Water Change Qustion????

[petekc]

I have had my tank running for 2 months almost now. My ammo and trites are at 0 and trates are 20-40. My lfs told me to go ahead and change the water but I do not see why I should replace good water with new water. My ammo went up to .25 but is back to 0. I think I was over-feeding. So anyway what does everyone think? Should I wait for the water to show signs of bad condition before I change?

 

[tiggerbengal]

I'd go ahead and do a 10% water change .. I've always heard of doing that after the tank cycles.

 

[thewolfman777]

water changes are probably the most important thing you can do to keep your tank in tip top shape. the reason you do frequent water changes is to keep those good water parameters. you are not changing the water to keep your ammo. and trites. down. you do them to replace all the crucial trace elements that dissipate over time to keep the buffering capacity of your water working. regardless of you ammo/trites readings you should still do weekly to biweekly water changes of 5% - 10%. search these bb on water changes, there have been some great posts on how to and when to, etc.

 

[petekc]

Every 2 weeks change water? That seems a little often. I was told once a month if not 2 months. This is why I ask the quetion thoguh..you get so many different answers.

 

[thewolfman777]

yes you get 1000 different answers at times. yes a weekly to biweely water change is recommended. if you plan to do a monthy change (which is not the worst in the world) change about 20% of the water. i wouldnt go as far as waiting every 2 months though. it may be a big P.I.T.A. as times but the water change is your and your tanks best friend.

 

[guppie]

The subject of how often to do water changes has been going on for many years. There is no one right answer. You have to find out what works for you, but you have to do them. I have found that if you do a 10% every other week after the cycle for the first 6 months, then switch to 20% I have been able to keep all my tanks at a good water quality. Just my way. good Luck

 

[salty guy]

I have heard and find it to be true that if you do weekly water changes of small amounts say 5% - 10% you add enough new water to replenish the elements that get used up.
The smaller water changes also stress you fish and inverts less. As good as you think you are at getting the temp right, salinity right, and ph right the fish can tell the difference.
I have a new 29 that I have been running for about 2 1/2 months and I change 4gal every week. It takes me 15 minutes for the time I decide to get up from my chare watching my fish to the time when I can sit back down and watch some more. Salt is cheep and I broke down several years ago and got a RO/DI water filter and its only about $0.30 a gal so its cheaper for me to do small water changes than it is for me to add cal or other chemicals every few days.
But if you do a 25% water change every month and add elements throughout the month you are doing the same than as some one like me that does small changes every week.
Try testing your cal and alkaline (SP?) when they start to drop off you need to either do a water change since these are all in good salt mixes. If you do this over several months and see that it takes 4 weeks for them to start to drop then do you water change at 3 weeks.

 

[discusking]

GO AHEAD DO A WATEER CHANGE.

 

[rmd8110]

i do a 20% water change about every 2-3 weeks and haven't had any problems at all.

 

[bruins14]

My calcium is at 300 will small water changes bring it back up?

 

[salty guy]

Depending on what type of salt you use. Most salts have supplements added so I would say yes. But please don’t skimp on salt. Get good salt with good additives. I only use IO or Kent salt but I am sure there are others out there.
If you do a 10% - 20% water change give it about 24 hours then do another cal test. If its still below 400 you can buy liquid cal and it will bring it back up.
If you are not running a reef tank don’t think cal is not important to you. Your Crabs need it, snails need it, RL really needs it.
Remember if you are using tap water you are adding a lot of micro organisms for algae to live on like phosphates (sp?) so go the extra mile and get some RO or DI water for the store its only $0.99 a gal. If you have a 75gal tank you have $700+ in it so don’t skimp on the water its some what important.