Water Changes

[Matthew Cautero]

I have a fully established 13.5 Gallon tank how often do you suggest doing a water change on this tank

 

[shaggydoo]

I have always done weekly water changes. Keeps me more involved in the tank and less likely to miss any problems early on.

 

[Matthew Cautero]

I have always done weekly water changes. Keeps me more involved in the tank and less likely to miss any problems early on.

would you say like 2 gallons weekly?

 

[Benga]

would you say like 2 gallons weekly?

Yep 10% - 20% is a good rate, That's what I do in my 40 gallon

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a fully established 13.5 Gallon tank how often do you suggest doing a water change on this tank

10% a week is a good starting point. In your case of maybe do 2 gallons

 

[Matthew Cautero]

Another question do you buy your salt water from your LFS or do you make your own

 

[Benga]

Another question do you buy your salt water from your LFS or do you make your own

If you have a RO or RO/DI water system in your home it's more cost effective to mix your own water. If not using tap water can and will likely cause issues in the long run for your tank therefor, in that situation I would purchase premixed saltwater from a reliable LFS.

I would invest in a RO system though, healthy pure water for drinking and healthy pure water for the fishes.

 

[Vahanyos]

I hear it's not good to drink RO/DI water... :/

 

[Vahanyos]

But doing a water change is the best thing for your tank. It replenishes lost/used minerals - not just calcium and magnesium for example. Just do weekly water changes of about 2 gallons or so. Granted it's good water you're using. I get mine from my LFS but they have an amazing tank on display and use the same water, so I trust their water is good.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Another question do you buy your salt water from your LFS or do you make your own

I make my own. It's cheaper in the long run.

 

[Benga]

I hear it's not good to drink RO/DI water... :/

Definitely a possibility, minerals are important to our health and it may be advised to take a multivitamin if you do drink RO/DI water. My home is just RO though so my water doesn't go through demineralization.
Related study on Health effects of DI water: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientschap12.pdf

 

[Matthew Cautero]

I hear it's not good to drink RO/DI water... :/

you can actually get a system that does both i was looking at them last night

 

[Benga]

you can actually get a system that does both i was looking at them last night

you mean like a system that you can hit a switch and it skips the DI function?

 

[Matthew Cautero]

you mean like a system that you can hit a switch and it skips the DI function?

kind of its actually just tubing someone can correct me if i am wrong. So there is going to be a tube that runs through the system and goes to the tank with the RO drinking water and you run a T thing(sorry i am not a plumber) and run from the t to the DI part and you add a ball valuve so the di water does not come back to your drinking water tank. you will be able to turn that on and off when you need the di water. sorry if this does not make any sense.