Five Tips for the Perfect Water Change [SIMPLE, FAST and EFFECTIVE]
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 жов 2018
- My water change routine has changed and evolved over the years. In this video I share with you my current step-by-step tips for a perfect water change, every time. This method is fast, simple and gets the job done. I also get into my thoughts on the why we do water changes.
It's much more than just lowering nitrates! It benefits our fish in many other ways that I will cover in this video. I'll show you my entire weekly routine, step-by-step, including five tips that will ensure that you have healthy and happy fish!
How do you do your water changes? Share your routine below and any steps you think I might have left out or could do differently. We are always learning from each other on this channel! If you like the content of this channel and you are like me, always thirsty for more knowledge on how better care for our fish, why not hit that sub button and bell? Thanks!
Here are some links to products I've used and recommend. You get a great deal by using these links and you help the channel:
Filters:
SunSun 302-B (265 gph): amzn.to/2Y6Ylhy
SunSun 704-B (525 gph with UV): amzn.to/2YFbHjV
SunSun HW 3000 (793 with UV): amzn.to/3hCm54W
Filter pads for all SunSun filters: amzn.to/30Ieg7E
Cut your own filter pads: amzn.to/2zD6SiP
SunSun Pre-Filter (goes over intake): amzn.to/3fv6aU1
Pinky Filters: amzn.to/30QLNMS
Flexible hose cleaning brush: amzn.to/2N5x8p7
SunSun Pre-Filter (In-Line Canister): amzn.to/2UQ79WX
SunSun Canister O-Ring replacement: amzn.to/2BhU7uf
SunSun UV 9W replacement bulb: amzn.to/2N0eoHB
Suggested Bio Media that I use in my canisters:
Biohome Ultimate: amzn.to/3e8Cs70
MarinePure: amzn.to/37z9UB7
CNZ sponge filled bio-balls: amzn.to/3e7aitd
Pumice stone: amzn.to/2Y6vk5t
Crushed coral/aragonite: amzn.to/2N6DYKM
Chemical Filtration I've Used with Good Results:
Seachem Purigen: amzn.to/3hCygyG
Seachem Matrix Carbon: amzn.to/2Y6sOft
Mesh bags: amzn.to/2AJb4hj
Fluval FX-6 Canister Filter: amzn.to/30KhPu1
Other items:
Suggested substrate (aragonite): amzn.to/2N6DYKM
My favorite LED lights: amzn.to/2N0YrRd
Inexpensive Powerheads: amzn.to/2N5dTMu
Better quality Powerhead (Hydor): amzn.to/37y8pTT
Heaters I use:
Eheim: amzn.to/3e2PByp
Cobalt Neo Therm: amzn.to/2N5eFZU
API (Black Plastic Shielded): amzn.to/3e8HujY
Recommended Meds to have on hand:
Fritz Maracyn 2: amzn.to/2UJRqJ1
API Furan 2: amzn.to/2N10iWb
API General Cure: amzn.to/3ejsFLe
Kordon Ick Attack: amzn.to/37A2iOF
Seachem Metroplex: amzn.to/2N5g9TY
Seachem Garlic Guard: amzn.to/2N3W549
Seachem Focus: amzn.to/2Ax8yef
Water Treatment Products I Use & Recommend:
Seachem Prime: amzn.to/37xa1gD
Seachem Safe: amzn.to/3d7Tscn
Seachem Lake Salt: amzn.to/30PeQ3A
Seachem Pristine: amzn.to/3ejvEDq
Seachem Clarity: amzn.to/2CdDCA4
Aquarium Quick Start Products I Recommend:
Seachem Stability: amzn.to/3e2SgYS
Fritz Turbo Start: amzn.to/3d7UXr1
Dr. Tim's One and Only: amzn.to/2CdEFju
For more fish keeping videos with tricks, tips and hacks, check out these playlists:
For "My Best Fish Keeping Tips" click here:
• "Best Fish Keeping Tip...
For tips and tricks with Fluval FX canister filters go here:
• Fluval FX Canister Fil...
For tips and tricks with SunSun canister filters go here:
• SunSun Canister Filter...
