Yes, I am asking Flower, how often he did water change? My biggest problem is water change that often killed my fish.
LOL...yes, I'm a HER... I used to do changes every month, 30g for my 90g tank. Then I had high readings on nitrates (turned out to be bad test kit, API brand) I was doing a 3g to 5g water changes daily. Now I do very little water changes, I have lots of macros, and they grow like crazy because my tanks water quality is a mess, however with macros all the readings are a beautiful 0 on ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and phosphates. I'm not able to care for my tank like I used to. I SHOULD do a water change each month. Now I do a water change maybe once every 3 months when I get help.
To do water changes:
Make sure your mixing tub is clean of all soaps or foods or anything it was used for before. Personally, I use a
new 37g plastic garbage can, and I mark it FISH ONLY....NOTHING goes into that tub except maybe dried live rock. I also cover the tub with a table cloth and use egg crate to make a kind of "table" so if anyone puts something on it (they quickly find out that is NOT a table because I yell), it won't fall through. That is a safety precaution because my dogs shed, and I don't want hair in my clean water...or anything else.
Use only good quality freshwater, RO or RO/DI... I/2 cup of salt mix per gallon of water. Have a utility pump running to churn the water, and maybe a stick as you pour in the salt...you don't want the salt to settle, but be stirred as mush as possible...let the pump run and churn the salt and water mix for at least
24 hours. After 24 hours, check the SG (salinity)...make sure it matches the salinity reading in your tank. Adjust if necessary by adding more salt or more water, if you add more salt, wait another 24 hours before you use it.
In an emergency you can get away with a shorter churn time,
it is NOT recommended that you do, I always went to the LFS and got premixed water if I had problems, such as an ammonia spike.
Nothing I have found will liven up your tanks look then a good water change, macros are useful, make sure to get the type that won't go sexual on you (and I know Beaslbob never does water changes, and uses tap water... However I don't think that's a good practice). In my house, the tank is my show case, and I want it to look as beautiful as possible. I am not aiming to just "keep the fish alive" and I don't recommend others try it. Water changes also replenish trace elements, and keeps the alkalinity and PH more stable. I also run carbon 24/7, and change that out once a month, carbon will counteract poisons such as coral chemical warfare, it also polishes the water and makes it look crystal clear.
