![]() ![]() Whereas 5 or 10-gallon nano tanks are renowned for having fairly volatile water chemistry, larger tanks tend to be more stable as there’s more water to buffer any changes that occur. Smaller tanks tend to need more regular water changes than larger ones because toxic build-up and changes in the water chemistry tend to happen faster. How much and how often you’ll need to change your tank’s water depends on a few factors: Size of Tank Over time, the pH of your tank could be shifted outside of the safe range for your particular fish or aquatic pets, so changing the water regularly is a good way to reset conditions closer to your desired parameters. Many of the biological processes within an aquarium make the water more acidic, and rocks, substrates, and driftwood can also alter the tank’s pH. When you add new water from the tap, it begins to chemically interact with everything inside your aquarium. Healthy live plants are a good way to reduce phosphate levels over the long term, but the most immediate way to reduce phosphates in the tank is by changing part of the water. Phosphates don’t harm fish directly, but, to keep algae in check, phosphate levels should ideally be kept below 2 ppm. Like ammonia and nitrites, phosphates are produced in an aquarium by fish waste, uneaten fish food, and dying plant matter.Īnd like nitrates, high levels of phosphates can cause algae blooms in the aquarium which can make the water green, acidic, and depleted in oxygen. Since nitrates cannot be removed by your filter, performing regular partial water changes is a good way to keep levels in check. Very high nitrate levels can even be lethal to fish and also cause algae blooms which can lead to other problems in the aquarium. Scientific studies have shown that nitrate levels as low as 44 ppm can affect freshwater shrimp and the most sensitive fish species – and levels above 80 ppm can affect most species of aquarium fish. Nitrates may be less harmful than ammonia and nitrites, but they can still be toxic in large doses. Thankfully, a good biological filter will do this job for you, with beneficial bacteria converting the ammonia and nitrites into less harmful nitrates.īut if your filter isn’t working properly and you have an ammonia or nitrite emergency, a large partial water change is one of the fastest ways to rectify the problem. ![]() You always want an ammonia and nitrite count to be at 0 ppm (parts per million) to keep your fish safe and healthy. ![]() Why Do You Need Partial Water Changes? Management of Nitrite and Ammonia Levelsįish waste, leftover food in the tank, and decaying plant matter all produce ammonia in the water, which is then converted into nitrites by certain bacteria.Įven small amounts of ammonia or nitrites can cause ammonia poisoning or nitrite poisoning, so the target level of ammonia and nitrites in your tank is very simple: none. Let’s take a closer look at the functions of partial water changes in more detail. To maintain healthy water conditions, regular partial water changes are needed to replace old, tired aquarium water with clean, fresh water from a tap or alternative water source. With time, certain dissolved substances can build up in aquarium water and, if left unchanged, these substances can build up to dangerous levels. Unlike a natural freshwater environment like a river or lake, a home aquarium is a contained body of water that doesn’t get replenished by water flow or rain. So let’s dive in! Aquariums Need Regular Cleaning But to know exactly what’s best for your tank, we’ll need to look at the topic in more detail. In most aquariums, a 15-35% partial water change including gravel cleaning every one or two weeks is the optimum cleaning regime. While aquarium filters perform an essential cleaning role in the tank, some additional cleaning and water changes help to keep the aquarium in good health. When I got my first aquarium twenty years ago, I just assumed that the filter would do most of the cleaning work and didn’t realize that I’d have to change the water frequently too!īut I soon learned that partial water changes are a standard part of good aquarium maintenance. ![]()
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