Update:
Like most, as time goes on you get to know your tank and what its telling you. For example, for the past week or so I've started to see the odd tuff of BBA taking foot on my circulation pump, skimmer and spray bar. I also started to see GSA on some of my AR mini and S. Repens leaves. When I start to see this I know its time for a full on filter cleaning/maintenance. This includes completely cleaning the inside of the filter and changing the filter floss, but also removing and cleaning all the tubing, fittings and Co2 reactor. The whole process takes about an hour to complete. While I am doing this I take out the other equipment, including the skimmer and circulation pump and throw them in a bucket with a bleach water mixture.
After I cleaning and reinstalling all the equipment its time to drain the water and give the front glass a quick wipe. Not much trimming went on this week except for the usual suspects, that being Pantanal and Ambulia. The picture below shows how much water I drain each week, probably close to 75% once a week.
I use straight tap water to refill the tank, I add the prime in while it is filling back up.
Nothing like the look of a tank after a water change.
Like most, as time goes on you get to know your tank and what its telling you. For example, for the past week or so I've started to see the odd tuff of BBA taking foot on my circulation pump, skimmer and spray bar. I also started to see GSA on some of my AR mini and S. Repens leaves. When I start to see this I know its time for a full on filter cleaning/maintenance. This includes completely cleaning the inside of the filter and changing the filter floss, but also removing and cleaning all the tubing, fittings and Co2 reactor. The whole process takes about an hour to complete. While I am doing this I take out the other equipment, including the skimmer and circulation pump and throw them in a bucket with a bleach water mixture.
After I cleaning and reinstalling all the equipment its time to drain the water and give the front glass a quick wipe. Not much trimming went on this week except for the usual suspects, that being Pantanal and Ambulia. The picture below shows how much water I drain each week, probably close to 75% once a week.
I use straight tap water to refill the tank, I add the prime in while it is filling back up.
Nothing like the look of a tank after a water change.