Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: pollydoodle on April 14, 2019, 03:18:21 PM

Title: Water Change, how much?
Post by: pollydoodle on April 14, 2019, 03:18:21 PM

I have been doing a weekly water change and a fortnightly filter clean which I find works best for me (and the fish!)  Each time I'm changing 25-30 litres of water.  My tank holds 170 litres, minus displacement for plants and ornaments
Is this enough or too much?

Title: Re: Water Change, how much?
Post by: Matt on April 14, 2019, 04:06:47 PM

Not enough I'm afraid! Though I note from your other thread that your nitrates are low which is good news.... i would still recommend changing at least a third of the water more like 50 to 60 litres ie. twice what you are doing now.

The most commonly recommend water change volume nowadays is 50%.

Title: Re: Water Change, how much?
Post by: Sue on April 14, 2019, 05:18:25 PM

The once every 2 weeks filter clean is fine. The brown goo that builds up on the media is a "nitrate factory" - all the uneaten fish food, fish poo, bits of dead plant which make up the goo release ammonia which is turned into nitrate by the filter bacteria. Washing the goo off every couple of weeks helps keep nitrate low.