[zfarsh]

For those that have a few tanks, including a larger one, such as 55g or 75g or bigger, when you have a planted tank, and you are stocked ok or a bit overstocked, how often do you still

1) Change 20 - 40% of the water of each aquarium
2) Clean your filters

This is after at least more than 1 year of running the tanks, and having at least 3 tanks.

I am currently doing both every week (mostly) or on smaller occasions every 2 weeks, and have been doing so for about 2 years now. Just curious if some are doing it every 2 - 3 weeks instead, or longer. I have in the past tried to do top offs only for a while, but didn't work out too well for my plants and fish, so I have been on regular water change for at least 2 years. Want to hear peoples experiences which have been successful for a while (more than 8 months)

 

[SKurj]

I do 50% on my 2 55's and 25-30% each on my 15g and 20g weekly. I do sometimes particularly in the summer get a bit lazy and let them go for up to a month sometimes. The 2 55's have been running for 2 years or so, one has plants but I've only had plants in there for about 3-4 months. I notice with my fish that the water change often triggers spawning behaviour (I try to change with slightly cooler water). Also the fish seem to grow much faster with more water changes.

My canisters I do 3-4 times a year on the 55's. Just setup a 180g with an fx6 and a 2262, I'm probably only going to backwash those after 3 months and maybe open them up after 6 the first time anyways and see how they do. The tank will be pretty lightly stocked though.

 

[zfarsh]

Thanks for sharing. I think I am going to try less filter cleaning, and keep the weekly water change for now, and see

 

[NVES]

All of my freshwater tanks, which is 5 tanks, I only top up water, and only rinse out the filters once a month. All my tanks are heavily planted and the plants do most of the filtration.

Now saltwater.... that is a different story.


Cheers,
Aaron

 

[zfarsh]

All of my freshwater tanks, which is 5 tanks, I only top up water, and only rinse out the filters once a month. All my tanks are heavily planted and the plants do most of the filtration.

Now saltwater.... that is a different story.

Cheers,
Aaron

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for sharing. Had a few questions for you:

1) What size Tanks do you have?
2) How long have you only been doing Top Offs, once a month filter cleaning
3) Are you tanks under-stocked, or max stock, or overstocked/

Thanks

 

[NVES]

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for sharing. Had a few questions for you:

1) What size Tanks do you have?
2) How long have you only been doing Top Offs, once a month filter cleaning
3) Are you tanks under-stocked, or max stock, or overstocked/

Thanks

1. Tank sizes are 150g, 55g, 29g, 29g, and 20g.
2. I've been doing top ups only for about 2 yrs now.
3. All tanks are moderately stocked - I notice that each tank finds its' own balance of stocking.

Cheers,
A

 

[zfarsh]

1. Tank sizes are 150g, 55g, 29g, 29g, and 20g.
2. I've been doing top ups only for about 2 yrs now.
3. All tanks are moderately stocked - I notice that each tank finds its' own balance of stocking.

Cheers,
A

Oh wow, thanks for sharing, those are perfect sizes and time frame, and really defy my current belief, so I am extremely curious on knowing more from your very different experience / methods / results.

I personally had bad experience with top offs, but I am thinking maybe it also had something to do with something I kept adding to the water as well. That's why I stopped a while back, but want to slack off just a little more than before, at least sometimes .

But, if only do top offs, do your plants not miss on nutrients after time? Do you add fertilizers? Do the fish seem doing fine (I was thinking maybe the TDS buildup could affect them over time (ie after 6 - 10 months), but your experience may be suggesting it is very possible.

Do you feed very moderately, or very little, or very generously?

Also, what filters do you have on your 55 and 150 g tanks? I want to see if you over filter or under in your heavy planted tank. Do you have pre-filters on them (sponge at inlet)? I want to see how you manage doing once a month cleaning on filters, as I am thinking my pre-filters might slow down flow a lot or totally if left for a month, whilst not having them would be possible, but I have RCS and little snails in all my tanks, so I cant.

And I think you might be right that the aquarium balances it's livestock up by itself after time, I believe all my 4 tanks have experienced this.