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  • Results 1 to 7 of 7

    Thread: What is the optimum amount of weekly water change?

    1. #1
      Tommygug's Avatar
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      What is the optimum amount of weekly water change?

      After reading several threads regarding water changes, I wonder how much water should we change weekly in order to achieve better water quality? I thought 10 percent is too low but I am thinking 25 percent may be the ticket. Any thoughts on the subject?

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      I think there are a lot of factors to it IMHO. Pond size, stocking density, feeding rate, etc. I have a high stocking density, so I do roughly 50% weekly. During the winter when feeding rates drop off, I do roughly 25%. This is on a smaller pond though. I would not see myself doing weekly 50% changes if I had a 10,000g pond.



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      That is a question that has no right answer. Each pond is different, and in general, the smaller the pond and the higher the stocking density, then the larger the water changes should be. Other things that might have an effect are whether you have a foam fractionator, trickle tower, or bog filter.

      On average, 20% per week is a good starting point, but if you have fewer than one koi per 750 gallons, 10% is probably enough, and if you have more than 1 koi per 500 gallons, 20% is not going to be enough.

      Water changes do three things for the pond: remove DOC, remove nitrate, and restore trace elements. Foam fractionators can remove DOC, bog filters and trickle towers reduce nitrate formation by removing ammonia through alternate paths, and some of the trace elements can be added through the food, but none of those methods completely solve the problems, so some water change is still necessary.

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      Jim, I agree. It depends on many factors and one is stocking level to how much food is being processed to waste. I average aprox 5-7% daily but I do flow through and then when flushing sieves and such add to the total amount exchanged out. Another major contributing factor IMO is not so much how much is being fed but how much is being produced as waste. I've most definitely seen improvement in water quality and clarity since I changed to higher grades of food. Stayed with the same amount of water changes and increased amount of food being fed but see a substantial decrease in waste caught and removed.

    5. #5
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      I open my Skippy filter several times a week so at least 15%

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      "Optimal" would be however much keeps the pond parameters the same as the source water, with 'optimal' frequency being however frequently is needed to avoid significant fluctuations in the water parameters. All of which is why 'optimal' is a continuous in-flow of source water (dechlorinated, of course). 10-15% per day works well in practice, but does use a lot of water.

      I do about 35-40% per week without affecting pH more than about 0.25.

    7. #7
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      My pond is 10,000 gallons including filtration. I do water change weekly which consists of draining my 1200 gallon polytank settling chamber. The water is pumped around my backyard while doing so. My willow tree just loves it. I have had no major issues in the 8 years the pond has been up.

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