Should I stay on my scheduled water change?

**Chaoslord** · 08-29-2011, 09:52 PM

I've never tested my water after a cycle. If I ran in to any problems I would have my lfs test my water. I just bought a test kit for myself,and decided to try it out before I did my regular biweekly water change of 15%. This is my results.
Ph 7.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
With these results is it better to do a weekly water change of say 20 - 25% or keeping doing the bi weekly of 15%?
Any opinions would be appreciated.

**Hoppy** · 08-29-2011, 10:42 PM

I don't see anything in the test results to support any decision. The nitrate test result may or may not mean anything. You need to calibrate the test kit to be sure of what the results mean. But, in any case, you are far from having too much nitrate, if that result is accurate to +/-100%.

**Chaoslord** · 08-30-2011, 12:14 AM

The test kit was calibrated. What I'm asking is it better to do a weekly water change at 25%, since I'm not getting a build up of toxins ,or keep doing a 15% twice a week?

**Hoppy** · 08-30-2011, 04:33 PM

I don't see any significant difference in the two water change schedules. The two 15% changes change slightly more water per week, but not enough to be significant. I would do whichever fits your life style best.

JeffHB · 09-01-2011, 07:18 PM

Consider YOUR tank. Heavy stocking? fish load? TDS? then WC may help...otherwsie maybe not so much..

08-29-2011, 09:52 PM	#1
Chaoslord ORDO AB CHAO (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Highland Posts: 613	Should I stay on my scheduled water change? I've never tested my water after a cycle. If I ran in to any problems I would have my lfs test my water. I just bought a test kit for myself,and decided to try it out before I did my regular biweekly water change of 15%. This is my results. Ph 7.6 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 20 With these results is it better to do a weekly water change of say 20 - 25% or keeping doing the bi weekly of 15%? Any opinions would be appreciated. __________________ Chaos Mini Chaos

08-29-2011, 10:42 PM	#2
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,199	I don't see anything in the test results to support any decision. The nitrate test result may or may not mean anything. You need to calibrate the test kit to be sure of what the results mean. But, in any case, you are far from having too much nitrate, if that result is accurate to +/-100%. __________________ Hoppy

08-30-2011, 12:14 AM	#3
Chaoslord ORDO AB CHAO (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Highland Posts: 613	The test kit was calibrated. What I'm asking is it better to do a weekly water change at 25%, since I'm not getting a build up of toxins ,or keep doing a 15% twice a week? __________________ Chaos Mini Chaos

08-30-2011, 04:33 PM	#4
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,199	I don't see any significant difference in the two water change schedules. The two 15% changes change slightly more water per week, but not enough to be significant. I would do whichever fits your life style best. __________________ Hoppy

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09-01-2011, 07:18 PM	#5
JeffHB Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 59	Consider YOUR tank. Heavy stocking? fish load? TDS? then WC may help...otherwsie maybe not so much..