Water Changes

Loony Fish · Feb 14, 2009

Hi all,
just thinking, we do h20 changes to keep the water clean and stuff right?
for example, people told me i don't clean my discus tank enough. i clean it every 2 weeks.
if all the stats stayed good, i wouldn't have to clean it?

SO, with that being said, could i check the stats weekly and do a water change only when i need to? :huh:

thanks!
p.s. sorry if that made no sense at all.

Truck · Feb 14, 2009

with discus you should be doing water changes of around 25-40% every three days.

Loony Fish · Feb 14, 2009

that's what people have told me, but they seem to be fine on the 2 week changes and that's what made me wonder.
say they were angel fish. would my theory be true?

wazza · Feb 14, 2009

Loony Fish said:
that's what people have told me, but they seem to be fine on the 2 week changes and that's what made me wonder.
say they were angel fish. would my theory be true?

hello i have just started with discus and have you done your research on the fish they are very hard to keep i lost 3 off my fish being stupid and i do lots of water changes it is good for them and the more you do the better they need clean water and it is good for your tank please read up i made the same mistake and make sure you have the right fish with them please please read up on them for their sakes and you will enjoy it a lot more thank wazza

dcarmor927 · Feb 14, 2009

truckasauras123 said:
with discus you should be doing water changes of around 25-40% every three days.

yea i agree...even if the water may seem fine on your tests, they aren't 100% accurate, they are meant to be guides...since discus are super sensitive they need the clean water

Loony Fish · Feb 16, 2009

ok, i'll do the 3 day thing.

Schmill · Feb 17, 2009

The other thing to bear in mind is that our common water test kits only test for the 'key' items that we are bothered about, ammonia, nitrite & nitrate. Perhaps even ph and kh too, maybe a copper test.

The thing is, within reason, no matter how many you have you aren't testing for EVERYTHING. I'm quite sure it would be possible for some other 'nasty' to build up in the water if it's not changed regularly, that our test kits simply do not test for.

Remember, when your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test results are all good, it doesn't mean that the WATER is good, just that the levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in it are within limits. :good: