I have been reading a lot of controversy about water changes in cleaning a tank recently. Here are some points I have come across;
How Much?
How much water should be taken out when doing a water change. For a regular weekly water change I take about 25% of the water. Castiel is in a five gallon tank, with substrate, gravel and ornaments. I figure 25% is about one gallon of water. Old water goes into a five gallon bucket when vacuuming the bottom of the tank. I have a sharpie mark in the bucket when the water level reaches one gallon, pulling up just before it is at the mark. I would not recommend more than a 25% water change, unless the betta fish is ill and requires you to take out more water. 50% is moderately safe, but I would not recommend it unless needed. 100% water changes should be only used in emergencies. The higher quantity of water taken out of the tank will lead to a higher chance of stress in betta fish.
How much water should be taken out when doing a water change. For a regular weekly water change I take about 25% of the water. Castiel is in a five gallon tank, with substrate, gravel and ornaments. I figure 25% is about one gallon of water. Old water goes into a five gallon bucket when vacuuming the bottom of the tank. I have a sharpie mark in the bucket when the water level reaches one gallon, pulling up just before it is at the mark. I would not recommend more than a 25% water change, unless the betta fish is ill and requires you to take out more water. 50% is moderately safe, but I would not recommend it unless needed. 100% water changes should be only used in emergencies. The higher quantity of water taken out of the tank will lead to a higher chance of stress in betta fish.
How Often?
A well established tank with a running filter should only need a 25% water change once a week. A smaller tank with no filter should be changed every few days. Three to four times a week. A cycling tank with fish should be changed every day to every other day depending on the level of ammonia. Ammonia should be tested every day if you are cycling with fish.
A well established tank with a running filter should only need a 25% water change once a week. A smaller tank with no filter should be changed every few days. Three to four times a week. A cycling tank with fish should be changed every day to every other day depending on the level of ammonia. Ammonia should be tested every day if you are cycling with fish.
Deadly Chemicals
It can be easy to put your hand in the tank to move an ornament or to place an plant back in the substrate, but remember that it is very easy to bring dangerous chemicals into the tank. If you washed you're hands with soap, it cannot be washed enough, there will still be soap residue on your skin, which is poison to the fish. Any other cleaning chemicals will also harm the fish if it gets into the tank. It is best not to get your hands in the tank if possible, but when needed make sure you haven't had soap on your hands recently, and rinse thoroughly with tap water before cleaning the tank. I also recommend keeping a towel just for tank cleaning day, for drying your hands.
It can be easy to put your hand in the tank to move an ornament or to place an plant back in the substrate, but remember that it is very easy to bring dangerous chemicals into the tank. If you washed you're hands with soap, it cannot be washed enough, there will still be soap residue on your skin, which is poison to the fish. Any other cleaning chemicals will also harm the fish if it gets into the tank. It is best not to get your hands in the tank if possible, but when needed make sure you haven't had soap on your hands recently, and rinse thoroughly with tap water before cleaning the tank. I also recommend keeping a towel just for tank cleaning day, for drying your hands.
Overdose
After taking water out, you will be adding conditioner or medications to replace what was taken out. It is important to always triple check doses for the amount of water you are adding in. It can be easy to get in a hurry and throw it in but overdose can make the fish very sick and possibly be fatal.
After taking water out, you will be adding conditioner or medications to replace what was taken out. It is important to always triple check doses for the amount of water you are adding in. It can be easy to get in a hurry and throw it in but overdose can make the fish very sick and possibly be fatal.
Cleaning The Filter
It is a careful procedure when cleaning the filter media of the tank, so as to not kill the good bacteria that lives in it. The filter media should be cleaned every two weeks to once a month. You should have a sponge, and ceramic media in the filter. When you want to clean the filter, take one of these and swish in tank water that's been taken out from the water change. Clean water will kill the good bacteria. Place the media back in the filter. The next time you clean the filter, do the same procedure with the other media. Continue to alternate, to keep good bacteria growing in your filter.
Leaving anything behind
Finally, make sure you are thorough in getting waste and dead plants or anything else that could cause an ammonia spike.
Finally, make sure you are thorough in getting waste and dead plants or anything else that could cause an ammonia spike.
Happy Bubble Nesting!
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