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Water change
calculator

How many liters do you need to change? Straight from a percentage or from your current and target nitrate – no registration needed.

Tank & target
Tank
Excluding substrate/decor displacement – see our volume calculator.
Change fraction
Nitrate (NO₃)
Must be lower than the current value.
Result
Enter volume and either the change fraction or your nitrate values.
Help – choosing the right change fraction

Routine changes: 20–30% per week is a solid default for most community tanks.

Nitrate target: The required change fraction is 1 − (target ÷ current). The closer target and current are, the smaller the change can be.

Split large changes: Doing over 50% at once can stress sensitive animals with sudden parameter swings – better to spread it across two smaller changes over a few days.

Nitrate rises again afterward: The calculation applies to the moment right after the change – fish and filter bacteria keep producing nitrate continuously.

With a free account
Track water changes and parameter history automatically.

Instead of recalculating every time: your tank volume is saved, every water change is logged, and you see the nitrate trend over time instead of just a snapshot.

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Water change log

Log every change. Always see the last change date and upcoming reminders.

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Nitrate trend

Log NO₂ and NO₃ after every change – and watch the trend over weeks.

Reminders

Never forget a water change again – automatic reminders on your own schedule.

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More tools

Your tank, fully under control

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Aquarium volume

Work out net liters from your tank dimensions – the basis for this calculator.

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RO/DI mixing calculator

Mixing ratio of RO/DI and tap water for your next water change.

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Stocking planner

How many fish can your tank handle? Check stocking density based on net volume.

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Unit converter

Liters, gallons, °C/°F, GH/KH to ppm – every aquarium unit in one place.

Frequently asked questions
How much water should I change to lower nitrate?
Change fraction = 1 − (target nitrate ÷ current nitrate). Example: current 40 mg/l, target 20 mg/l → 1 − (20/40) = 50% water change needed.
What percentage water change is normal for an aquarium?
20–30% per week is typical for most community tanks. Heavily stocked or lightly planted tanks benefit from more frequent or larger changes, while calm, densely planted or aquascape tanks often need less.
Can too large a water change be harmful?
A single very large water change (over 50%) can stress sensitive fish and shrimp due to sudden shifts in water parameters. If nitrate is high, it's better to spread it over two smaller changes a few days apart instead of one huge change.
Why doesn't nitrate drop proportionally to the water change?
The formula applies to the moment right after the change. After that, your fish and filter bacteria keep producing new nitrate, so the value rises again until the next water change.
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Set up & track your tank

Create your tank, track water changes and test results – free, no download.

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