Water changes and filter changes

[Raiquee]

How often do you guys change your water, and how often do you change your filter media?

I have been doing water changes when i cyphon out my tank, which is about every month. I only have a ten gallon with 7 fish and a frog in there. I know there is quite a few fish in there, so i may be told to clean it more. How often do you think i should?

I change filter media every 2 months, but now i might make it every month.

What do you guys suggest?

[tutebugs]

I have a ten gallon with 7 fish that I got quite a few months ago and I haven't changed the water or filtered it yet. It's still crystal clear too. I use Stress Coat, I'm not sure if that has much to do with it. The water here has a lot of iron in it cuz we live on the iron mines so I need to use something to condition the water. Does your tank get cloudy or do you just change the water and filter because people have told you that's what you should do?

[Raiquee]

i -know- you need to change the water, otherwise ammonia and nitrates/nitrites will build up. Once they build up they get harmful. Filter media there never was a date, i just change it when its brown.

[tutebugs]

If you use a water conditioner you shouldn't have to change your water as often as you make it sound like you do. Like I said, I haven't changed my water or filter in many months and my water is clear, my fish are healthy and my ph is normal. Do you have a whisper filter or an undergravel filter?? It can make a difference what one you have.

[Raiquee]

I have a whisper. I don't have an undergravel for this small of a tank. I know that it does build up, because otherwise if i did the same thing, my fish wouldn't die. Not all fish die because they all are sick. Something is wrong with the water. And if my levels tested with flying colors when i went to get the fish, and i left it alone, and all my fish die, obviously something is going wrong. And this has happened more than once.

A water conditioner won't do much to your tank than get out the chlorine, and other said chemicals. Its not meant to get out ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. Water changes help get out that harmful chemical as well as your filter. But your filter can't do it all. And anything trapped in the gravel (excess food and waste) will turn you water bad before you know it.

Stress coat is just that. A coating that will help bring back the natural slime on your fish to keep them healthy. It's not going to make them immune to chemicals. Also be aware that clear water doesn't mean that nothing is wrong. I don't know how many times fish get ick from temp changes and the water was clear. Do you know what i mean? It may be clear, but under some of the gravel or flowing through some of that water may be slowly raising levels of ammonia and such.

[Candycane]

We siphon our tank once a week and do at least a 10% water change. We only have three fish in our 33 gallon (two cichlids and a pleco) so there is not much load on the filtration. Our filter is rinsed weekly and changed about every 1.5-2 months.

This site has good information on water changes.
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/wchanges.htm

[tutebugs]

Quote: Originally Posted by Raiquee I have a whisper. I don't have an undergravel for this small of a tank. I know that it does build up, because otherwise if i did the same thing, my fish wouldn't die. Not all fish die because they all are sick. Something is wrong with the water. And if my levels tested with flying colors when i went to get the fish, and i left it alone, and all my fish die, obviously something is going wrong. And this has happened more than once. A water conditioner won't do much to your tank than get out the chlorine, and other said chemicals. Its not meant to get out ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. Water changes help get out that harmful chemical as well as your filter. But your filter can't do it all. And anything trapped in the gravel (excess food and waste) will turn you water bad before you know it. Stress coat is just that. A coating that will help bring back the natural slime on your fish to keep them healthy. It's not going to make them immune to chemicals. Also be aware that clear water doesn't mean that nothing is wrong. I don't know how many times fish get ick from temp changes and the water was clear. Do you know what i mean? It may be clear, but under some of the gravel or flowing through some of that water may be slowly raising levels of ammonia and such.

Ok..just letting you know what I've done and how my tank has stayed clean and wondered what kind of filter you have. You seem like you don't really want my help so i'll just back out of this thread. *slowly creeps out the door*

[AmberC]

Whoa! OK. Tanks (no matter what size or how many fish) SHOULD ALWAYS have a 20% water change ONCE A WEEK. NO less. NO MATTER WHAT WATER CONDITIONERS YOU USE!! Just because you use a water conditioner... it doesn't keep the water clean. A water conditioner only takes out harmful chlorines in the water. I use stress coat on EVERY water change to take out the chlorines and other things. I use stress zyme to help with my biological filter.

Now on the filter. A lot of people say to change it once a month or two months. A lot of other people say NOT to change it, to just rinse it off with bottled water. Personally, I change mine once a month.

pH in fish tanks is NOT as big a deal as most people will make it out to be. Fish will adjust to whatever the pH of the tank is, as long as its done slowly and they aren't just thrown in there. Then its a shock to the system. You SHOULD check these things AT VERY LEAST once a month. NitItes, nitrAtes and ammonia. I personally thing that checking for these once a WEEK is appropriate because you never know what is going to stress out your fish. Ammonia can pop up in a well established tank pretty fast.

Do you have a test kit raiquee? If you do what are your levels? What kind of problems are you having with your tank? You said "Not all fish die because they all are sick. Something is wrong with the water. And if my levels tested with flying colors when i went to get the fish, and i left it alone, and all my fish die, obviously something is going wrong. And this has happened more than once."

How old is the tank? Maybe your biological filter isn't kicking in. I have had that problem. You can set up your tank and have everything look perfect... then get fish and put them in, but your tank hasn't cycled yet, and your levels will fly off in all directions. I posted about cycling a tank in this forum if you want to read that. It might help. Let me know what is going on.

[tutebugs]

I add water weekly cuz it evaporates but I don't take out any water...how come my tank is so clean then?????

[tutebugs]

Quote: Originally Posted by AmberC Do you have a test kit tutebugs? If you do what are your levels? What kind of problems are you having with your tank? You said "Not all fish die because they all are sick. Something is wrong with the water. And if my levels tested with flying colors when i went to get the fish, and i left it alone, and all my fish die, obviously something is going wrong. And this has happened more than once."

I didn't say anything about my tank passing with flying colors..that wasn't my post. I simply said the ph in my tank is ok. I never said anything about not all fish dying because.....

[AmberC]

No sorry. I put the wrong name. I fixed that

[tutebugs]

Quote: Originally Posted by AmberC No sorry. I put the wrong name. I fixed that

[AmberC]

Calm down tutebugs... no one is attacking you here. How old is your tank. If its an established tank... like years old.. it IS possible to not have to do much for it and it will stay clean. Not everyone is that lucky. You could have a good water supply too.

[tutebugs]

I've had my tank for...oh, i'd say less then 6 months. Since the day I got it I haven't changed the water, only added, and haven't changed the filter. I have a new one that i'll put in the second my tank starts to get cloudy. We don't have a good water supply by any means. We have more iron in our water then there is in the mines I think.

[AmberC]

Well I dont know then. I dont think that the stress coat by itself is keeping the tank clear. Have you tested your levels at all? I mean... obviously your fish are fine and your tank is clear. I'm just curious.