General Care Discussion :: how long before changing water?

[Boston_Zhao]

I have a 75 gallon tank for one 4.5 inch turt. I fill the water pretty much to the top. I keep the tank clean, the water is crystal clear even after 3 weeks. How long before I have to change, even the water is clear?

[marisa]

I'd get some testing kits (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate---Aquarium Pharmaceuticals sells a master kit that includes them as well as pH) and test the water on a regular basis to make sure the water quality is up. The water can still look clear but not really be clean. I usually wind up doing a partial water change of about 30% weekly on a 110-gallon stock tank with about 80 gallons of water in it. You want the nitrate level to be no more than 40 ppm (and lower is better), the nitrite and ammonia should be at 0.

[emma]

I do a 100% change on my 20 gallon tank about every 2 weeks. And the water is still in GREAT qualitly then.

[Tenodera]

I'd do a 25% water change every week or every second week. I wouldn't do a 100% percent water change unless something is bad or yucky is growing in there since a 100% water change would kill off most of he beneficial bacteria.

[marisa]

True for a large tank. But with small tanks, there really should be a complete water change at some point.

[Tenodera]

lol I've been dealing with 5 gallons and 10 gallons my whole life a 30 gallon seems BIG to me!

[industrial_girl_2000]

I do a 100% water change every 4 weeks on my 90-gallon tank (I have 1 adult turtle in there & always feed her in a separate pan of water to help keep the water cleaner).