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I usually alternate doing my water changes. One week I do my New World Cichlid's tank which is 30 gallons; the next week I do my 55 gallon African Mbuna Cichlid's tank. That schedule was my intent but it seems water changes are much less work if you do them once a week so I've changed my strategy.
I did my smaller tank yesterday so today I was doing my Mbuna tank. I gather my supplies, algae brush, vacuum-pump, hose, mini net, pails and a couple old towels and I'm ready. My first step is removing the lids, light, and turning off the filter. Next I use a wonderful 25' hose running it from my tank to my kitchen sink and begin the siphon. I encourage you to get yourself a siphon pump to make the whole sucking thing a non-issue. I let the siphon take about 10 gallons of water out of the tank. That brings my tank down about 3-4". I remove my siphon and grab my trusty vacuum.
My Mbuna Cichlids are very actively digging brooding areas so I'm very careful not to disturb their hard work. If necessary I will move the plants but I leave the stones as they are. I vacuumed the gravel, poking at it just to loosen debris and suck it up. As my pail fills I'm passing my vacuum around the tank picking up any floaters. I sucked up a couple pails of old water.
Now it's time to replace the water I removed. I begin filling the first pail gauging the temperature just with my finger for now. While the pail is filling I brush the glass removing any algae build up. I never do the back wall of the tank. They do like their algae so I leave that for the Cichlids. Mind you, if it gets too bad I will clean it, but not often. Next I take my mini net and run it through the tank catching tiny floating debris. It's amazing how much that little net catches.
One pail is full so I fill the second pail. As the second pail fills I drop my thermometer into the first pail checking the temperature. I do the same with the other pail once it's full. At this time I add Prime to each pail and stir it around good mixing it in.
Double checking the temps of both pails I get ready to pour them into my tank. I slowly pour the water onto the rock formations so as not to disrupt the tank too much. I turn the filter back on and clean the lids, wipe down the light, clean the glass and put all my tools away until next week.
One pail is full so I fill the second pail. As the second pail fills I drop my thermometer into the first pail checking the temperature. I do the same with the other pail once it's full. At this time I add Prime to each pail and stir it around good mixing it in.
Work's all done. As you can see I didn't disturb
the landscape and left their excavating alone.
