View Full Version : i'm such a terrible person!
AquariumNoob13
12-17-2007, 7:14 PM
i usually change my fish's water on fridays, but i was really busy all week because i've been sick, and i did not get the time to change it. plus i haven't had time to change their filter cartridge so i'm sure they are suffering cuz of that too. i feel aweful!
As long as it is a fully cycled normally stocked tank the fish will be fine, just do the water change when you can. I only wash the filter cartridge in water from the water change, there is no need to change the filter media even the fine filter pads can be washed and reused.
scott-kim
12-17-2007, 8:56 PM
There probably fine. Do you have a test kit?
What kind of filters are you using?
elementkid65
12-17-2007, 9:36 PM
i feel aweful!
as long as your fish live dont be
BadDogsPa
12-17-2007, 10:01 PM
Just think ,,in the wild they probably would have been eaten..Now they have a great life
AquariumNoob13
12-17-2007, 10:46 PM
There probably fine. Do you have a test kit?
What kind of filters are you using?
i only have a pool test kit, but it seems to be able to test the pH just fine. i use a penguin 200 filter. i have lots of plants in the tank, but i'm not sure if that will help cycle the water at all, but from what i have learned in biology, in the wild plants are the natural water filter for fish, but i just feel really bad. my fish are getting agitated really easily too and i am very concerned about that.
kay-bee
12-17-2007, 11:35 PM
Test your nitrates. If they're 40ppm or below you're fine.
AquariumNoob13
12-18-2007, 1:42 AM
i don't have anything to test nitrates with though.
i don't have anything to test nitrates with though.
Please get an API nitrates test kit.
Mgamer20o0
12-18-2007, 2:28 AM
whats stopping you from doing it now?
Reddog80p
12-18-2007, 7:54 AM
i only have a pool test kit, but it seems to be able to test the pH just fine. i use a penguin 200 filter. i have lots of plants in the tank, but i'm not sure if that will help cycle the water at all, but from what i have learned in biology, in the wild plants are the natural water filter for fish, but i just feel really bad. my fish are getting agitated really easily too and i am very concerned about that.
You need to be able to test everything Ammonia,NitrIte, and NitrAte. Considering this is a pretty new tank.
Brian Bivens
12-18-2007, 8:35 AM
agreed, for about $25 you can get the API master test kit.
going an extra few days isn't the end of the world if your tank is stocked properly... you basically are just feeding your algae...
AquariumNoob13
12-18-2007, 6:07 PM
ok. thanks.
AquariumNoob13
12-18-2007, 6:56 PM
i just changed my water and my fish seem lots happier. i even got lots of the gunk sucked out of my filter cartridge. hopefully it will last until this weekend when i have time to get a new one.
jpappy789
12-18-2007, 7:02 PM
I am no advocate for not doing regular water changes but a lot of my fish lived through a period when I didnt do a Wc for like two months. This was back when I was stupid but anyways a missed wc every once and a while will not devastate your tank as long as params are monitored and you do them right away when you can.
AquariumNoob13
12-18-2007, 7:39 PM
ok. thank you.