Possible To Change To Much Water?

[pkppv]

Pretty straight forward question. Is there a maximum amount of water I can change weekly? Is 60% too much? What are your thoughts?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Really isn't too much you can change IMO. The cleaner the water, the better. I did 80-90% water changes at one point and it was fine.

 

[Bignose]

so long as the replacement water is a pretty close to the original's hardness, pH, and temperature, you can do pretty much as much as you possibly can. Hardness is the most important to match, in my opinion. So long as you are using the same source for the water (your tap), you can be pretty sure the pH and hardness as pretty close.

The only exception to the above is a tank experiencing a bad case of Old Tank Syndrome with a really, really low pH and ammonia present in the water. In this case, doing a large water change may restore the pH closer to neutral, and shift the balance from ammonium to ammonia, with ammonia being significantly more toxic than the ionic ammonium. Another possible exception is if you are using undergravel filtration and you root around in the gravel for the entire water change. In that case, it is possible to disturb the filtration quite a lot causing a mini-cycle. But, most tanks don't use undergravel filtration these days, so that issue is also unlikely.

 

[Fishy friend2]

so long as the replacement water is a pretty close to the original's hardness, pH, and temperature, you can do pretty much as much as you possibly can. Hardness is the most important to match, in my opinion. So long as you are using the same source for the water (your tap), you can be pretty sure the pH and hardness as pretty close.

The only exception to the above is a tank experiencing a bad case of Old Tank Syndrome with a really, really low pH and ammonia present in the water. In this case, doing a large water change may restore the pH closer to neutral, and shift the balance from ammonium to ammonia, with ammonia being significantly more toxic than the ionic ammonium. Another possible exception is if you are using undergravel filtration and you root around in the gravel for the entire water change. In that case, it is possible to disturb the filtration quite a lot causing a mini-cycle. But, most tanks don't use undergravel filtration these days, so that issue is also unlikely.

+1 i agree with bignose

 

[minnnt]

Yep. Matched (with in reason) water is fine. 60% is pretty normal for a lot of people.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I do a 50+% change and always make sure that the temp drop 3-4c every change....this fish seem to love the drop in temp