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im leaving for about a week and i need to know how much of a water change to do before i leave and when i get back. im not worried about food

Just do a small water change as you normally would...10% or so...go on vacation and don't worry about them...when you come back feed the little guys, and continue on as though nothing unusual had happened...All will be fine...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

How much do you usually change?. 10%, 20%. Just do a usuall water change before you leave & thay'll be fine.





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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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How long will you be gone?? If you will be gone for a little while do a 10-20% water change before you leave and a ten to twenty water change when you get back.

EDIT: did not see the week things in that case 20% water changes before and after should be fine.

Last edited by fish1 at 24-Dec-2004 17:19

follow your regular schedule.

I would have to see someone over-due a WC, and kill all of their fish from a mini-cycle.

Victim,

That would be a great topic for a new post! "Can a Water Change Cause a Mini-cycle". I would guess that the "mini-cycle" may be a reaction by fish to chlorines or chloramines.

I will do 100% daily water changes with tap water for my discus and I never experience a "mim-cycle" because my filter is fully "seeded" or biologically active for the bio-load in my tank.

Mmm, if I have a fully seeded bio-filter, I can starve it by not having sufficient bio-load in my tank. However, I can set-up a new tank, add the fully loaded bio-filter and immediately add fish to the same level as the previous tank as long as I treat the water for chlorine and chloramines.

Fish would experience an impact if I did not treat the water, if the water was too hot or too cold or if I changed my decimated bio-filter. How elese would you have a "mini-cycle"?

In my experience, too many hobbyists do too few or too little water changes. Arguably, 100% daily water changes are excessive. However, I would like to see hobbyists do at least two 20% water changes each week for their fish.

In the case of someone going on vacation, I would do at least the 20% water change prior to leaving on vacation while wiping down the glass and vacuuming the substrate. I would do the same on my return. I would not feed the fish if I was gone for a week or less. If I was gone for more than one week, I would set out a portion of food for a friend to feed my fish after a week.

Setting out a food portion prevents over feeding. I would not ask that person to clean my tank or fill my tanks.




Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 24-Dec-2004 19:02

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

nobody will be feeding them

greenmonkey51

I personally would do your water change before you leave for your holidays. As there has been no food given to them while you are away, there should be no reason to another water change as soon as you arrive home. I would continue on as usual for a 2-4 days then do your water change.


Keith

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