Hi, I have a question:

Can you do too many water changes? I kinda like doing them (I know, I am somewhat strange ) and it helps keep my nitrates down considering I am WAY overstocked. So far today I have done three 25% water changes because there are clouds outside and I am bored.

EDIT: It is actually hailing outside and I am glad I did a LOT of water changes because there is most likely goingto be a power failure...

The answer is an enigmatic yes and no.

Many fish around the world are raised in 100% water change daily. I run a certain number of my tanks with continuous water change - meaning that the water is always running in and running out - changing ALL the time. In overstocked tanks or tanks with other problems, I turn the run-in volume up such that the entire volume of water is changed each day (a simple algebra calculation of dilutions - not hard to figure).

When I change out water in other tanks, I usually let the water parameters dictate how much and how often. In more heavily stocked tanks, I may change 80% every 3 days or so. In other tanks, it is only about 50% every 5-6 days.

Water changes that keep the water parameters closer to ideal are ALWAYS a good thing.

So....when are water changes bad? Most of the "bad" comes from water that does not match parameter with the exchange water. Temperature changes, pH changes, kH or gH changes that are dramatic.....etc. can all cause some stress in the fish. (sometimes fish will ever flash with fresh water because the water is sufficiantly different than before and it is irritating for a time). IF you do not match the parameters carefully enough your fish can become stressed. Stress opens the door to opportunisitc parasites and disease so it is better to avoid stress whenever possible. IF you cannot match parameters well, it is better to do smaller, more frequent changes.

Doing multiple small water changes like you are doing will help avoid the problems of matching water so carefully. But let your water parameters guide you in your changes. REmember - four 25% changes done back to back do NOT change out 100% of the water - for each change has the ne and old waters mixed and diluted together. If your changes are what you like doing, the fish are not stressed and the parameters are good... have fun.

The only other time I would recommend NOT changing so much like that is when you have extremely delicate fish - like tiny fry. Anytime you disturb tiny fry, you risk injuring/damaging them. Special changing procedures and regiments are needed in fry tanks to keep the water as pristine as fry demand/require.

Wow, I started to enjoy doing water changes once a week once I started looking at my fish and seeing how happy and healthy they were....but I don't think I would do 3 in one day..lol.

If you are still bored you can come and do my tanks. XD

I got the 5 gallon betta tank, now I gotta work on the 29 gallon ryukin tank and the 20 gallon tiger barb tank this afternoon.