How often should i do a water change

giambi4343

I have a 29 gallon tank with a aquaclear 50 and a Penguin 150 running 24/7. it is a blackwater tank and live planted. i have 4 rainbows, 8 tiny cardinal tetras, 4 harly rasboras, 2 Kribensis, 1 oto cat, 1 bushynose pleco, and 3 clams. how often and how much water do you think i should be taking out when i do the water change? thank you for your help.

Byron

Weekly water change is essential. The volume can vary, but from what you've mentioned I would change half the tank. I do 50-60% changes on all my planted tanks every week and have done for 15 years. The fish love it.

The amouont of filtration has absolutely nothing to do with water changes, assuming of course the filter is adequate. So two filters does not mean less water changing. The water change is removing "crud" that no amount of filtration can handle. With the fish you have, i would wonder why two filters; must have a lot of water movement, and you have fish that do not appreciate it.

Byron.

giambi4343

the 150 i have modded to just create surface agitation. while the AC 50 will move the mid to bottom levels of water. they are both on the same side so one half of the tank is alot more calm than the other.

AbbeysDad

+1 - 50% weekly.

zof

Agreed 50% for optimal health every week, so long as you don't have a reason to do less, like in my case I have alot of CO2 in my water lately so its 7 pH coming out of tap and 24 hours later its 8 pH so I only do about 30% water changes so the effect of the pH change isn't so drastic