Water changes

[neilsarah]

How often does everyone do water changes? When I was just getting into the hobby my lfs told me to do a 20% change every week. Which I did keep up with for quite a long time. However I now have a newborn and a 3 year old so somehow I doubt I will be able to keep this up with 4 tanks. What do you all recommend?

[JeffroM]

Totally depends on the fish you keep.  Some people do 300% water changes every day, others go 4 to 6 weeks without a water change.  You would probably be okay going to 33% every 2 or 3 weeks but it depends on the fish you keep.

[Arturtle]

There is no quick, easy answer.  I would suggest buying a water test kit to monitor your water parameters, then you can see for yourself how often you should do water changes.

[Regalblue]

There is no quick, easy answer.  I would suggest buying a water test kit to monitor your water parameters, then you can see for yourself how often you should do water changes.

agreed...

[linuxrulesusa]

What nitrate level is max in your opinions?  Again depends on the fish, but a rough goal?

[neilsarah]

My tank is all haps and peacocks. I have some test strips but no test kit. As far as knowing what levels are good and bad I'm still new to all this. Maybe I will just keep doing my 20% a week. It's been working so far. 

[linuxrulesusa]

I have heard anywhere from 20 - 80 on the nitrates, I usually shoot for under 40, which means 10-20% once a week on most of my tanks but many of my fish are small.

[RichE]

I wait till the water stinks and turns green

Honestly I do ruffly a 20-25% once a week, and I  stir up the gravel every other water change.

[beach]

so you have haps & peacocks...   
how big is the tank and
how many fish(approx) are in it?   
 any live plants?   
sand or gravel?

[Dan K]

I've got mbuna and some vics in 6 tanks....55, 45, 38, 29, 2x10. I do 30-40% every 7 or 8 days. I'm draining one while re-filling another and get done in about an hour. I siphon out into 5 gal buckets and pour them down the toilet and I have a hose hooked to the bathroom faucet for refilling. I'm contemplating getting another hose to siphon directly to the basement sump pit and avoid carrying buckets but that longer hose always seems to siphon slower than a 6 footer right into the bucket. I suppose at some point I'll appreciate less work even if it takes a bit longer 

[neilsarah]

I have a 60 Gallon with about 12 fish. After hearing all of your comments I think I will keep up my 20% a week system. Thanks for all the input.

[Ron]

For my mbuna/haps/peacocks I shoot for 50% on average every 3 weeks. Doing 20% every week for 3 weeks is close to the same result.

For more sensitive fish, I change less volume, but do so more frequently. My tropheus I shoot for 40-50% every 2 weeks. Tangs I tend to do 30-35% every 2 weeks.

 The reason for water changes is to dilute nitrate concentration. Some fish can handle a higher level before showing issues, while others can't. Those that can are often more sensitive to other water parameters as well, which is why I do lower percentage changes.