Water Changes

[GRJ]

This question just occured to me. If i wanted to do say, a 40-50% water change, does it have to be done in one go or can it be done in 2 smaller changes? GRJ

 

[idlefingers]

You should avoid water changes that large unless there's something in your water you need to dilute (or you're doing EI dosing) as it places your fish under unnecessary stress and there's greater chance of fluctuations in the water chemistry. So, if it's important to do a 50% change, do it in one go.. if it's not critical, do 2 x 25% changes over a couple of days.

 

[rabbut]

Water changes are best kept to smaller amound, for the reasons idlefingers explaned. littel and often is the key to keeping your water good. A 10% change once a week is better than 40% a month.
I personaly only run a water change, when my test kit shows that nitrate has passed 12.5ppm (arround once a month in my heavily planted tank), and keep the water change as small as possible.
The volume, and frequency of water changes required will vary according to the individual tank. If you do not have a test kit, you should probibly only be doing 10-20% a week at most, assuming "adverage" stocking dencity, with only a few plants. Less may be required if the tank is palnted, or stocking density is low. visa resa, for no plants/lots of fish.

 

[Genie]

i think GRJ has the same problem as me. new tank syndrome so high ammonia.

Big water changes are better under those circumstances. As far as i thnk, stress from a water change is less than stress from too much ammonia

 

[Tolak]

Two 25% water changes doesn't equal a 50% change, just as two 50% water changes doesn't equal a 100% change. As long as your tap or other replacement water is the same, or nearly so, as your tank water large water changes are perfectly safe.

I do 50% to 80%+ on my tanks weekly, more often on fry tanks. I fail to see how fresh water can stress a fish.

 

[Meds081603]

I change my water as often as needed to keep nitrates in check. Some heavily planted tanks get small infrequent changes while others with messy eaters like oscars get small weekly changes and a monthly big change.