Proper Water Change

**MrAsia** · 09-21-2011, 05:55 AM

I have a 10 gallon. I need to do a water change. Some water has evaporated. So I don't need to scoop out water. Can I just dump new water in to dilute the waste or do I need to scoop water out[as evaporated water does not take the waste out with it]

**Honey Badger 1** · 09-21-2011, 06:00 AM

If there are fish in this tank, you need to clean some of the gunk out of the water. That would require taking some water out. Is this tank cycling?

**MrAsia** · 09-21-2011, 06:36 AM

Finished cycling. How would I take gunk out? I assumed my bacteria was doing a proper job on the gravel bottom!

**Honey Badger 1** · 09-21-2011, 06:45 AM

You use a siphon like the one pictured below.

**Honey Badger 1** · 09-21-2011, 06:48 AM

**korith** · 09-21-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by MrAsia

I have a 10 gallon. I need to do a water change. Some water has evaporated. So I don't need to scoop out water. Can I just dump new water in to dilute the waste or do I need to scoop water out[as evaporated water does not take the waste out with it]

If water is evaporating that means all the waste in the tank is getting more concentrated. If you just top of the tank week after week, the amount of wastes in the tank just builds up. Need to remove the waste at the bottom of the tank like the other posters mentioned. Depending on what you have in the tank, you can just take out a few gallons of water each week using a pitcher and replace with new water.

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-21-2011, 04:47 PM

You do not dilute waste, you remove it. Fish need clean water just like all pets do. You also need to clean the gravel in the bottom of the tank to pull out all the fish waste and rotting food.

I assume you are using a dechlorinator in the water to remove chlorine? You must have that unless you have well water.

**enzof9** · 09-21-2011, 08:05 PM

Hi, from experience. I can reccommend you spend ten bucks on a decent gravel siphon and follow the directions on how to use it with the video the dude/gal with the bunny profile pic. I change about 30 percent weekly on my 40 gallon, but i'm not sure about how much of a percentage should be changed on a ten gallon.

Yay, I justnoticed this is my 100th post!

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-21-2011, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by enzof9

Hi, from experience. I can reccommend you spend ten bucks on a decent gravel siphon and follow the directions on how to use it with the video the dude/gal with the bunny profile pic.

How many dudes ya know with the User Name Mommy?????

I agree with getting the water vac. Ya can't be in this hobby without the equipment.

**frefal13** · 09-21-2011, 08:11 PM

I do a 50% weekly water change on my 10 gallon tank, 5 gallons is easy enough to change anyway lol. I almost never top off for evaporation either though, within a week I don't get enough evaporation with my hood to require any top off.