I have a question regarding water changes.
Currently performing a 50% water change weekly and cleaning the filter canister monthly. It’s a 250 Litre tank with 2 large goldfish within.
How often can I perform water changes if Nitrate seems too high? Also, how much water can I change? I have purchased a nitrate filter which removes a large portion of nitrate before going into the tank.
Thanks.
Water change questions
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Ides of March
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VikingMummy2015
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I do twice weekly water changes. You can change water daily if that’s what you want to do. The bacteria are in the filter, not the water.
I’m trying to remember which plants are goldfish friendly that might also help lower the nitrate naturally....but drawing a blank.
I’m trying to remember which plants are goldfish friendly that might also help lower the nitrate naturally....but drawing a blank.
240L Fluval Roma with Oase 600 Biomaster: 1 German red bristlenose, 4 male cherry barbs, 6 standard rummynose, 3 golden rummynose tetra, 9 emperor tetra, 14 cardinal tetra, 2 hengeli rasbora, 3 nerite snails, 1 adult Sulawesi snail and multiple juveniles continually appearing.
Parameters: gH2, kH1, pH7.4 (tap).
Fish fiend since October 2017.
Parameters: gH2, kH1, pH7.4 (tap).
Fish fiend since October 2017.
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Ides of March
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I think I have 2 Anubias and 3 Crypts plants in pots.
When I’m cleaning the filter, the pads can get quite mucky. I clean them off in the water I have taken from the tank. But it’s hard to remove some of it. Is there any other way?
When I’m cleaning the filter, the pads can get quite mucky. I clean them off in the water I have taken from the tank. But it’s hard to remove some of it. Is there any other way?
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fr499y
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@Ides of March if anything its a good thing some stays on the pads! Stops you from over cleaning 
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black ghost
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You can change as much water as you like as often as you like... as long as the parameters are similar. Think of a river....
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Ides of March
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Thanks for answering guys. Very informative.
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Ides of March
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I’ve got a Nitrate tap filter which brings Nitrate to 0.
I tested my tank before 50% water change and it was anywhere from 50 - 100 PPM.
Performed a 50% water change and the Nitrate readings are exactly the same before making the change, 50 - 100 PPM.
Can I do a larger change of about 75%/80%?
I tested my tank before 50% water change and it was anywhere from 50 - 100 PPM.
Performed a 50% water change and the Nitrate readings are exactly the same before making the change, 50 - 100 PPM.
Can I do a larger change of about 75%/80%?
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MasonJ19
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That's strange what are you using to test? if as you say your tap water is 0 and you replaced 50% its impossible for it to be the same.Ides of March wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 18:44 pm I’ve got a Nitrate tap filter which brings Nitrate to 0.
I tested my tank before 50% water change and it was anywhere from 50 - 100 PPM.
Performed a 50% water change and the Nitrate readings are exactly the same before making the change, 50 - 100 PPM.
Can I do a larger change of about 75%/80%?
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Gingerlove05
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Have you bashed 7 bells out of the nitrate testing reagents? If you dont they can give weird readings
To the tune of “the saints go marching in”:
Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful, they’re white Welsh and fluffy! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful!
Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful, they’re white Welsh and fluffy! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful!
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plankton
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If the nitrate was 100 before the water change, it's likely that it's still above 50 after the water change.
You can do another change to see if it comes down below 50 after that.
Did you get a Pozzani filter for the tapwater?
You can do another change to see if it comes down below 50 after that.
Did you get a Pozzani filter for the tapwater?