friend of mine has a 33 gallon tank.He changes about 40% of the water once a year. His tank is crystal clear and his fish loss is about 1 fish a year. How does he get away with it?
does water change once a year!
- Thread starter lowtemp
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He has very hardy fish but he isn't getting away with anything if the fish that dies should have lived another 3 years.
My aunt is the same way about water changes... or was.
She did this for 3-4 years, only filling the water back to the top. This is probably what saved the fish for as long as they lived. Anyway, one day last year she started having fish die one by one. After 2 weeks, all the fish were dead.
It always catches up with the "lucky ones" in the end, believe that.
She did this for 3-4 years, only filling the water back to the top. This is probably what saved the fish for as long as they lived. Anyway, one day last year she started having fish die one by one. After 2 weeks, all the fish were dead.
It always catches up with the "lucky ones" in the end, believe that.
Tanks 'maintained' this way aren't healthy environments. The water hardness increases since the minerals don't evaporate out, and the nitrates and other dissolved waste products accumulate to very high levels.
The fact that fish can tolerate this just shows how forgiving they can be, but keeping fish like this is like playing Russian Roulette - sooner or later, it will blow up in the owner's face.
The fact that fish can tolerate this just shows how forgiving they can be, but keeping fish like this is like playing Russian Roulette - sooner or later, it will blow up in the owner's face.
I have a Brother who has horrible maintenance, and he has very good luck, but I feel bad for his fish, living in Sewage. His water quality scares me, but the tank looks good, and the fish survive.
He just recently got some SA cichlids, I tried to warn him about HITH, but he won't listen. Some people see things differently, and when he has trouble, he'll be ready to learn.
Dave
He just recently got some SA cichlids, I tried to warn him about HITH, but he won't listen. Some people see things differently, and when he has trouble, he'll be ready to learn.
Dave
Hmmm. I do water changes in my 10 gallon weekly and none of my fish die. I think I will stick to that method.
Originally posted by TKOS
Hmmm. I do water changes in my 10 gallon weekly and none of my fish die. I think I will stick to that method.
That's the key! "I only loose about one a year" is not the answer!
I have a friend who I gave a 3 gallon tank to and its now a dissaster. I told him that It can't hold very many fish and he put about 5 fish in it. A pleco, red tailed shark, some corys, and another fish. He never does water changes and I am very scared to hear what has happened to his fish.
Never should've given him the tank...
~ MyShrimpDied
Never should've given him the tank...
~ MyShrimpDied
Yikes, that many fish in a 3g tank is scary.
I can't imagine not doing water changes on a regular bases. That's just animal cruelty. Dirty water makes me feel dirty as well. Those poor fish.
I can't imagine not doing water changes on a regular bases. That's just animal cruelty. Dirty water makes me feel dirty as well. Those poor fish.
A lot of people over react with maintenance. Proper filtration and environment will do wonders over overly frequent water changes. People have started to over complicate fresh water tanks and some how saltwater methods have crossed into freshwater methods. Geez, I remember when a fresh water test kit DIDN'T come with a nitrate and nitrite tests!
Get proper filtration, stock the tank with a decent cleanup crew, and don't over feed! Yes folks, it's really that simple.
Get proper filtration, stock the tank with a decent cleanup crew, and don't over feed! Yes folks, it's really that simple.