Water Changes.

[gobyfan]

Hello me again!

I have a question about water changes,? I usually change 20% of my 29 g tank water every two weeks, and once a month i do a deep cleanning of my whole tank including washing and scraping all the gunk of my filter, skimmer and powerheads.
I guess my question is.. am i overdoing it??? Should i only chande 10% of water every couple weeks, and should i even clean my eqauipment, since some of the Gunk is probably benifecial to the tank?

My tank has been running for 8 months now. so it is well established!

Thanks
GF

 

[Mike and Donna]

Water changes of 20% once a month should do it for you.

The skimmer should be cleaned weekly. All that gunk (skimmate) is the bad stuff you are exporting from your tank. The skimmer gets less efficient as it builds up.

Why do you have a filter too?? IMO, filters, sponges, etc. are just places for nitrates to build up and cause algae outbreaks. No need for any filtration other than the skimmer.

The only reason for cleaning a powerhead is to keep it running. I've run two for 2 1/2 years with no cleaning and they work fine. If they ever act up, I'll soak them in vinegar and get 'em going for another few years!

JMO HTH

 

[gobyfan]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Mike and Donna:
<strong>
Why do you have a filter too?? JMO HTH</strong><hr></blockquote>

I use the filter for extra circulation, its a emperor 400 but i do not use the bio wheels since those seem to be the nitrate factories, i want to use the filter as a mini refugium as well.
might as well use it for something right?

GF

 

[danmhippo]

If you are comfortable with the maintenance schedule and doesn't feel like there are too much work, don't change a thing!

 

[Modo]

Not to get on my soap box again from your other post. You are going to need to stay ontop of your water changes relegiosly because of you fish load.

I would clean the powerheads as needed and the filter box I would just leave it alone. I haven't cleaned mine in like 2 yrs and it has all sorts of sponges and lower light level critters growing in it.

 

[suckair]

Get set. Get rady. Flame ME!

I have not done a "major" water change on my 120/60 setup in like 2 years and have never done a water change on the 105.

I look at the animals and say.. "Wow everyone looks great and all is good with the world" so I don't change the water. I guess it depends on your setup.

I have ran carbon from time to time on a limited basis. I have had some chemical warfare between some of my corals and carbon clears it up quite well.

Both my systems are covered so I have littel evaporation and don't add much of any water. I also run reactors on both systems and use powerful beckett style skimming.

Just my two cents

Randall

 

[danmhippo]

I ain't gonna flame nobody, just wanna say that I've been there done that on my 150G. But recently reverted to regular water change. Why? because it gives me peace of mind when I sleeps at night. Economy is bad enough to keep me awake at night, I don't need fricking water change or not to bug me for the rest of my life.

I've also changed to skimmerless which makes regular water changes a necessity. I have to say I am seeing more life after gone skimmerless.