Are Water Changes Really Necessary for Your Aquarium?

Comments · 623

• MC

  @mcaquatics3143 · 1 year ago (edited)

  This subject has been beaten to death. It varies from tank to tank, no ones water or tank set up is the same. I have tanks that go 6 months without water changes. Why? Because the nitrates don't get close to 40 ppm by then. Heavily planted and stocked. Some need a water change every 3 months. One every 2 weeks. There's no set time or amount to change. My fish are breeding and healthy. Plants grow like mad. Fish live a long happy life. I test every 2 weeks so its not from lack of testing. 47 years in this hobby and I've learned that what works for you don't work for all. Test your water, if it needs changed, change it. If it don't then don't there's no one way period.

  211

• AM

  @amuseinthecraftroom6257 · 1 year ago

  I've got so many plants in my 55 that the nitrates never even register. I'll do a small cosmetic water change once a month or so just because.

  9

• SJ

  @sjerven · 1 year ago

  My peacock tank needs a 50% water change every week while my planted community tank only needs a 25% change every week four weeks or so. Like you said, all tanks are different.

  15

• ER

  @Eree0101 · 1 year ago

  I'm sorry people have been giving you crap for what you do. I watch both your channel and Father fish and everything you said is correct, context matters. From a personal stand point i've been trying to combine your 150 with a FF deep substrate set up. Best of both worlds i hope.

  13

• KE

  @kevinsimpson-tm2ld · 1 year ago

  I am beginner, Aquarius person and I loved listening to your presentation about changing of the water. You’re very informative. You’re very fair and there’s a lot of people out there that need to listen to you and take into consideration what you are saying I appreciate you and I thank you for sharing. You have beautiful tanks by the way.

  24

• PR

  @properconciete14 · 1 year ago

  I also want to add that old tank water with lots of nitrates are liquid CRACK for houseplants! Give it to your houseplants and watch them grow 🙌

  2

• PA

  @patrickmurray3724 · 1 year ago

  I completely agree. I have big cichlids and do regular 60% water changes every 5-7 days. No live plants because the fish eat them quickly. I feed lettuce 2 days before every water change because the fish shred the lettuce and make a mess. I like doing water changes more often than less. fish are always much happier after a water change. Also, as much fish influences say that Fluval fx6 filters can be cleaned less and show videos with longer time periods than 3 months between cleanings, I have found with big cichlids that this is not desirable and can lead to unhealthy conditions which can promote diseases such as Epistylis. Just my experience. There is no substitute for regular consistent maintenance. To keep me on track, I keep a log on everything I do to the tanks.

  5

• PA

  @pakdeetapang9231 · 1 year ago

  I change the water every 4 days 30%. Thanks for the advice.

  5

• CC

  @ccons003 · 1 year ago (edited)

  Thanks for doing this. It all depends on how your tanks are set up.

  8

• CH

  @chriswaldmann7015 · 1 year ago

  Thank you much for this video.  As someone new to the hobby this was superhelpful with cutting through all the different hook lines out there.  You helped me understand more how the factors of each tank make a difference.  I know for people long in the hobby this is old news but for a newbie it was superhelpful.

  9

• DC

  @DCunha78 · 1 year ago

  I agree with you💯... Out of my 7 tanks, only 2 get a 25-30% weekly water changes. My mosquito fish tank, 50 gallons btw, only get a water change every 4-5 weeks. It does have plenty of plants plus mosquito fish aren't that messy. Just like you said, test your water and determine what needs to be done. Great video explaining and hopefully putting a lot of those myths to bed.

  6

• LA

  @laladidu5249 · 9 months ago

  Wow, I love the way this video was made. Super easy to understand and he didn’t bash anyone else in the process. Super respectful! Way to go sir

  2