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Weekly Routine

WEEKLY ROUTINE

Partial Water Change

The most important maintenance.

How much should I exchange?

  • Standard freshwater: 20–30% weekly
  • Freshwater with intensive planting (EI): 50% weekly
  • Marine FOWLR: 10–15% weekly
  • Arrecife: 5–10% weekly (or dosing + smaller water changes)
  • Shrimp tank: 5–10% weekly with water that meets exact parameters
  • Discus: 30–50% every 2–3 days in some protocols

Why change the water?

  • Remove accumulated nitrates
  • Replenish minerals (Ca, Mg, KH, trace elements)
  • Eliminate toxins that tests don't measure
  • "Reset" of water chemistry

How to make the change:

  1. Prepare fresh water with the water conditioner (to remove chlorine/chloramines) or use remineralized RO/DI water
  2. Bring the temperature of the new water to match that of the aquarium (±1°C)
  3. Bottom siphon → suck up debris and feces from the substrate while draining
  4. Add fresh water slowly (to avoid stressing the fish with a sudden change in water parameters)

In nautical terms:

  • The new water must have the same salinity (mix in salt and let it settle for 24 hours, or use a mixing system).
  • Synthetic seawater (Instant Ocean, Red Sea Salt, Tropic Marin) — various grades

Cleaning the Glass

  • Punctate green algae / GSA: Scrape off with a scraper or magnet
  • Crystal green algae: Scrape them off weekly before they "calcify"
  • In marine aquariums: Coralline algae on the front glass → metal or titanium scraper
  • Side and rear panes: Optional — many aquarists leave a little algae (natural food) on them

Pruning plants (if planted)

  • Cut back plants that have grown above the water or are blocking other plants
  • Remove dead or damaged leaves