Replacing water in an aquarium is an integral part of caring for an artificial pond. In this case, it says “substitution”, and not “replacement”, since only part of the liquid is updated. That is, the aquarium is simply supplemented with fresh water, and part of the old is removed. This method allows you to save the microflora created inside the aquarium and not harm the fish and plants. The system of changing the water in the aquarium does not cause difficulties for experienced aquarists, but for beginner fish lovers it is not always clear how to perform it correctly and in general, whether it should be done.
Someone even prefers to make only a full replacement of water, while others say that without replacing the aquarium for a long time will not survive. There are many conflicting factors. This is due to the fact that each aquarium is almost unique. It is difficult to predict which algae and earth people will choose. In this regard, the procedure may vary. Consider the standard ways of how to make water changes in the aquarium, as well as the basic questions that may arise for beginners.
Complete water change
If we talk about how to completely replace all the water in the aquarium, then you need to be prepared for the fact that you will cause very strong stress to all the inhabitants of the artificial reservoir. Some fish may not bring such serious changes at all. It must be understood that a complete replacement is required exclusively in special situations.
As a rule, the basis for such drastic measures is heavily contaminated soil, the appearance of fungal deposits on the walls of the aquarium itself, the propagation of green algae, as well as flowering water. Replacement is a necessary measure if the plant or the inhabitants of the aquarium become infected with an infectious disease.
Why is water change necessary?
The procedure is very important, as it affects the health of the entire aquatic environment, and hence the inhabitants. Due to the timely change of water in the aquarium, you can maintain the level of nitrates, which means to be sure of the safety of the fish. If the water stands for too long and does not refresh, then mineral substances are completely evaporated from it, which are necessary to maintain normal acidity in the medium. The less minerals, the higher this parameter rises.
Everyone knows that if the water meets too high levels of acidity, then this can lead to the death of all living things in the aquarium. Thanks to the replacement of water, it is possible to reduce some indicators, as well as get rid of algae spores. With the help of water changes in the aquarium, it is possible to solve the problem of instability in the level of CO 2 . In addition, often the filter performance is poor. In this case, spoofing also solves this problem.
Among other things, such an event is recommended to be performed if the fish undergo the treatment process. If you know how to make a water change in the aquarium, then at such moments you can remove drugs from the liquid. This will avoid poisoning the inhabitants of the artificial reservoir. Thus, a similar procedure is necessary.
Aquarium water change: how often is the procedure performed
This is a standard question that arises for any novice aquarist. If we talk about the opinions of experts, then they are inclined to the fact that the underwater world goes through several stages of development. Water itself can be new, mature, young or old. Each type requires a specific approach to the procedure.
Water change in a new aquarium is carried out only 2-3 months after the launch of the artificial reservoir. The fact is that you need to wait some time in order for the necessary microclimate to form in the aquatic environment. This is necessary for the full existence of all inhabitants. Therefore, after starting the aquarium, water change is not performed immediately. It is better not to change anything in the composition of the water. Accordingly, a complete replacement and substitution is excluded.
After 60-90 days, the aquarium receives the status of a young artificial reservoir. The aquasystem is fully formed. In this case, during the next 6 months, the water in the tank must be changed with a frequency of not more than once every 30 days. As a rule, substitution most often represents the selection of 1/5 of the liquid, which is replaced by a new one. Accordingly, if you have an aquarium with a volume of 200 liters, then in this case you will need to replace about 40 liters of water. Six months after the start of the aquarium, it becomes mature. The aquatic environment is fully stabilized, so once again disturbing it is undesirable. If we talk about how often to make water changes in the aquarium during this period, the procedure is performed with the same frequency as for a young aquarium.
After 20 months, only the old aquasystem remains in the artificial reservoir. This means that the contents in the aquarium are completely aging and, accordingly, the water needs to be changed no more than once every 60-80 days. It is very important to maintain the integrity of the aquatic environment and in no way upset the biological balance that has already formed inside. Therefore, at one time it is recommended to replace no more than 20% of water. Full replacement is possible only if there is no other choice.
Amount of water to change
Indeed, many believe that approximately 1/5 of the total water volume needs to be replaced. However, experts also pay attention to the fact that it all depends on how often you ultimately change the water in an artificial reservoir. After all, some make a change once a week. In this case, it is not recommended to drain more than 10% of the total volume.
If you change the fluid according to the recommendations that were described above, then in this case, as a rule, no more than 20% of the water is replaced. It is also important to remember that any living organism prefers regularity and stability. Therefore, you need to adhere to only one mode. This also applies to water changes after starting up the aquarium, as well as cases with a young or more mature artificial pond.
If you decide to change the water once every 2 weeks, then try to adhere to this schedule. If the regime is constantly changing, this will lead to a serious imbalance in the microclimate in the aquarium. Animals and plants will have to recover much longer. Some do not recommend replacing water less than once every 2 weeks. However, you need to understand that everything again depends on the volume of the aquarium and the adopted regime.
It is also worth paying attention to the soil, the plants themselves and much more. If there is something in the aquarium that releases a large amount of tannins, then in this case it is necessary to change the water more often. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately describe a clear schedule. That is, it is difficult to predict what exactly is inside a particular aquarium.
If, in addition, the aquarist actively stimulates plant growth, that is, uses a huge amount of fertilizing and additional light, then in this case it is recommended to replace about 30%. Perform these manipulations at least twice a month.
