is it possible to just change the filter pad (sponge where all the fish poop and crap end up) and not remove and replace water? I just don't know how to keep a stable neutral PH
i keep shrimp and fishWater changes in a Aquarium?no... changing the filter pad is actually BAD! the filter catches some of the poop and food, but more importantly it houses the bacteria that breaks down what really is dangerous... ammonia and nitrite. you see food and poop look gross but aren't very important. what is dangerous is the invisible ammonia that fish produce. the bacteria on the filter pad breaks down the ammonia to nitrite and then more bacteria breaks down the nitrite into nitrate...
nitrate is less toxic than ammonia and nitrite but it's still toxic! so if you don't change the water the nitrates will build up and eventually kill your fish. YOU need ot change 25% of the water EVERY week using a gravel siphon... don't change the filter pad! rinse it out with the tank water you remove so it doesn't get clogged.
as for the pH, it's one of the least important things to test for as most beginner fish are fine in a wide variety of pH levels... what you need to worry about is ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
what fish do you have and what is your pH?
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well changing the filter pad won't help...
the coral sand is the problem. is there a reason you're using it? if not I'd suggest replacing it. if you can't try getting some driftwood.Water changes in a Aquarium?Ok, its absolutely, 100 percent must change 25% of the water in the fish take once every two weeks. Not exactly for cleaning (thou it helps) but to replace oxygen in the take and make your fish or whatever your keeping, healthy and have longevity. They will die if you go to long and only change the filter and add water when it gets low. Take care of your babies and do whats best for them. :)Water changes in a Aquarium?yes in a larger tank (freshwater) i dont know salt water
you have to do a water changes at some point
usually lol
i would do my fpad a week after my water change so i would catch all the little crap ,monthly water changes for me 2weeks too much
use at least half the old charcoal in the new pack for the bacteria ( see post below)
if u have freshwater tanks use the old water on ur house plants they will love you for it (no it wont smell)Water changes in a Aquarium?If fresh water, always replace 10% of the water weekly, using a siphon from the bottom. After you get with the program, start using a product call ph %26quot;neutral balance%26quot; i think is called that (comes in powder form) that will keep it at 7. Only measure the ph after 24 hrs to 48 hrs of the water change. Usually tetras thrive in a bit acidic water, lower than 7.Water changes in a Aquarium?Nope, changing the fitler pad is actually a BAD thing, you throw out most of your cycle bacteria, so thats likely to cause ammonia and nitrite spikes. Then by not changing the water you allow NitrAte and other pollutants to build up in the water. Most pollutants in tank are invisible, waste ammonia is broken down into Nitrate by the biological action in the filter, but the nitrate stays in the water
So change the water, and simply rinse out the filter to get rid of the visible crud.
Cardinal tetras should also be in soft low pH water, which your coral sand will be fighting against. Any time the pH drops the lime in the coral begins to dissolve and boosts the hardness and pH up again. To get a lower pH you need to have a source of soft water, keep limstone and coral away from it, and maybe use Peat or driftwood to keep the pH low.
Easiest way to get a stable pH, change lots of water. Then your pH is allways close to whatever your tap water is. If your tap pH is high it's not so easy to get a low pH, you probably need to find a new source of water. (Rain or Reverse Osmosis filtered) pH down is simply battery acid, it balances out the alkaline minerals in the water, but now you have a mix of battery acid and lime in the water, NOT what your soft water fish need.
IanWater changes in a Aquarium?Water changes are the most important thing you can do for a fish tank. If you don't like changing the water then do something to make it easier. I've drilled my aquarium w/ a hose so I just turn a switch to drain about 70% of the water then refill. There are automatic water changing systems as well though filters collect the waste, they don't remove the waste and the solid waste is immediatly breaking down so what you collect is only a small portion of the total waste.