For videos on water changes and controlling nitrates, click here:
• Water Change, Maintain...
For videos on general canister filter maintenance, click here:
• Aquarium Canister Filt...
My Top 10 most popular videos of all time:
• Most Popular Videos wi...
Visit my Facebook group page: "Ben O'Cichlid" for a friendly and helpful group of fish keepers. "Cichlid" is in the group name but it welcomes all types of fish keepers from beginner to advanced. Be sure to answer all of the join-in questions so that the admins let you in (it's how we keep out the trolls and bots). Also, for behind the scenes pictures and video, follow me on Instagram at: ben.o.cichlid. There's more: Join me on most Saturdays for the "Cichlids and Coffee" live stream@11am Central. Great topics, a great group of fish keepers and your questions answered LIVE!
Shout-outs to Christopher Martin for the Cichlids & Coffee logo, to Sam Penny for the UA-cam channel banner art and to Phil Griffiths for the dropping fish video, for putting Sam's artwork in the surf and for the channel icon! Never forget - you reading this - YOU ROCK! - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
I've watched 10 videos the last two days of yours and have been really enjoying your content. Lots of good tips that only experience can give you. (like heater placement, WC powerstrip) Nice work!
Thank you CC. I hope I can keep putting out content that you find useful.
Awwww, love Lucy and Pepper. ❤️❤️
Love the videos keep them up! I hope to have as many tanks and be as good of a fish keeper as you one day.👍👍
I have a 37 gallon bow front tank and I thought just adding water as it evaporated and cleaning the filter was all you needed to do. I got a mater test kit and my Nitrates were off the scale. The test sample was so blood red it didn't register on the card. I had to do 5 50% to 75% water changes syphoning the heck out of the gravel for the nitrates to drop between 10 to 15 PPM. I love channels like this that teach me so much about fish keeping.
Great video. Very helpful info. Inspired and motivated. Thank you!!👍🏼👍🏼
This helped me a lot!
you have some really good tips for the fish keepers I have 6 tanks that are
a full days work doing all of them in a day but I keep up with them every month.
I love that last statement end every video with that tip
I am a disabled vet with a really bad back the best thing I ever got for water change day was the Hygger Bucket-Free Aquarium Water Change Kit. I picked this one over the Python because of cost and the fittings were brass not plastic. I do my water changes a little different. When draining the water I take my 50 foot hose out the front door and put the end in different parts of my front yard. Cleaning the tank creates a AMAZING natural fertilizer and makes my front lawn thick green and beautiful.
Nice!. Thanks for making your videos easy to understand and honest. I just subscribed!
I've learnt so much from watching your videos. Keep up the great content!
Love hearing that Andrew! Thanks.
I joined your channel for the easy sound of your voice and your peaceful manner. I find your videos not only informative but extremely relaxing🐠🙏
I actually really like your comment quite a bit. Thank you.
Fabulous tanks, fish look in great condition, thanks for all the great tips.
You are awesome! Thanks for the help and the tip at the end. Cheers from a fellow southern Californian!
Thank you so much for your quick response.
You are welcome.
Yup! You nailed it again Ben! Very valuable content! More power to your channel!
Thank you Rely, much appreciated.
Great knowledge Ben😎👍🏾
Nice videos thank you, too many other people speak like they're selling themselves more than just sharing info based off experience.
Great video
I love your beagles ! I have one also - His name is Pete. Love your videos !
Excellent help to me thanks 🙏 so much👍
I asked for it and you made it, Thank you for the video Ben. I am of course devastated for you about the state of your weather lol, as over here in Kent in England its cold and raining. Thanks again
My son works in your sister city, Kent in Washington state. He's gotten used to colder weather and makes fun of me when I grab a jacket and it 68F outside, LOL. Thanks for the suggestion. I thought, "Yes! An update on how I do that would be a good move!" Thanks.
Water changes indeed!!
Great information always ✌💜👍💪
Thank you DH!
Love your vid.