If the fish undergo the treatment process, then, firstly, you need to read the annotation of the specific drug that is used. If there are no recommendations in the documents, then, as a rule, in this case it is necessary to replace about 50%.
Water change in the new aquarium is not carried out for several months in any case. Even if we are talking about a variety of varieties of soil and plants.
Much depends on the size of the aquarium itself. If it is small (for example, up to 50 l), then, as a rule, water changes no more than once every 7 days.
Water preparation
Before you perform a water change in the aquarium, you need to pay attention to some very important nuances. First of all, you need to figure out how to properly prepare the liquid. Of course, the water that comes from the tap is absolutely not suitable for this. It contains a lot of chlorine and various other microorganisms that can simply kill all the inhabitants of an artificial reservoir.
In this case, you can go in two ways. Some use special reagents. They are called dehlorators. These substances dissolve in the liquid and remain for several hours. Thanks to the active ingredients, all harmful substances simply evaporate from the liquid.
Dehlorator is sold in almost all pet stores. However, you must use it correctly. Such tools allow you to quickly purify water from unwanted inclusions and dangerous microorganisms that can adversely affect the condition of all inhabitants of the artificial reservoir. To quickly remove bleach, you can use sodium thiosulfate (30%). It is added to the water at the rate of 1 drop per 10 liters. Also often this drug can be purchased in powder form. In this case, no more than 15 g of the component is needed per 1 liter of liquid.
Water preparation without dehlorator
If there is no opportunity to purchase such a tool, then in this case, you can resort to a simple upholding. However, it must be borne in mind that chlorine from the water is eroded after at least 1 day. However, tap water contains many other harmful substances, so 24 hours is not enough. If we talk about how much to defend the water for the aquarium to replace, then in this case, in order to guaranteed get rid of all undesirable components, it is recommended to prepare the water for at least a week. After the water is purified, it is necessary to remove a part of the contaminated liquid and replace it with the settled one.
Therefore, you need to think about the procedure in advance. If you do not use dehlorators, then you need to plan for a water change at least 7 days before carrying out these manipulations with an artificial reservoir.
Changing the water in the aquarium: how to perform the procedure
Some aquarists turn such an action into a huge show, which in its scale even covers repairs in the apartment. In fact, there is nothing complicated. After you have calculated how much water needs to be removed, you need to prepare a hose, a bucket, a siphon with a pear, and also a ball valve. If there is no siphon, then you can make it yourself. To do this, cut off the bottom of the plastic liter bottle and attach the existing hose to the neck. A pear, in fact, is a rubber valve that will release air at pressure. If the pear was not at hand either, then in this case you need to close the tap on the opposite end of the hose and scoop up water with a siphon. After that, the screen opens, and the water drains into a bucket. A similar procedure is repeated several times. After that, fresh water is poured up with a bucket.
This is a very simple procedure that does not require any specialized equipment or long preparatory work.
And if the aquarium is large
In this case, do not panic either. The procedure will look even simpler. First of all, you do not have to rush with buckets. To work, you need a siphon and a hose that will reach the sewer. On one side, the hose lowers into the sink and presses to a level below the level of the water mark, after which water is scooped up with the top. To collect tap water, it is most convenient to use a fitting that will be connected to the tap.
What to look for
It is also worth paying attention to a few recommendations from experienced aquarists. If no additional components are used for water purification, then it is necessary to defend the water for a longer time. During a water change, it is also recommended to clean the glass, soil, wash the filters, thin out the plants. If the water evaporates, then you can’t just add more water. The same goes for the reverse situation.
If you never remove at least part of the stagnant water, then it is very harmful for all inhabitants of the artificial reservoir. If you don’t want to wait about a week for the tap water to infuse, you can buy a standard household filter that will allow you to clean the liquid immediately. In this case, do not have to spend money on dehlorators.
It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the temperature of the water that is extracted from the aquarium and the one that is added must be at the same level. Deviation is allowed no more than 2 degrees. In addition, you need to monitor the condition of the water. If it is too soft, it requires the use of additional additives that will bring it back to normal.
Is it possible to refuse to change water
If we talk about the microclimate, which has long been formed, it is not surprising that the beginner has a question, why then do these manipulations at all. Is it possible to do without the first water change after starting up the aquarium and subsequent manipulations with an artificial reservoir?
Yes, of course, you can install an expensive water filtration system that will automatically maintain a certain concentration of toxins and other compounds that can harm fish. Of course, such protection is the best. However, you need to understand that filters are very expensive, although they provide the best quality water.
Of course, if what equipment is installed, then you do not need to clog your head with a water change. Filters will maintain the microclimate at the proper level, so the water will not be polluted. Also, spores of plants and much more will not be able to appear. Accordingly, this is the best option in order not to worry about the aquarium at all. However, if there is no money to buy expensive equipment, then you have to cope on your own. In this case, a substitution is mandatory.
What to do if, after a change, the aquarium begins to become cloudy
Do not start to panic. If the water in the aquarium becomes cloudy after a change, then this is completely normal. Firstly, you need to wait a few days and not touch the aquarium. If there was a sudden turbidity, then this indicates that there has been a shift in biological equilibrium. As a rule, situations are corrected in a few hours, but sometimes it takes up to two to three days to restore the microclimate.