water change

[godzuki]

hi peeps

I did a water change today as I was advised its best to do a 10% change weekly then a 70% change 4 weeekly.

but the water was really clean as were the stones there wasn't much to remove kept digging right into the stones and there was hardly any resisidue

is this normal for a weekly water change?
should I leave it a bit longer next time?

or is this the whole idea of doing a weekly change? so it dosent build up!!

thanks

kiss kiss
godzuki

 

[Phantom Thief]

Yep, the idea is so it doesnt build up. I wouldn't agree with the 70% every four weeks though. I would just do 20-30% a week and be done with it. Usually, any water change more then 50% can be stressful to fish, and i only do it when there is something wrong with my tank.

P.T.

 

[yvez9]

10-20% a week is good
as long as it keep your nitrates in check you will be fine!

 

[godzuki]

I was originally told by the person who i got the esablished tank form that doing a 60 to 70% water change 3 to 4 weekly was ok. after joining this site I realised the mistake and i'm doing it weekly.

is the filter done weekly as I don't want to get rid of to much of the "good" bacteria...

kiss kiss
godzuki

 

[Phantom Thief]

I wash my filter in OLD TANK WATER (important) every few months. The reason why it is important to use old tank water is so that the chlorine doesn't kill off the good bacteria.



P.T.

 

[keane]

Hi godzuki

am only a newbie myself but from reading loads (and loads!) of the posts in here i am pretty sure you are not supposed to clean your filter on a regular basis. To do so would, as you suggest get rid of the beneficial bacteria and you would have to cycle all over again.

The only time you need to touch the filter is if there is a problem with it and/or the media needs changing.

EDIT: If you do clean the filter be sure to use your tank water and not chlorinated water from the tap.

(Please someone confirm I am right so i know i am actually learning something!!)

TTFN

tbr

 

[keane]

Ah well, someone got in there b4 me!!

looks like i am picking up some useful tips tho!!

tbr

 

[godzuki]

so
filter every few months!!!
water every week!!!

thanks peeps

kiss kiss
godzuki

 

[wetwetwet]

I'd just add that I'd check the filter weekly when doing water changes - depending on your filter type, biological load, dead plant matter, it may be neccessary to change filter floss or give it or the first few layers of mechanical filtration a quick rinse (in old tank water )



www

 

[Jason_S]

I change 50-70% weekly to bi-weekly and I usually only rinse the filter sponges (almost all aquaclears) when they become clogged. If you have to switch out to brand new filter cartridges I wouldn't do this any more than every 3-4 weeks. If you feed mostly flakes and you don't shut off the filters during feeding you will have to change them more often.