Over 30 days without water change?

[sanfran94107]

Hi all,

My tank cycled just about a month ago. A couple of days before that happened, I did a 50% water change (on 1/23).

I was continuing to test the water daily but as the numbers weren't changing, I continued testing just once a week. Well, over a month later, the numbers are all good with only a bit of a reasonable rise in the nitrate levels:

PH: 7.0
NHx: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 10

I really don't want to do a water change unless it is needed , and, from what I've read, the nitrates could even be 20+ before I need to do so.

Is this normal? Am I lucky? :dance2:

I've got a 55-gallon hex that I don't feel is overstocked -- but I don't think its understocked either.

2 Redwag Platies
1 Dwarf Sunburst Platy
6 Cories
10 Neon Tetras
3 Glassfish
1 female Guppy

P.S. I recently lost all my shrimp: 3 bamboo shrimp and 3 ghost shrimp. This happened after I treated the tank for some fungus I found on the Glassfish. The fungus looks to have cleared on 2 of the 3 Glassfish. The third Glassfish has a tiny dot of fungus left on each pectoral fin. The treatment was 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon (I treated 50 gallons) and the salt is still in the tank since the fungus hasn't completely cleared up yet. Should I change the water to get the salt down even though the fungus has not completely cleared? It has been 2 weeks now and all the fish seem to be doing and eating fine.

[Mgamer20o0]

there are many things in the water that are harmful that you just cant test for. you should do a water change every week.

[Marinemom]

You need to do a water change pronto. There are things in the water such as DOC's(dissolved organic solids) that will become harmful to your fish if left in the water. Also if the water is left too long then the tank can suffer from old tank syndrome. At that point the water in the tank will or could be drastically different from the water that you change out with and when the water change is done the fish will suffer because the difference in the water paremeters will be drastically different that they can not adjust to.

Marinemom

[sanfran94107]

Hi, thanks.

I just did a 50% water change.

I'm sure the fish are happier now that 1/2 of the salt is out of the tank, too. Any ideas on the fungus? The salt seemed to do the trick pretty well. Will the 1 Glassfish with the 2 specks of fungus continue to get better?

I'll guess I'll watch and see -- and treat again if it gets worse.

[didy]

They will be happier! Once you get in the routine of water changes, they are no sweat! It's so important.

If the fish still need salt treatment, you can add more, considering how much you took out.

[Rbishop]

I feel that is a light bioload for a 55, and you really should do water changes much more often to get other undesirable elments out of the tank.