How Much How Often Water Changes?

[three boys]

How much how often does everybody do water changes?? I am doing 15% every month

 

[sillynecco]

What size tank do you have and how many fish do you have?
THe more fish, (the bigger the bioload) the more frequent you will have to do water changes.
I am currently doing 16-18 gallons a week, i was doing 4 gallons a week but that was not good enough seeing how i have a 75 gallon tank, and i have a trigger and an eel in there that put out a lot of waste.
My NO3 levels a pretty high, so im trying to get them in check.

 

[tormented]

I do 10-20 g a week. Seems to work.

 

[three boys]

Tormented---how big is your tank?

 

[tormented]

90g

 

[three boys]

I have 120 gal & am doing 15%/month. Everything seems fine, but maybe I should be doing more?

 

[murph]

Around 20 percent every weekend.

 

[jr2857]

25% a month for me

 

[humutang]

10% every Saturday. It depends on the bio load. Size, number and types of fish. Let Nitrate readings be your guide.

 

[three boys]

Thanks for everyone's input---I think I'll stay w/monthly changes instead of weekly. thanks!!!

 

[wax32]

I only have a small bioload in my tank, but I do 6 gallons every week in my 70 gallon tank. Why? Trace elements... Water changes not only get rid of nitrates but they add stuff that gets used up by your tank.

 

[biohazard]

And do you use a vacum and pull the water from the bottom of the tank vacuming the sand while you drain your water? Or does that stir up to much sand?

 

[wax32]

I don't touch the sand. I have huge water volume turnover in the tank, my sand dribbles around slowly, keeping itself clean. I also have a pistol shrimp and a watchman goby that move it around. Plus some Nassarius snails that burrow in the sand.

 

[diane4]

20-40% every week, sometimes more.

 

[acrylic51]

Roughly 20% a week

 

[jayc]

I do 10% every week. And for the same reason wax said.
Josh

 

[darknes]

I try to do 10% a week.