HI BEN; GREAT VIDEO AS USUAL. YOUR 100% ACCURATE WHEN YOU SAY THAT WATER CHANGES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD DO...I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT. THAT POOL IN YOUR BACKYARD WOULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL HUGE CICHLID TANK...ONLY KIDDING....HAVE A GREAT DAY......
I have had fantasies about swimming in that pool with ACs swimming all around me, LOL!
Nice video, you’re right about not obsessing over every little thing. Enjoy your tank or tanks & fish👍🏻
Thanks Robert. Yes, it's very easy to get into worrying so much we forget to enjoy the fish.
Thanks,great video.
Thank you Paulette.
Awesome video my friend.
I love how healthy and happy your fish are they always look Amazing.
I like using Prime, it is expensive but well worth it for removing chlorine from the water.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you UFS. Prime is good stuff for sure.
Great tips and overview on water changes Ben. The tanks and fish look fantastic. Today is my day to clean a long overdue canister maintenance which is the only thing I don’t like to do. The pups also look great. Thanks for sharing 👍.
Hey Dennis. Gotta be careful with that back of yours. I have to drain my FX-6 before moving it. Usually by running output hose out the door and disconnecting the input. It emptys out pretty good. It's still a bit heavy.
Ben Ochart I know, thanks! I remember that video. I am limited to 25 pounds max, or a heavy grocery bag by my doctor. Sometimes I have to break his orders lol.
Useful info. Thx.
You're welcome. Thank you for watching!
I have a lazy pleco! Omg I thought I was the only one lol! Good thing my Chinese algae eaters do their job. My back was killing me too even though I'm only 30...the hose makes a world of difference. NICE video :)
Very help full thank you very much for the information.
You are welcome
great tips sir cheers great video
Thank you for watching David.
Edwin from Costa Rica , nice video !!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Hello Edwin in paradise 😀
You have lots of great videos Ben. Subbed.
The only thing I do to make things a little easier is have all the devices that need to be powered down on 1 power strip... That way when I do a change, I just flip the switch instead of having to unplug everything. Keep up the good work.
I just did that on the 150 (it's in an upcoming video). The heater controller, powerhead and pump are on that strip, so I hit it when I'm feeding (so the food doesn't go into the overflow box) and when I'm vacuuming/WChanging. Much easier. Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub!
Great videos keep up the good work greatly appreciate would also like to give my condolences to another fish keeper and UA-camr Andy Woods rip Big Mac
Andy didn't die, just his star fish "Big Mac." Right? I went to the channel, big beautiful beasts, and gave Andy a sub. Love his passion for his fish.
Thanks much! Thought I knew it all about water changes but heard you say add Prime in relation to the entire volume of the tank when adding tap water straight into the tank and you are correct sir! I checked seachem web site to verify. Could have been the reason my success raising fry has n’t been so successful! 😢
Well, the good news is that now you have the data and can move in a better direction. Believe me, I've had plenty "aw ha!" moments along the way.
Thank you for stopping by, watching and commenting.
Beautiful dogs Ben...my dog passed away last year, was 16 years old. I want to get another but I'm not ready yet mentally. Great video as usual! I use a 50ft Python to do the same and use the water for my front yard plants.
GP, a little back story. I had a lemon beagle, Snoopy, (light color) that passed a couple years ago. Pepper (the Tri-color that was standing next to me, not on me, in the video) went into a deep depression. Would stay curled up all day. Tail always between her legs. Seriously depressed and sad. I finally went to a Beagle Rescue location and adopted Lucy. She had been rescued from a hoarder that nearly starved her to death. The minute I brought her home Pepper immediately cheered up and they slept curled up together that first night. Pepper rebounded and started wagging her tail again.
I use a small water pump and run it to the toilet. I used the python setup and find it to slow and prefer the waste to go in the toilet. It works awesome, i wish i could take a pic and show ya. Great video
Great video Ben! When adding prime or safe to new and fresh tank water, do you only add it when the water starts re-filling the tank? I always add another doseage of it once the tank is full also.
Hello Alan, mix up a batch and pour half in when I begin to fill and the rest when I get near to being full. I don't think too much too fast would shock the fish.
