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I'd like this to be a serious thread where people can discuss why they change their water so much or so little. With some recent topics on shrimp and/or fish dieoffs, this brought me curious as to how much people messing with their water could have an effect.
I read some people who do like a 50% 2 times a week and that seems insane to me, especially with a planted tank. Others do nothing but top off ever.
To me, it goes like this. Fish and other creatures and food create ammonia and other byproducts, filter eats ammonia, makes nitrites, filter eats nitrites and makes nitrates. Plants eat some nitrates, and the rest can be removed with a water change every once in a while.
Some people obsess over the #'s of pH, gH, kH, in order to get an ideal number based off something online and whether or not their fish need it.
I've read many things about the Japanese breeders who breed the shrimp and they never change water, just top off. The crystals seem to like old water and constantly messing with it, the shrimp don't like.
So if anyone wants to chime in on how much and often they change and why, go ahead. I'd like to get people reasoning and experience.
I read some people who do like a 50% 2 times a week and that seems insane to me, especially with a planted tank. Others do nothing but top off ever.
To me, it goes like this. Fish and other creatures and food create ammonia and other byproducts, filter eats ammonia, makes nitrites, filter eats nitrites and makes nitrates. Plants eat some nitrates, and the rest can be removed with a water change every once in a while.
Some people obsess over the #'s of pH, gH, kH, in order to get an ideal number based off something online and whether or not their fish need it.
I've read many things about the Japanese breeders who breed the shrimp and they never change water, just top off. The crystals seem to like old water and constantly messing with it, the shrimp don't like.
So if anyone wants to chime in on how much and often they change and why, go ahead. I'd like to get people reasoning and experience.