Water Change 63Lt Juwel Rekord 600

[Joutei]

Hey guys

Just recently set up a fish tank, i have 10 neons , 2 corydoras and 2 electric blue rams.

I was just wondering how often i should do a water change, and about how much percent of the water should i change.

Also i use tap water , and alot of people say you dont need water conditioner but some say you do?!

Cheers

[Joshlikesfish]

How long has it been running?

[Caryl]

If you put your location in your profile (through the User Control Panel) it would help when it comes to answering some questions - like whether you need water conditioner.

Some areas do and others don't. Depends on your water supply and what, if anything, is added to it.

As asked - how long has this tank been running? If it is newly set up then that is a lot of fish.

[Joutei]

Hey guys sorry, my friends helped me get started, and i thought i'd get some ideas from you guys, it is has been running for a month.

I live in Manukau City, Auckland.

Cheers

[Joshlikesfish]

Were the fish slowly added or all at once?

[Joutei]

First i added neons to cycle , then after 2 weeks i added my corydoras, and two weeks later today i added my electric blue rams. I hope that wasn't rushing it?

[phoenix44]

You'd change about a third of the water once a week.

Everything else sounds fine.

Plants grow well in those tanks so that could be an option for you too.

[Joutei]

Thanks, would you recommend adding water conditioner?

[SamH]

Thanks, would you recommend adding water conditioner?

You're near me, so no. If you're still worried just leave the water out over night.

HTH.

[suphew]

You'd change about a third of the water once a week.

Everything else sounds fine.

Plants grow well in those tanks so that could be an option for you too.

Why such big water changes? Aren't the rules 10% weekly or 20% fortnightly? Tank doesn't seem over loaded and the Rekord has a good filter system. While bigger water changes can be a good thing, they can also be stressful for fish, big Parameter changes, temperature changes, particularly if water conditioner isn't used because the filter will also take a hammering. Ram's are often very sensitive to stress.

[Joutei]

yeah i was thinking a third of the water to change is a bit to much weekly .

[suphew]

Also i use tap water , and alot of people say you dont need water conditioner but some say you do?!

The main purpose of water ager is to remove chlorine which you can usually smell if it is strong in your water supply. Letting the water stand overnight with a small air pump going will also remove the chlorine (but who can be bothered doing that). Water ager will also remove chloramines which wont go from leaving the water to stand. They also neutralize heavy metals and ammonia. With out testing there is no way of knowing how much heavy metals etc your water contains. You only need to add enough water ager for the new water your adding to the tank so you don't need much, and if you buy a good sized bottle it costs very little per water change, well worth peace of mind.

[Joutei]

Kwel thanks alot guys.

Just Curious, later on im thinking of slowly adding 2 more corys , 2 more rams, and one Siamese crowntail fighter. Is this too much for the size of my tank?

Cheers

[Windsparrow]

Don't bother with the siamese, but more fish will be fine.

Waterchanges are dependant on stock and feeding. I would just stick with a static 30%. I wouldn't bother at this point about exacts. Just keep in mind Waterchanges are to remove waste product. You don't want your fish living in too much of their waste.

I'd use, or at least have water conditioner unless get your own water. Just in case your tap water make up is changed.

[Joutei]

whats wrong with the siamese ? :roll:

[phoenix44]

A third of the water being changed is fine. Given the time of year, cold water isn't exactly all that cold.

[fordayzbro]

I change 50% per week in my 64L......

[Ismart120]

+1 for not going with the Siamese, or at least, be very cautious with it. In a tank that size you're likely to have the rams and fighter too close together which will result in aggression, most likely at the fighter, but its still up to you in the end

[suphew]

I'm still wondering why the 30% changes? I don't disagree that a 30% change could be fine, heck some breeders to daily 100% changes, BUT the generally agreed rule is 10% weekly or 20% fortnightly. With out having a nitrate test result or obvious problems why make a fish keepers life harder. A 10% is give or take 1 bucket (okay a bit less but it's no harder to do a fullish bucket than a half bucket). But a 30% change is two buckets, or twice as much work, and for an inexperienced fish keeper can have as many risks as benefits.

Siamese fighters are named because the males can fight to the death, but when it come's to other fish their slow moving and flowing fins makes them targets for most other fish. Also they don't compete well for food.

[the-obstacle]

the generally agreed rule is 10% weekly or 20% fortnightly

Really? I thought the rule was change as much as you need to to keep the nitrate levels down? I'd say it's all down to your stock levels as to how much to change. I have to change at least 100% per week because my tank is very heavily stocked.

[phoenix44]

Never heard of the 10% weekly rule. Have always said 30% at minimum - varies for size of tank, but is the norm for most people.

[suphew]

Never heard of the 10% weekly rule. Have always said 30% at minimum - varies for size of tank, but is the norm for most people.

Really, it's been the rule as far as I have known forever? Also not sure why it would vary for tank size, I would think bio-load would be the main determining factor.

I think you will find that other than breeders and specialist fish keepers very few people do more than 10-20% per week. With the exception of a Cichlid forum a quick google search results in most beginner sites suggesting 10-15% and a couple that say no more than 25%

It would be interesting to run a pole and see how often and how much members here do actually change. Personally change I round 50% once a month but my tank is properly larger than the average (~500l) and breaking it down still works out to about 10% per week.

[Stella]

I haven't heard of a 10% rule either, sounds a bit minimal to me. I imagine most well-stocked tanks would wind up with creeping nitrates over the long term with that.

I do 30-50% changes weekly.

Like with filtration, I think it is better to overdo it than underdo it.

[Caryl]

I too had always heard 10% a week or 20% fortnightly but personally don't do any water changes at all if I can help it :roll:

I wonder if it is because today's fishkeepers tend to overstock so need larger water changes more often :-?

[Stella]

I too had always heard 10% a week or 20% fortnightly but personally don't do any water changes at all if I can help it :roll:

Caryl! Seriously??