Change water...?

Question

When?
Every day?
or not?

I have 2 goldfish

Answer 1

Routine water changes are an important part of aquarium maintenance. Even with impeccable care and feeding and a wonderful filter, fish produce wastes that build up in the water and can eventually kill them. Routinely changing some of the water will clean out the toxins and protect your fish.

A good approach is to change smaller portions of water more often, and to leave the fish right in the tank while you're doing it. A good average would be to change one third of the aquarium water every two weeks, or better still, every week. Once per month is the bare minimum, and usually leads to declining water quality.
Seldom is it advisable to change more than one third at a time.

THE WATER CHANGE:
http://www.bestfish.com/wtrchang.html
http://www.thefunplace.com/house/pets/fish03.html

Answer 2

This will really depend on the size of your fish, the size of your tank, the age of your tank, and your filtration.

A 25% change once a week is a good recommendation for a tank that is mature, not overstocked, and has adequate filtration.

If your tank is new, it probably has cycled yet - this refers to the establishing of a beneficial bacterial population to convert toxic products (ammonia, nitrite) to nitrate, which is removed by doing water changes. Without the bacteria, you'll need to change the water more frequently to prevent the toxic chemicals from building up.

The larger the tank compared to the size of your fish will also be a factor in how fast these compounds accumulate - two 3" fish in a 100 gallon tank can go longer than the same fish in a 10 gallon without a change - the more water, the more dilute the compounds will be.

If you use a filter, some solid particles will be removed for you - you'll just need to clean or replace your filter media. A filter, however, doesn't remove the dissolved compounds, so this is where the water changes come in. (A filter also adds oxygen to your tank, which most fish appreciate, even though some fish can breathe at the water's surface.) If you have no filter, you'll need to remove all the solids as well as reduce some of the dissolved compounds during a partial water by doing a change.

Do you have a water test kit? I would recommend one if you don't. This would be a way you could tell when you water is needing a change. If your tank is new, you'll want to monitor ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. If your tank has been established six months without any major overhauls or medications being used, just monitoring nitrates should be sufficient. When the values begin to go up, you'll know when it's time to do a change. In a few weeks-months of experimenting, you'll have an idea of how often and how much water you'll need to do for each change. Just remember as your fish grow, they will produce more ammonia than they do now, so frequency or quantity will slowly need to be increased.

Here's some additional info on cycling and tank maintenance:

http://freshwater.fanatics.googlepages.com/cyclinganaquarium
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/Maintenance.htm

Answer 3

Two gold fish in a tank, you need to do a weekly water change of 20-25% being sure to vac the gravel. That is all that is needed.

If you have a bowl, First this is not the best way to keep gold fish you will have to change the water every other day.

Goldfish need lots of Dissolved Oxygen which only enters the water thru movement. i.e. filters, powerheads, fountains waterfalls waves etc.

If you are running a tank with a filter once a week is good. Of course if and when you see the water is "dirty" an extra partial change never hurt.

Also, a test kit helps to know your water conditions. If you test the water and find the ammonia is high, you should do a water change then not wait until your "usual" time.

if you need more info feel free to email me.

Answer 4

Depends. What level of dedication do you have to maintaining your fish tanks?

Large water changes are not bad for fish....look where they come from. Most of our tropicals come from tributaries of the Amazon. 100% water changes happening by the second there. Many discus breeders have automated water changers on their tanks that change out at least 100% of the water on a daily basis. What is stressful to the fish is when there are large changes or shifts in the water makeup. Replacing fresh water with fresh water is a wonderful thing. As that is not really a feasible thing for most hobbyists to do, the next best alternative would be small water changes done at least weekly, 2 or 3 times a week would be better, daily would be great....and if you want to invest in one of those automated water changers, your fish would love you (your wallet might not though, when you go to pay the water bill!)

Answer 5

I have a 2 gallon fish tank with 2 small fish and 2 frogs. I clean and change the water every month or whenever you start seeing alage and other stuff forming. I also put so chemicals in the water so NO alage forms. It helps a lot.

Answer 6

I recommend a minimum of 5% every month, If you have a saltwater it is really important for the nitrates to stay low which makes the fish a lot happier and the inverts and corals stay alive. For freshwater you may change less, a 10% a month will do just fine.

Answer 7

Don't change your water everyday unless you have an unfiltered tank(that isn't good for fish anyway).You should get a gravel vacuum if you don't have one already and use it to change 20% of your water once a week.

Answer 8

yes defiantly change the water!!!!!!!! it keeps you pet healthier. i would say change it every 1/2 a month to a month. something around that. when you change the water its also a good idea to clean the tank too.

Answer 9

20-25% weekly with a gravel vac.

Answer 10

i think every week but it always depends on the number of fishs u have