Great information and video... Why don't you have a uv light in your tanks ?
Hey Ben pretty much do mine the same. I put like a runner mat down in front of tanks so I don’t splash or spill water on rug or tile. I have all my pumps,heaters and power heads on a power strip so I can just turn off strip no unplugging and all others like lights that are on timers are in another power strip. Just so much easier just one button to stop everything I need off
Yes, I forgot to include that power strip idea in the video. The flick of one switch and powerheads, sump pump and heaters are off. Much easier than plugging and unplugging each one. Thanks for watching and commenting.
When you replace the water do you use normal cold water supply and heat it with a heater OR can you use your normal house hot water supply? ( making sure you match the temperature and dechlorinate it) thanks
Hey Ben, great video. I was skeptical in using sand as my substrate in case of gas pockets since I'm accustomed to using gravel. Sand looks way better esp on your black on black 100gal. One thing I do differently is that I dig the syphon almost to the bottom of the tank so that gravel is picked up in the syphon and detritus is removed, making sure that I don't suction the gravel out the tank. Its quite enjoyable digging through to see the amount of waste that collects, especially under those ornaments like you said.
I will comb the sand, give it a half hour to settle (or be sucked up by the filter) and then skim the top with my siphon. Much easier than the shells and coral in the other thanks. There is certainly a level of satisfaction in removing waste. It's really freshening things up for our guys. Thanks for watching!
Even though I use a garden hose for most of my larger tanks for drain and fills. I still like using my python the most overall. I prefer the python over the aqueon tubing though. The aqueon is a bit too stiff for my liking...
Interesting...
Brantov you always say that..,
Hi Ben. When I have to add Safe or Prime When I do water change,before I add water in to the tank or after I just added the 20%water change.
I want mentioned, I want add water with the hose and I stopped with the buckets.
I got 450 litres tank.
Thanks in advance Ben.
You have a lovely channel and I learn a lot from you.
nice fish!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this great video , I enjoyed watching , I love how calm you are , I have one question if you please how I can make sure that the new water temperature is almost the same as the tank's when doing water change , can I add a heated water(just a little heated) especially when the weather is cold ? 💐💐💐I'm watching your videos from Syria 🌸
Hello! I’m glad that you enjoyed the video. I fill my tanks with a hose (Aqueon or Python system) that is attached to the tap. So, using a thermometer, I match temp then start the flow to the tank, conditioning the water as I fill.
@@BenOchart THANKS for replying , I appreciate it 💐
Concerning the Cichlid Salt... I see it is apparently fine with loaches but am wondering about the synodontis cats.
Good stuff Ben the best thing I have done for my hobby is get a water changer the thing is a god send also I have a 1200 gph submergible pump the thing is amazing I drain my 125 in 5 min just have to figure out how to fill it faster lol hope well
It's funny you say that because I have this back up sump pump that I've been thinking about using to help drain my tank. It would certainly waste less water than running the tap to create enough suction to pick up the waste using the python.
If you set up a separate set of hot and cold 3/4" supply lines to terminate near your tank, that will definitely help. 3/4" piping allows a lot of water supply compared to 1/2".
Check out boot trays on amazon instead of towels also use them under your canister filters just in case.
Good tip, I will check that out, thanks!
Nice vid!
thank you!
also with both african and south american cichlid tanks I fill up directly from the tap with cold water again no adverse effects
Hello Mark! Have you tested your tap? Are you on well water?
Do pythons attach to any sink? Also do you put the dechlorinater in before or during the refill?
How do you get all the water out of your 50 ft tubing before storing it?
Hey Amigo beautiful dogs
Thank you Efrain, they are always happy to see me ... like my cichlids, LOL!
I like to clean my substaight with my small vacuum hose as I fill it does a better job .I will place a bucket on the floor fill it half way then I place my aquan 50 foot in the bucket and siphon it outside while still cleaning with my small gravel cleaner .also your right unplug everything as I thought I had but forgot 1 heater and smoked it lol .
Sounds workable. I error in the other direction. I can get distracted and walk away without plugging back in a heater or a power head, or, one time, the canister. The tand started looking a little foggy and I looked underneath and had a "Oh, crap!" moment, LOL! Thanks for watching Rob.
