Changing the water in a tank

[rresper]

Hello,
I have another question. When you clean the tank and change the water, will that new water be harmful to the fish. Just to let you know, this is my first fish tank and its 110 gallons. I welcome any suggestions.

 

[sea_star]

Just make sure that your tap water doesn't have any dangerous chemicals in it. R/O water is better if you have it. Aso, try to get the water parameters of the new water as close as you can to the parameters in your tank.

 

[dmjordan]

Only change about 10% of the water weekly or 20% bi-weekly. RO water is the best water you can use in your tank to reduce algae blooms. I prefer weekly water changes on my tank. Works best if you have a storage container or new plastic trashcan to use for water changes. Add the # of gallons (11 gals weekly) of water you are changing to the container. Next you want to add the salt. Mix as directed on the salt package until you get used to how much to add. Throw a heater and a powerhead into the container and plug em in. Let powerhead mix salt for you for 24 hours. Check the salinty to make sure it matches what is in your tank....if not adjust as necessary. Once levels are the same (temp. and salinity) go ahead and do your water change.

 

[rgunnell]

I was told by my LFS that changing water too frequently (IE: 1x/wk) makes it difficult for the tank to stabilize (alkalinity, ph, etc.) for longer periods of time. Too much changing results in too much fluctuation.
LFS recommends 50% every 3 weeks religously. Says 3 weeks allows the tank to remain at constant levels for longer periods of time resulting in a healthier tank.
Bunk? Who knows, I'm new and just thought I'd share what I was told. I can't share by experience but soon enough!

 

[chipmaker]

I normally change 10% every week or two......nothing on a dead serious schedule. If I forget to do it on a MOnday I'll do it on Tuesday, even if its a Tuesday two weeks from the Monday it was to be changed on, but I still do not change out any more than 10% no matter how long its over due. I do not check PH...I check only SG and temp thats all I match up as 10% is not sufficient to really make that much of an impact to make a tank crash.

 

[joncat24]

I agree with chip...I do ten % every week- 10 days.
I think a 50% change would throw you into a new cycle every time you changed the water.
I wouldn't recommend overr 20% at a time