Water Changes

[robertsskippyj]

Hi all,

Right my tank has just finished cycling i guess as it can process 5ppm of ammonia and Nitrite in 12 hrs.

I know need to do the large water change before stocking the tank.

my question is that if I do a 50% to 75% water change I will uncover all the filter material in my juwel biofilter 3, won't that damage the bacteria colonies?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Hi all,

Right my tank has just finished cycling i guess as it can process 5ppm of ammonia and Nitrite in 12 hrs.

I know need to do the large water change before stocking the tank.

my question is that if I do a 50% to 75% water change I will uncover all the filter material in my juwel biofilter 3, won't that damage the bacteria colonies?

Thanks in advance.

Would do you mean I GUESS?. It can or cant, what test kits are you using?

The media sit in a cradle, you can fill a bucket with tank water place the media in that while you get used to doing water changes. I never bother doing it in my juwel tanks as it only in open air for less then 10 min which is fine

 

[robertsskippyj]

Hi all,

Right my tank has just finished cycling i guess as it can process 5ppm of ammonia and Nitrite in 12 hrs.

I know need to do the large water change before stocking the tank.

my question is that if I do a 50% to 75% water change I will uncover all the filter material in my juwel biofilter 3, won't that damage the bacteria colonies?

Thanks in advance.

Would do you mean I GUESS?. It can or cant, what test kits are you using?


it can the i guess bit refers to that meaning its cycled.

I use a API master test kit.

Thanks for the advice re the water changes.

The media sit in a cradle, you can fill a bucket with tank water place the media in that while you get used to doing water changes. I never bother doing it in my juwel tanks as it only in open air for less then 10 min which is fine

 

[BigbruiserAl]

 

[Caprichoso]

As stated, put your media in a bucket of tank water. The bacteria will be fine then and won't dry out.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Hi sorry I managed to type my relpy in the middle of your answer.

I use an API master test kit.

the I guess refered to it being cycled due to these readings not the readings themselves. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with BBA. When performing water changes, the important aspect for the bacteria is simply that they do not dry out. If you take a short enough time (as per BBA's example) to re-submerge them then you're ok. Likewise, if you simply temporarily submerge your media in a larger bucket of old tank water you will ensure that it can't dry out despite interruptions to your process.

For me, all tank water that is siphoned out passes through a "catch bucket" before spilling over in to the garden or the tub drain. This way if I need any tank water for preserving my bacteria or for a full filter cleaning then I have it - it's just part of my habitual water changing routine.

~~waterdrop~~