I sometimes add salt to my tank water if any of my fish have ragged some of their scales off on the lava rock, would this be detrimental to my plant's both inside & outside of my home? May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas & a happy and healthy New year 👍😷👍
Do you ever rearrange decor/plants or does it mess up established territory of certain fish?
How did you like discus? Why did you stop keeping them?
which water siphon do you like better .I have the Aqueon , the suction isnt that great.
Python for sure. Better quality and better hoses.
How often do you feed your fish? thnx
I have a simple question, I also have a water heater Is it best to leave it on all the time? I usually unplug it every so often
Thanks for the tip, Ben. So we need to treat the entire volume of the tank with conditioners (Prime) after a water change, even if it's a 20% water change.
If filling directly from the tap, yes.
@@BenOchart Great tip, thank you Ben
I have a 125 gallon should I use prime or safe after water change?
No, put it in before or during the water change. It conditions the water instantly.
I just air-vacuumed the detritus of off my sand and stirred a lot of it into the water column... as a question arised: will the stirred up waste actually cause a spike in ammonia or is it the same as if it were lying on the sand??
No. Shouldn't create a spike since the volume of waste is not increasing.
@@BenOchart aha, that's quite a relief to hear. Thanks for answering!
By the way I love the relaxed, easy to understand videos you make!
I stopped using a water ager/dechlorinator some time ago during water changes without any adverse effect
That would certainly make things easier. I'd be curious what your tap test results are.
I didn't start using water conditioners until mid to late 90s. I don't think chlorine is harmful to your fish, just the beneficial bacteria. I could be wrong though. Ironically I don't recall having to combat illnesses with my first tanks. When I moved to community tanks in late 90s and had "more knowledge and experience" was when I started to run into problems. This time around within first month of each tank I set up, Gill flukes, ich and internal parasites
@@cbcluckyii4042 I had no issues when using them apart from two ick out breaks and one fin rot, since stopping no issues at all long lived breeding fish
Ben...what do you do when adding water back into the tank to maintain the PH and hardness levels during vacuum/water changes? I'm mainly talking about the times I have to vacuum and approx. 50% of the water comes out of the tank. I have 7.2ph water out of my tap and soft water but will my buffering substrate be enough to maintain the high PH and hardness the cichlids require? I am trying to avoid drastic drops in these levels during water changes. I, too, use a python system to do the changes, and it's great when adding water back into the large tank. Thoughts?
Aragonite, coral, lime stone, etc can add hardness (minerals) that can help stabilize pH. However, if you have a drastic difference between tank and pH you may have to go with less total volume water changes. Instead of 50% once a week, do 10 or 15% three times a week. You should also look into the use of baking soda and Epson salt. This is a good article, especially near the end: www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/water_chemistry.php
Ben Ochart thank you Ben. I’m cycling my tank and am trying to get this water parameter thing under control before I add any fish. My concern is mainly when doing the vacuuming and water changes and adding back in water that may really affect the parameters in the tank. Thanks for the article.
Do you put the chlorine remover before or after putting water in
Some before and some during.
Hello Ben Ochart .thank you for your advice..
Please I wanna ask you about water temperature when you change apart of it ..
What I mean is .. if you use heather and your tank is 26 C , you add new water directly into the tank ? What if it's cold !
I would like to read your answer becouse I care too much about water temperature and it's makes me tierd 🙂
Thank you
Using a fast digital thermometer I measure the tank temp and match the tap temp before starting to fill. I think if you’re within a degree you’re okay. The larger the water volume (the bigger the tank) the better.
@@BenOchart
I understood, thank you 🙂
Ok Ben, I ordered some "Prime" for my changes but I also ordered some Aquarium Salt. I also see there is "LAKE" salt. Whats the difference and whats better for a community tank? Even though I am restarting fishing, your videos are teaching me so much I never knew! Thank bud...
Hay buddy do you gravul vac every week with a water change
Usually yes.
Great video, why not just use safe in all the tanks ?
