Basic Tank Maintenance

[gman314]

I was just wondering what the best "routine" is for doing regular water changes, as well as changing the filter cartridge. I now have a 28 gallon (African Cichlids) which recently finished cycling.
With my old 10 gallon, I used to change the filter cartridge and do a 25% water change once a month. However, I alternated the each if these 2 weeks apart from each other. many years ago, I was told that completing both these task at the same time could spike the ammonia level. Is this true? Will my old "routine" be acceptable for maintenance on my new tank? Thanks.

[Pris]

Once a week gravel siphoning and 50% water change (minimum). Clean the tank (but don't go nuts about it), rinse the filter media in the used tank water and put back into the filter. Replace the filter media when it falls apart or can no longer be rinsed clean.

The rule that you should never change the filter and do a water change at the same time is a myth. I do it all the time.

[gman314]

This is probably a stupid question, but I will ask anyway. I just completed my first gravel siphoning (I stuck the wide siphoning tube into different parts of the gravel to suck out all the garbage). In doing so, I also obviously sucked out about 50% of the water. Here's the stupid question: Does this also constitute a water change? In other words, should I clean the gravel at the same time that I do my water changes? Thanks.

[phoenix]

I asked a similar question not too long ago, so if it is a stupid question just know you are not the only one asking

When I do my water changes I always remove the water from the gravel, that way I get the gravel cleaned at the same time as I do the water change, so they can be the same activity. When people recommend you do a water change it is because they are less concerned about the debris in the gravel and more concerned about getting 'fresh' water into the tank.

[andywoolloo]

yes, if your tank is cycled a 50% water change once a week is recommended. Of course if your Nitrates state otherwise, yuo may be doing two 50% water changes a week. Once your tank is cycled it's about testing for the NA and monitering that.

Yes when you do the once a week partial water change you are cleaning the substrate and as you are doing that the water is coming out. So if you're done with the substrate and still do not have 50% out, then just drain to the 50% mark and do not bother the substrate anymore.

I do 50% once a week sometimes twice, and I rinse out the filter media in the HOBs once a week in used tank water. I clean the HOB itself once a month. And the tubes etc.

My canister filters go longer between maintenance.


But mostly when you arr cycling you are just replacing water, you couldnt possibly clean the substrate 3 xs a day.

[gman314]

Since my tank has already cycled, I need not worry about extracting too much beneficial bacteria from the gravel, right? Also, I'm assuming that the same is true when I rinse the filter cartridge in used tank water.

[Pris]

Originally Posted by gman314

Since my tank has already cycled, I need not worry about extracting too much beneficial bacteria from the gravel, right? Also, I'm assuming that the same is true when I rinse the filter cartridge in used tank water.

True, and true. There is actually very little good bacteria in the gravel. What is there adheres to the rock and is not removed during siphoning. The reason the filters are rinsed in used tank water is to prevent killing the bacteria. Again, you would have to scrub the filter media pretty hard to remove the bacteria. If the water flowing through the media does not dislodge it, then rinsing it in the water will not dislodge it.