Billaney Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Hi Everyone I'm new so this might be a silly question but, Do i need to do a water change , its a new 55 gallon tank just cycleing with 3 peral Gouramis in it. All the things i have read says do a water change weekly but i've just tested the water and everything tests good. PH = 7.4 ( consistant) Ammonia = 0ppm Nitrate = 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm should i just leave it for now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 You don't have to. Even if everything is perfect I still like to do a small weekly water change. No harm being a bit lazy if it's all good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Regular small water changes are very important as they provide a stable enviroment for the fish. This might be every week, two weeks or once a month. Smaller or heavily stocked tanks would be done often as their conditions change more rapidly. Make sure you wash filter parts out in water from the tank and not under the tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtman Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 why not under the tap?? the water in wainuiomata,wellington ...where im from...seems to be perfect ly fine :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodle Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 because you will be killing all your healthy bacteria!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 The only thing that will kill the bacteria is if you use extremely hot or cold water or the tap water is heavily chlorinated. Most city water around the country is only lightly chlorinated. It won't make much of a dent. Now, go to someplace like Los Angeles where the water is chlorinated enough that even having your filter near a running tap will kill the whole filter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petplanet Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 What makes you think bacteria is any tougher than your fish? The idea is to clean out maximum dirt and minimum bacteria so it makes sense not to shock them to much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Because, the bacteria killed if you use lukewarm water to clean the filter is well within the doesn't matter range and will have regrown in maybe a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkytown Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Now, go to someplace like Los Angeles where the water is chlorinated enough that even having your filter near a running tap will kill the whole filter... I believe it! If you couldn't tell from my accent, I'm American, and upon returning to California after living here for a number of years, I was shocked by the tap water. It literally smells of pool-water to my nose. So much chlorine! Bit gross really. We've got it good here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_from_nz Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 water changes are always important, don't you still have shower even though your not dirty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I confess to always cleaning my filters under the tap, even though we are told not to. I make sure the water is running at a similar temperature to the tank. Never had a problem. We don't have chlorine in our artesian water supply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wazza Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 I give my filters a quick sweil in a bucket of used tank water after I do a water change, I find it works ok to remove the large particles but still leaves the baciteria intack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 I do about a 30l (approx 15%) change every week. Which means with evaporation I usually add 35-40l . About once a month I only take out 15l (1 bucket full) and give all the parts in the filter a wash under the cold tap. Giving the coarse layers a good blast, and the finer layers just a bit of a rinse My "theory" is that so long as you dont kill ALL the bacteria by doing a major water change AND cleaning the filter at the same time. There is enough bacteria floating about & living in the gravel, to recolonize what ever you clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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