Water changes .

[Back in the fold]

We all do them but does it ever feel like that guy pushing the rock up a hill only to have it roll back down and have to start all over again to you ? Do you like it or dread it ? I’ve recently started a new routine . I do one of my seven aquariums every day . One a day only takes me a half hour at most . I concentrate on that one and don’t feel hurried to go through the rest to meet another schedule . I don’t like being rushed , lazy guy that I am .

 

[GaryE]

I took my fishroom and divided it into four zones. In the dead of winter when the water's really cold, that becomes 7 zones - 4 on a 7 day cycle, and 3 on a 10 day cycle. The killies need clean water, but don't seem to like 7 days.

Sometimes, it's a chore, but mostly, I do one one a day, about 10-11 tanks, in 45 minutes. I have the system down, and I enjoy taking a very close look at the tanks as I do the changes. My 60 tank fishroom needs around 4 hours a week to get done, and I tend to get into it. There's a feeling of satisfaction having it all clean and working.

I admit, I prefer the days when it's all done to the ones where it's to be done.

As far a pet care goes, all those tanks demand less time than taking my dog walking over a week, and I enjoy that too.

 

[Back in the fold]

Yes , it’s kind of like gardening . You have to do the weeding and watering and cultivating every week but it’s a labor of love . I’m like you Gary , I like the close look I get at the aquariums I’m working on . Having the water level down and peering in from the top lets you see things you don’t usually see on a daily basis . I like to smell the water too . That smell alerts you to problems if there are any .

 

[Innesfan]

I switch it up so it doesn't become boring or tedious. Seldom do I do the lot of them.

 

[Ceez]

Honestly I'm lazy...i don't dread the water changes but I also don't look forward to them. I'm working on automation right now along with a new subpanel to run needed power to my fishroom. Money is the catalyst so I've been taking my time and getting things done little by little. Eventually my auto-water will work well with my matten filters and there will be very little time spent on maintenance allowing more time to spend gazing at my fish.

Im going a different direction that most breeders. I want to sell proven breeding pairs. I feel like there's a few more bucks of profit in the long run and getting others started might slightly help these types of fish have a better chance of staying available into the future. Time will tell though.

Changing water sucks! I said what I said...

 

[Oldspartan]

We are pretty automated in the fish room. The other scattered tanks are all manual. Everything is on a schedule that was just changed from a four day to a five day cycle.

Neither of us minds the effort. Fact is I enjoy it most days.

 

[Abbeysdad2]

I used to be pretty meticulous about water changes and filter cleaning. I used to do about 50% water changes and filter cleaning weekly like clockwork. After reading some interesting material that suggested that frequent filter cleaning was counter productive. After all, beneficial bacteria creates an important colony in the filter that cleaning somewhat disrupts. These days, I only clean filters when output water flow is noticeably reduced.
I've slacked off on water changes too, but I have a heavily planted tank. When I did routine water changes I found I needed to add ferts for the plants. When I reduced water changes, I stopped using ferts and plants grew better! So I let the plants filter the water.
I know, some will say "Shame on You" perhaps like Byron and I did back in the day. But it comes down to water quality regardless of partial water changes. I suppose if you were so inclined, a continuous water change system would be best (like some discus breeders use) but not so practical for the home aquarium enthusiast.

 

[Magnum Man]

I mostly have open top tanks, with ,lots of plants growing out of them, & since I started pumping in & out, for water changes, I no longer top them off mid week... I can now do a major water change on 10-12 aquariums in 15-20 minutes, any time one of the tanks is low enough to need a top off... I don't have to keep track, I just do it about twice a week, when ever one gets low... I'm pumping out one tank, while filling the one previous, super fast, super easy, no buckets, no keeping track on the last time I did it...

 

[Oldspartan]

I used to be pretty meticulous about water changes and filter cleaning. I used to do about 50% water changes and filter cleaning weekly like clockwork. After reading some interesting material that suggested that frequent filter cleaning was counter productive. After all, beneficial bacteria creates an important colony in the filter that cleaning somewhat disrupts. These days, I only clean filters when output water flow is noticeably reduced.
I've slacked off on water changes too, but I have a heavily planted tank. When I did routine water changes I found I needed to add ferts for the plants. When I reduced water changes, I stopped using ferts and plants grew better! So I let the plants filter the water.
I know, some will say "Shame on You" perhaps like Byron and I did back in the day. But it comes down to water quality regardless of partial water changes. I suppose if you were so inclined, a continuous water change system would be best (like some discus breeders use) but not so practical for the home aquarium enthusiast.