Good question. I love the ease of using the liquid (prime). Fast and easy. However, it is far more economical to use safe, if you don't mind the mixing. So, I've compromised and use Safe on the 100 and the 150 and Prime in the 29 QT and the 60 grow out. Both are quality products.
Makes sense, thanks for your knowledge
Great video! Wish I could use the Python, but my tanks are in the basement, the buckets are killing me!
Heather Lovejoy Maybe a long hose and an inexpensive water pump?
Ben Ochart thanks I'll have to look into that!
@@heatherleelovejoy9690 You can get some good GPH for under $75, and the cost of a long hose to run the water out to a sink, tub or yard. Would certainly beat buckets.
''Temperature matched water is added to the tank''? How...in a barrel with a heater?
How do you account for your temperature? Do you test it with a thermometer before you let it run into the aquarium? And do you dump the water conditioner into the aquarium before you run the tapwater into it?
I temp match with a digital thermometer and add conditioner to the tank a bit at a time as the tank fills up, dosing for the full vol of the tank (not the percentage I replaced).
Is the cichlid salt safe for synodontis cats? ty
I use a seachem product which is really more trace minerals than actual salt. Some fish can be sensitive to salt. Companies like Fritz will have info on this at their website or will chat with you about it before you add salt to your tank.
@@BenOchart appreciate it!
How do you refill the water? Water hose?
I have a Python system that goes from tap to tank, temp matched, and I treat the tank with conditioner as I fill up.
Does the salt hurt the plants outside?
There's no real salt in there, except for trace mineral compounds. The plants seem to love it.
Hello my teacher lol I need help on learning things like what's the parts per million?
Imagine dividing your aquarium water into one million equal parts. If 20 of those parts are nitrates, then you have a 20 parts per million (ppm) nitrates reading in your tank.
what is that purple plant? it looks like a real plant so thats why i was wondering
Something I picked up at a local fish store a long time ago. Probably good quality Chinese plastic.
0:40
What fish is that?
🤣🤣🤣beagleochromis
Do you use carbon in your tanks?
You don't need carbon...it can help polish murky looking water but for the most part you don't need it...you would be much better off using things like Purigen than carbon.
Big Boy the only time I use carbon is after medicating the tank. I’ll put fresh carbon in for two weeks to remove residual meds and then throw it out.
@@BenOchart Good tip Ben. Carbon also helps with smell as well but let me tell you when a carbon bag breaks and the carbon gets in a tank with sand, it's a bugger to get it out of the tank..I won't use carbon in my show tank anymore.
Thank you everyone
@@2keeperv A bag of purigen would probably be safer for med removal and it can be "recharged" and used again.
84 here in India.
Well "Hello" AG in India!
I have a total of 4. Biggest is 60 gallons
I absolutely would not be able to keep 6 tanks if it wasn't for the Python! I've had 6 back surgeries & no way could I do the buckets on even 1 tank Got the quick connect adapter so it just snaps on & off my bathroom sink.
I hear you. I'd do buckets on Sat. and then be sore and stiff on Sunday. Not how I wanted to spend my weekends. The python is a game changer. I hope that your back is better these days and I thank you for tuning in.
@@BenOchart Nah unfortunately its permanent & nothing else they can try. But I've learned to adapt & live with it & with medications I manage!! Thanks for the reply!!
I had a beagle named Lucy over 20 years ago... what are the odds.
LOL, mine's a lovable nut-job.
I use my tank water to water plants too. They love that nitrogen.
Didnt know you kept discus in the past Ben.
Nice pool BTW. I'm a pool guy so if you ever have a question, feel free to ask.
Good to know Katlin. This pool is a salt water and I'm never going back to a traditional. Thanks for watching!
Why do you treat for the whole volume? For years I have always just treated for the amount on replacing and never had a problem.
its better to treat the total volume because even if you only changed 50% the ammonia might get a little mini spike. so to compensate you rate the total volume to to be safe and to neutralize any extra ammonia. on the bottle it also states that no harm if over dosing to a certain amount.
I came here for water change help, not commercials and your dogs. Blocked