Weekly Water Change Questions?

[Chris Wright]

I'm currently using RO water for weekly 25% water changes in my 23 litre Edge tank. The reason I'm still using RO is the PH was well over 8. possibly up to 8.5
Question 1: Is there any benefit to using tap water conditioner with RO?
Question 2: If the nitrites are zero and the nitrates are around 5-10ppm is there any benefit to doing weekly 25% water changes at all?
Chris

 

[jennybugs]

What stock do you have in the tank?
Why are you changing that much water every week? I tend to do 10% weekly water changes in mine and I only use RO water as I am running mine as a marine tank and add marine salt to it.
Using RO water isn't really a good idea unless you are remineralising it, putting all the goodness back into the water with a suplement.

Tap water is fine for most fish that are suitable for an Edge tank when dechlorinated. You can buy Ph adjusters to lower that but not sure what would be recommended.
I'd be sticking to fish that do well in high ph water like platy for example.

Nitrates of 5-10ppm aren't too terrible but can be controlled with just 10% weekly water changes imho and keeping an eye on your tank maintenance (gravel cleaning etc, and not over feeding

 

[Chris Wright]

What stock do you have in the tank?
Why are you changing that much water every week? I tend to do 10% weekly water changes in mine and I only use RO water as I am running mine as a marine tank and add marine salt to it.
Using RO water isn't really a good idea unless you are remineralising it, putting all the goodness back into the water with a suplement.

Tap water is fine for most fish that are suitable for an Edge tank when dechlorinated. You can buy Ph adjusters to lower that but not sure what would be recommended.
I'd be sticking to fish that do well in high ph water like platy for example.

Nitrates of 5-10ppm aren't too terrible but can be controlled with just 10% weekly water changes imho and keeping an eye on your tank maintenance (gravel cleaning etc, and not over feeding

Hi Jennybugs, Thanks for replying. I need to understand this properly. I have 5 Galaxy Rasboras, 4 small cherry barbs and 2 red cherry shrimps, all seem to be doing OK. Tank is quite well planted. My tap water is around 8.5PH and quite hard and has a standard nitrate level of over 10ppm. What minerals (goodness?) would be in it which would make it preferable to the RO water which is 7PH with no nitrates? I thought traces of minerals could be harmful if they possibly included some metals? Would weekly 10% changes of dechlorinated tap water with a PH adjuster be preferable? (Certainly, I only really need to syphon less than 10% to clean the gravel, it doesn't get very dirty, which is why I thought 25% changes might be overkill).

On another subject, do you find your edge tank loses quite a bit in condensation into the top cover? I lose about half a cupful per night and have to dry the top each morning. When the lights are on it keeps the condensation dried out during the day. Could be due to the cold conservatory that the tank is in I guess.

Chris

 

[ellena]

There are various trace minerals that are beneficial to fish in tap water. Heavy metals are unlikely to be at harmful levels.
Might be worth making the change to smaller changes and tap water gradually, rather than just doing it all differently one week. Maybe about 20%, half tap, half RO, then 10% half and half, then 10% tap and carry on from there?
I have 3 small tanks and I change up to 50% of the water each week. I figure if I'm part filling a bucket, I may as well fill it?

 

[Chris Wright]

Thanks for the reply. It would certainly save on buying RO. But should I use PH adjuster to reduce from 8.5?
Chris

 

[mattlee]

a steady constant pH is better for the fish than a fluctuating one. the problem with pH adjuster potions is that they only last so long in the water so ive been told. having never used them i dont 100% know but i wouldnt go down that route if i was you and keep a steady pH from your tap water. my pH is 8.0 and i keep angels, discus, corys, loaches, platys, SAE, spotted perch, shrimps, snails etc etc etc with no bad effects. most fish will climatise to the water so i would let them do this instead of you messing with water pH. just do as posted above and change the RO water with tap water gradually over a few weeks and im sure you will be fine. RO water is pure water with all the minerals, metals, chlorine, chloramine and all other things that are in there removed and your fish will do better with some of these for growth and health

 

[jennybugs]

On another subject, do you find your edge tank loses quite a bit in condensation into the top cover? I lose about half a cupful per night and have to dry the top each morning. When the lights are on it keeps the condensation dried out during the day. Could be due to the cold conservatory that the tank is in I guess.

Chris

My Edge does suffer with evaporation but I don't get condensation inside the lid at present as my lid doesn't sit flush on the top due to a large led unit that's on the tank.