The Water Change Guide For EVERYONE (#1 Key to a Healthy Aquarium)

‎ How often should you do water changes on your aquarium? We made a high-level water change flow chart for fish keepers who need help figuring out their tank maintenance frequency, and the internet had some divided opinions. Cory explains more in-depth how water change schedules depend on many factors: the fish and plant stocking levels, your tap water's parameters, tank size, primary goals for the aquarium, time and energy limitations, etc.

WHO WE ARE
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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.

Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.

#Aquariumcoop #Aquariumfish #Fishtank

[AquariumCoop]

*What advice would you give to a friend on how often to change their water?* (Assume that they probably have different tap water, fish stocking, plant selection, and experience level than you have.)

[bsdoweidt]

Cory about 7 years ago someone gave me an aquarium that was abandoned in a barn and half full. We had no idea that there were even fish in the muddy thick water. I went to YouTube to figure out how to save these fish and I found your channel. It has changed my life. In the 7 years I have become a fish nerd. I had 21 tanks at one point but now I’m just down to 13 tanks with most 20 gallons or less. I have asked you questions through the years and even gotten you personally responding. I want to thank you so much for giving me the knowledge and confidence to keep fish properly. Good fortune to you, your staff and family.

[fredgandolfi]

Cory, your patience with the internet astonishes me. You have such High EQ. Your advice is a role model: strictly for consideration, trying to be helpful and also with humility. We have ALL killed fish.

[gryffbirb]

I do a water change weekly just to keep a schedule, it works for me, but I know that in a more practical sense, that when certain things are too high are when to do them. It just works for me because I have mental health issues so consistency is key.

[scrotusmaximus]

I've had 2 stable planted tanks going now for 6 years. One a 20 the other a 75. Thick gravel sand beds, higher plant to animal ratio. The big one needs maybe 2 changes a year at best, usually a top off suffices. I personally think it mimics rainfall and the fish love it.

My advice is plan your tanks out well. I think big sand and gravel beds with lots of plants will certainly reduce the times you need to water change, which will only get longer the better and healthier a tank becomes.

[HappyBuddhaBoyd]

Cory, I watch your videos and agree with you 90% of the time. On the issue of water changes, I completely get irritated at those who blindly say you must change your water. I have had many tanks and RARELY do any water changes. If you have proper filtration, and by that I mean to say your bioload is 1/4 or less than the filtration recommendations... then you will never need to do water changes. Water changes will add stress to the fish, and tend to cause imbalances in water parameters.

[B.Colby]

Great content and love how your so dedicated to teaching people about aquariums and giving advice on keeping them up kept

[AJBAdventures]

Thanks for staying Humble Cory 👌 advice like this will help out the newbies no end 👍
There's a million ways to do this hobby ay
Cheers
Aaron

[kawikasmith]

Just got into fish keeping and I greatly appreciate this and the past couple videos with the recommendations!

I had 6 cories in a 65 gallon planed aquarium and lost 3 to illnesses and started giving them the med trio and the other 3 are looking a ton better and clearing up as of now!

[tinadorminy]

Thank you Cory for always trying to teach us! I love how you use relatable things make the information understandable. You are a gift!

[wewantben]

Your water change guide was very helpful for my family and me. We own an assortment of five tanks in our family, different sizes, different fish, and some with and without plants. Each tank required different times we needed to change the water in order to achieve balance. What was super helpful for us in this process was maintaining a water change and test log. So thanks Aquarium Co-Op, your guide was super helpful for us!

[icshay]

Thank you for breaking this down in simple terms. New to the hobby and want to do right by my aqua babies

[jeffprosser]

They're so many variables to taking care of a aquarium. Every tank is unique to a person's specific experience. The best advice I was given "If you got a problem and you don't know how to change or fix it, go back to the basics. Test your water. Water change based on results of your test if necessary. There is no magic number, Sometimes it's less sometimes it's more. Watch your fishes behavior. Learn their specific patterns, and how they react. Do they appear happy? are they acting erratically? Do they looked stressed? Are you meeting your fishes needs? It could be temperature, water quality, flow, oxygen, over stocked, the wrong tank mates, poor filtration, etc. spend time with your fish and develop a relationship with them ( they are your pets after all)" Take what you learned and apply it to your tank and make the necessary adjustments for you.

[angelaatwood]

Very helpful video! Thank you for putting this information out there to help people who are trying to get started. I’ve been keeping fish for over 10 years, but I feel like my fish keeping has definitely improved when I found your channel. I started following your videos back in 2019.

In my experience, most people greatly underestimate what you need to know in order to set up an aquarium and keep fish. I have talked to so many people who tried to set up a tank and couldn’t keep their fish alive and then got discouraged and gave it up completely. This always makes me sad because I think it is such a fun hobby.

Thank you for your instruction and guidance. I always think your videos are fun to watch, not too long, and broken down into easily digestible segments.

[MelodieRose]

Always enjoy your perspective and your thoughtfulness towards the beginners in the hobby. You gave me the confidence to be proud of keeping guppies, and I’m deeply grateful. ❤

[santimateo]

Thanks Cory! I always watch your guides. I have a 5 gal planted tank with a single Betta, it will turn a year by January. I check parameters once a month and everything is stable. Really thankful of your guides.

[Nellykir]

BIG THANK YOU, for providing so many educational videos and articles! I am a newbie at planted aquariums and only had betas and tetras in the past. Planted aquariums make this hobby a completely different ball game! You’ve helped so much on my journey by educating about it. Thank you!

[lacyp]

Really appreciate the Waterchanging Guide! The videos you share are highly anticipated and SO helpful!

[boges]

Some very good advice there Cory. I have 9 tanks and 3 ponds and they all get different water change schedules and amounts, because they are all stocked differently and some have different amounts of filtration and plants.

[bdelphan]

Some years ago, I visited a friend of a friend who had a flourishing aquarium that produced babies constantly and looked amazing. I was shocked to discover that he had *never* done a water change. Ever. I learned a lot from that visit and have only ever topped up the water since. Freshwater, not salt, but it works for me. I learned to figure out what was happening with my own tank, rather than following "rules".