How do you cope with the water changes?

[Barracuda]

Thinking of "taking the plunge", but I am unsure about a few things regarding the number of water changes requried:

- Is there something that makes the task of changing the water EASIER? Will some sort of pump help?
- holidays? What happens if you cannot change the water for, say 2 weeks? Will the discus be able to cope, as long as you change the water as soon as you come back?
- what is the longest time you can get away with without changing the water? I have read that people here change the water once a week, so i guess once every 2 weeks is too long? I went to a specialist discus shop and he told me they change the water once every MONTH! - the fish looked healthy and happy too. However, he did say that he had 3 filters or so. I have a Fluval 405 filter (400l, 1300lph) in my 350L tank (with the gravel), so do you recommend adding another? Will sponge filters be sufficient?

Thanks in advance :wink:

[Melsy]

sounds like the dude in the shop doesnt care about his discus being stunted...from what ive come to understand, thats what changing water that often (or not often) would do! he prob turns over stock that quick it doesnt matter to him

[Barracuda]

sounds like the dude in the shop doesnt care about his discus being stunted...from what ive come to understand, thats what changing water that often (or not often) would do! he prob turns over stock that quick it doesnt matter to him

The fish in his display tank were what looked like adult size - really fat, he had a bunch of discus and angels living togetehr. He also had a peruvian angel in there too.

[Hollowman]

Barracuda,

I would run a mile from any 'specialist' who only changed his water once a month. That is just wrong, no matter if they are adult fish or not...RUN and RUN QUICK!!!

Water changes are part and parcel of keeping discus healthy and in good condition. It is something that you work into a routine and it becomes easier as you get more used to it, then you also find shortcuts to make it even easier and quicker.

I would recommend doing 3 changes of 30% a week. You can do more, but I wouldn't do less.
Holidays are always a pain, but can be coped with if you prepare them in the right way. It's not a real problem.
Sponge filters are very good, and under rated imo, although many people use cannister type or sumps.

hth

H

[ILLUSN]

- Is there something that makes the task of changing the water EASIER? Will some sort of pump help?

a long hose that reaches out the window or to a drain is your best friend, also a good pump on your water aging drum to refill is a god send i change 500L in under 20 min.


holidays? What happens if you cannot change the water for, say 2 weeks? Will the discus be able to cope, as long as you change the water as soon as you come back?


I dont go on holidays (sending the wife away for 2 weeks is holiday enough :) )


- what is the longest time you can get away with without changing the water? I have read that people here change the water once a week, so i guess once every 2 weeks is too long?

once a week with VERY light feeding (say once every 2-3 days) would be ok to strech it out to 2 weeks would be possible if your tank was massivly over filtered, again i wouldn't put juviniles in such a system, just adults.

[swingn]

If you have a smaller tank like me (140L), Bunnings sell 25L water containers (Food grade). Grab youself a few of them & fill them up after every water change.

Water should be aged for approx 3 days before use, so having more containers makes things easier.

The night before I plan a water change, I pop in a heater into each container along with a air pump & the next night I'm ready to go :D

Trust me, as others have said it does get quicker as you get used to it.

No one has mentioned it yet, but if you are to do say 2-3 water changes a week, make sure every say 2nd time your using your gravel vac.

Also, I have found small yet regular water changes are better :D