I contnous system? Seems this is possible using a sump and Matten filter, or am I on the wrong track?

 

[seangee]

When I had the 4 it was a bit of a chore - especially the one on my desk - and even more when I had a busted shoulder blade and ribs. Shoulder not fully recovered but its getting there . With 2 its now no problem. I have moved the big one to a couple of metres from a window so can just siphon straight out. This weekend the pump did not kick in and I was fine doing it the old fashioned way. The flex I just do manually cos I only change 20-40 litres a week in that one.

Welcome back Mike! I have actually gone back to the big weekly changes. Reduced the volume after the accident (and sometimes skipped weeks) but my tanks ended up a mess (jungle mess) because I did nothing else. I've just cleaned them up (and reduced to 2 tanks) so using ferts at the moment to get the plants back into full swing. I still just rinse the sponges under the tap weekly and aim to do the canister twice a year.

 

[Abbeysdad2]

I contnous system? Seems this is possible using a sump and Matten filter, or am I on the wrong track?

No, in a continuous system (like I've seen Discus breeders use) fresh water constantly flows into aquariums and overflows out the other end. This ensures the freshest water possible. Although perhaps admirable, it's not very practical for the home aquarium. Having 'said' that I also know of larger fishrooms that although not continuous, automate periodic water changes with timers and overflows. My old friend Greg Sage (Select Aquatics of Erie Co.) has one of these systems. Lots of ways to skin the cat so to speak. Still, for the average fish keeper, the periodic simple drain and refill is the most practical.

 

[MuddyWaters]

There's a feeling of satisfaction having it all clean and working.

THIS! I feel SO good when the tanks are all clean. It's hard to explain. With regard to my honey-do list, my wife says, "can you treat this like you treat those fish tanks?" No...I WANT to, but I don't get the same satisfaction from fixing the shower door or checking the filter on the de-humidifier under the house LOL.

I have 9 tanks-most of them are really quick, but my 29 gallon and my 75 gallon take time- partly because of the size, but also because of the plants- lots of trimming.

I try to spread them out during the week, but many times I put it off during the week and end up blasting it out on the weekends- except for the 75 gallon- I do 2 30 gallon water changes twice per week. I don't know if I need to, but i have a LOT of fish in there and they do really well with it, so I keep doing it. The nitrates get to 40ppm in a week if I don't change the water twice- not crazy high, but more than I want.

I enjoy doing it once I get started, and I used to even look forward to it. That part has dropped off, but I still enjoy it once I get going.

 

[Oldspartan]

Our Nitrate levels generally stay under 10 except in fry tanks where they creep over 20 regardless of what I do. I think Linda over feeds the fry, she starts them at 5X daily and gradually reduces to 3X. When they go out the door I do a pretty aggressive clean.

 

[MuddyWaters]

I need some help assuaging my guilt. Either that or need to be guilted into action. Today I decided to not change the water on my 75 gallon. It would be the mid week change of 2 - normally I do 30 gallons each time. I used to do this because I had a hard time with the nitrates. I stopped adding nitrate as fertilizer (I use powdered PK & KS and micros on the next day- I do it 2 times a week- sort of a partial EI method), I have house plants that are growing well and I cut down on the feeding ...some...

I checked my nitrates and they are at 20ppm. I think that's low enough to wait until Saturday to change the water.

Here's the tank:

 

[Fishmanic]

I need some help assuaging my guilt. Either that or need to be guilted into action. Today I decided to not change the water on my 75 gallon. It would be the mid week change of 2 - normally I do 30 gallons each time. I used to do this because I had a hard time with the nitrates. I stopped adding nitrate as fertilizer (I use powdered PK & KS and micros on the next day- I do it 2 times a week- sort of a partial EI method), I have house plants that are growing well and I cut down on the feeding ...some...

I checked my nitrates and they are at 20ppm. I think that's low enough to wait until Saturday to change the water.

Here's the tank:
View attachment 364785

I hope to see that awesome tank in May’s TOTM contest.