for the reply. I really appreciate it!

I have also started pruning my plants on the days I do the small water changes. My 25% changes still take me forever and I just never feel like doing it on those days. the small changes only take a few minutes so I don't mind fixing up my plants on those days..

Thanx again!

 

[kj23502]

You're welcome!!! Glad to have helped!

 

[iankent]

fish living in a stream get constant water changes - assuming your base water stats are good, you could in theory run your tap water straight through a mixer which adds dechlorinator, through a heater and into your aquarium, then into a drain the other side - I doubt your water supplier would appreciate it too much though