how often do you change....?

Question

how often do you change a filter for a 5gal tank? and how often should i clean a tank for this small tank?

i meant how often do i clean the tank and change the water?

Answer 1

It depends on what you keep in the tank and how long it takes to get dirty - experience will give you the best answer.

Once per week of water changes and gravel vaccuming is ideal, especially in a tank this small. Water changes should be abut 20-30% to keep things stable.

As for the filter, I recommend rinsing out anything you can in dechlorinated water, or aquarium water, rather then replacing it, and try to replace what you need to in portions, not all at once, that way you don't destroy the bacteria. Monthly maintenance is typically fine for the filter, but again, if it clogs up sooner you'll want to maintain it more, and if it looks very clean after a month, perhaps you can to two.

Answer 2

You do about a 25 percent water change every week, but it depends on how heavy your bioload is, and if ou are still cycling. Do it with a small gravel vac. With the filter, this holds nescissary bactiria so only rinse it in the tan kwater you are taking out and replace it only when its falling apart

And to magic man, carbon is only for filtering meds out of the water, so if you are not doing meds its completly fine to even empty the carbon out of your filter.

Answer 3

You should never totally empty out your tank and clean it,that would kill all your beneficial bacteria and be stressful for your fish.Just get a gravel vacuum and use it to remove about 20% of the water once a week.

Answer 4

I totally agree with the above posts except I would suggest to replace the carbon in the filter once every 2-4 weeks.

MM

Answer 5

when it's blocked, the water will flow back into the aquarium. but, you could do it more often then that... every 2-4 weeks would be good...