50% weekly in both my planted tanks.

Something I've observed recently, and am looking for comments ....

I do water changes on all of my three (about to be four ;-) tanks once a
week. In general the fish always seem to be a bit perkier after doing the
water change, with the exception of my planted tank, where their behavior
seems to indicate that they prefer a longer time between water changes (a
few times, I've missed the weekly schedule). Possibly just due to the
species of fish, or something about the fact that it's a planted tank? I
change a relatively small volume of water in this tank; 10%, to keep the pH
from increasing too much all at once.

And I was wondering how often people in this newsgroup do water changes to
their planted tanks?


* I change about 50-75% weekly.


Neight Goetz

I find it is important to do water changes once per week. I change
approximately 40 to 50 percent of my tank's water every weekend. -Bruce

25% once a week
Grtz Rover

In article , Dave wrote:
Something I've observed recently, and am looking for comments ....

I do water changes on all of my three (about to be four ;-) tanks once a
week. In general the fish always seem to be a bit perkier after doing the
water change, with the exception of my planted tank, where their behavior
seems to indicate that they prefer a longer time between water changes (a
few times, I've missed the weekly schedule). Possibly just due to the
species of fish, or something about the fact that it's a planted tank?

Could it just be those fish get scared easier? Water changes are
probably traumatic for those little buggers - I know my fish seem to
freak out when I vacuuming out the tank gunk. They're swimming all
over, running from my hand (except my betta who comes to check out what
I'm doing ::-). But once it's all done and the water settles down,
they're all happy again.

And I was wondering how often people in this newsgroup do water changes to
their planted tanks?

I alternate between my tanks, doing one per weekend. Since I have two
tanks, every other week each tank gets a five gallon change. That's 25%
for the 20 gallon, and 17% for my 30.

--
Ross Vandegrift


A Pope has a Water Cannon. It is a Water Cannon.
He fires Holy-Water from it. It is a Holy-Water Cannon.
He Blesses it. It is a Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He Blesses the Hell out of it. It is a Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He has it pierced. It is a Holey Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
Batman and Robin arrive. He shoots them.

I'm new to this aquarium thing, but I would like to add that the author of
the
book "The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" does 50% water changes every six
months or so.

I've heard that, but I don't understand how she avoids pH crashes that way.
Don't biological processes use up all the KH in the tank in six months? Even
if you don't have a lot of fish, you still have bacteria, decaying leaves, etc.

As for my tanks...I change at least 30% weekly. The fish seem to appreciate
it, even though my tanks are planted.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

LeighMo wrote:
I've heard that, but I don't understand how she avoids pH crashes that way.
Don't biological processes use up all the KH in the tank in six months? Even
if you don't have a lot of fish, you still have bacteria, decaying leaves, etc.

Yes, but the plants use all of the nitrogen, so there's no oxides to form
acids with. Or something like that...

As for my tanks...I change at least 30% weekly. The fish seem to appreciate
it, even though my tanks are planted.

I can't picture changing that much water in my 110g tank. That's a lot of
water!

--
Victor M. Martinez | The University of Texas at Austin
| Department of Chemical Engineering
http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv | Austin, TX 78712
If we knew what we were doing it would not be called research, would it?

For such a large tank perhaps you could consider trying something along the
lines of how I do a water change.

I use an Eheim 1250 hobby pump placed directly into the tank with a hose
attached to its outlet and which runs directly into the bath for draining.
For refilling I do it the opposite way with the pump placed into my 10
gallon holding bucket and the hose end into the tank. Just make sure the
pump doesn't run dry (and the hose stays in the tank). Its so easy and means
I can sit down, have a cup of tea and no longer have to lift any heavy
buckets of water during a water change. With a little care and practice, it
also means that no accidents will occur moving these large quantities of
water about.Whole process takes 15 mins or so and in my 56 UK gallon
(approx. 66 gallon US) tank I can change about 20% every day easily should
I desire. At £45 it a great buy and I wouldn't be without it. Also I'm
almost certain US prices will be far cheaper.


You need to be a little practice to start with
"Victor M. Martinez" wrote in message
...
LeighMo wrote:
I've heard that, but I don't understand how she avoids pH crashes that
way.
Don't biological processes use up all the KH in the tank in six months?
Even
if you don't have a lot of fish, you still have bacteria, decaying
leaves, etc.

Yes, but the plants use all of the nitrogen, so there's no oxides to form
acids with. Or something like that...

As for my tanks...I change at least 30% weekly. The fish seem to
appreciate
it, even though my tanks are planted.

I can't picture changing that much water in my 110g tank. That's a lot of
water!

--
Victor M. Martinez | The University of Texas at Austin
| Department of Chemical Engineering
http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv | Austin, TX 78712
If we knew what we were doing it would not be called research, would it?

For me it's 30% per week in the plant tank.

Marvin Hlavac wrote:

what a waste of
water, isn't it? :-) But it all goes eventually back to Mother Nature anyway...

I run a siphon hose out the window to the plant bed. They seem to like it. Anyone
who pays to water lawns or plants should be doing the same.

In article ,
Hmmm. I dunno. My plants use all the nitrogen, but the pH still drifts down

So are you saying you can't measure nitrates in your tank? If so, what's the
reasoning behind periodic water changes?

each week. I wonder what KH she starts out with, and what's left after six
months?

I can't recall if she mentiones that in the book.


water changes if I lived in the west, where drought is a constant problem.


I have a pithon too, and it makes things easier. I just don't like the waste
of water.
BTW, my tank just finished cycling and not it's reading zero nitrates! Is
it the plants?


--
Victor M. Martinez | The University of Texas at Austin
| Department of Chemical Engineering
http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv | Austin, TX 78712
If we knew what we were doing it would not be called research, would it?

Ross Vandegrift empowered the members of
with this mighty blow against
the Patriarchy:

In article , Dave wrote:
Something I've observed recently, and am looking for comments ....

I do water changes on all of my three (about to be four ;-) tanks
once a week. In general the fish always seem to be a bit perkier
after doing the water change, with the exception of my planted tank,
where their behavior seems to indicate that they prefer a longer time
between water changes (a few times, I've missed the weekly schedule).
Possibly just due to the species of fish, or something about the
fact that it's a planted tank?

Could it just be those fish get scared easier? Water changes are
probably traumatic for those little buggers - I know my fish seem to
freak out when I vacuuming out the tank gunk. They're swimming all
over, running from my hand (except my betta who comes to check out
what I'm doing ::-). But once it's all done and the water settles
down, they're all happy again.

They don't seem to mind the siphon tube moving around, etc. ... they
actually chase after and peck at it.