water change how often and how much

Most people change about 30% of there water weekly. Some people do a little more, or less. Find a regiment that works for your plants and fish/shrimp and keeps your tank healthy.

Most of my tanks get a 30% weekly. A few of my tanks get a 50% every other week (for spawning reasons.)

If it were me, gallon a week to keep it simple.. have a gallon jug filled near the tank at room temp than when you need to do wc, scoop out the gal and add the filled container. Should take only a minute

Is dosing needed with your plants and MTS? I don't dose but seems like you have mostly undemanding root feeders and the MTS should be good for that.

Personally if i'm going to do a WC its nearly as quick to do a big WC, especially on small tanks. I rarely do less than 50%. Usually 75%.

It depends on your ferts. If you know your fertilizers are not building up, then smaller amounts would be ok. IF you do not test or do not know how much fertilizer is in your tank at water change time, I woulds say a 50%+ would be in order weekly.

There are several threads on the topic already. The answer will vary and you can get a broader answer by using the search. No two tanks are alike. You can't necessarily go by what others do. You must do what your tank needs you to do be healthy.

one of my 10 gallon tanks is open topped so its easier to do WC, i change 1 cup everyday. My other is closed top so i try to change 30-40% a week ......if i can be bothered LOL

I do 50% a week, but in a tank with livestock I would do 20-25% twice a week...

flight50 said:

There are several threads on the topic already. The answer will vary and you can get a broader answer by using the search. No two tanks are alike. You can't necessarily go by what others do. You must do what your tank needs you to do be healthy.

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Isn't that kind of the point of starting your own thread, about your own setup? I Don't know about you, but I gave up after about a year, the first time I set up a planted tank. Thank God for people who are willing to help.

livingword26 said:

Isn't that kind of the point of starting your own thread, about your own setup? I Don't know about you, but I gave up after about a year, the first time I set up a planted tank. Thank God for people who are willing to help.

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Not exactly. But it makes the search feature valid. Everyone is going to give pretty much the same answers in the multiple threads that already existing. The ranges you will hear are 15-90 percent. But what they don't give is every single detail about their tank. Like I said every tank will be different and you have to find what works for you. Sure you can use water changes that everyone throws out there but is it doing your tank justice and allowing it to be at if full potential. One must find his/her sweet spot for their tank(s) themselves is all I am saying.

livingword26 said:

It depends on your ferts. If you know your fertilizers are not building up, then smaller amounts would be ok. IF you do not test or do not know how much fertilizer is in your tank at water change time, I woulds say a 50%+ would be in order weekly.

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Not to hijack the thread but how would you test to know how much fertilizer is built up in the tank? What testing is required for this?

JEden8 said:

Not to hijack the thread but how would you test to know how much fertilizer is built up in the tank? What testing is required for this?

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What ever is available to you. I only test for nitrates and phosphates. I assume that with those two readings, I can assume that my potassium and micro's are going to be in similar ranges. But, I also monitor those levels closely, and do 60% - 70% water changes every week.