Are Water Changes Actually Necessary?

[FishPish]

As long as your water parameters are fine, simple evaporation on an open tank should be fine. My tropical 29 in the living room is down about a 1/2 inch in 1 week and its covered. This should be roughly enough for just adding water instead of changing it as long as my parameters are fine and its a pretty well established system. I am still changing it 10% every once in a while just to be cautious due to it being relatively new, but will probably just add after evaporation later on. I also have live plants that none of the fish will damage, driftwood, and a pleco. You definitely have to vacuum your gravel every once in a while though. This is the ONLY time I am ever changing the water, and this accounts for all my water changing. If you can't figure out whether to do a water change or not and really want to know what you're talking about, do a master test. No one can observe and test your tank for you over the internet.

 

[nobble1430]

I just engaged in a wordy debate with a few guys who were insisting that frequent, regular water changes are absolutely necessary...yet could not explain why.

There is only one absolute....nothing is absolute!

 

[dundadundun]

you know what this thread needs? more popcorn. hook me up pappy.

OH, NVM... opcorn:

 

[rich311k]

I could have done a water change in the time it took to read this thread.

 

[WeedCali]

Water changes are necessary. Theres just too much factual evidence to come to mind in a short amount of time. these things take time to explain... hence the 40+ Pg. thread :laugh:

Lol i noticed my fish got more attentive and happy when i bumped up my WC schedule. usually I would just change out 1 5g. bucket every to every other week. now I do 2, 5g buckets strictly every Friday. not just whenever I feel like it.

:dance:

 

[jpappy789]

you know what this thread needs? more popcorn. hook me up pappy.

OH, NVM... opcorn:

I've got plenty...

opcorn:

I could have done a water change in the time it took to read this thread.

:rofl:

No kidding...

 

[mrbigmuscles]

edit: LOL at me reviving this old dead thread.

The reason is DOC and TDS.

Hint: people whose livelihood depends on breeding fish commercially, don't house them in the same water month after month.

Would be interesting to see if there are any professional breeders (i.e. make 100% of their income in the trade) or semi-professionals on AC who do not do water changes.

Me personally: 50%/week since I'm on EI fertz system

 

[To3kn33]

Y goldfish

Due to the amount of goldfish I have I do 20% once a week as this just keeps my water paramiters perfect. However I am sure this would be the case if I did it two weekly or even monthly! I have double filtration and heavy planting plus I use amquel in very small amounts too. This with my usual cycle and aqua plus have made my water perfect and very happy fish. I haven't lost a single one, even when I was having massive nitrate and nitrite problems!

 

[redperphexion]

I must admit, I haven't been a fish keeper for long, but I have heard something about WCs help to reduce the concentration of hormones produced by the fish. Is this a myth or could this be a legit reason to refresh tank water?

The balance of life is so complex that there are people that devote their lives to studying how ecosystems work and their dynamics. I think we would be very lucky if we achieved the very perfect balance of -everything- in a fish tank. We are getting close with panted tanks, but, if we're adding something to the tank (food) do we not need to remove this something at another point in the cycle? Or does proper filtration do a good enough job of this?

 

[jasonG75]

I do one MAYBE once a month.... Maybe 10% to 15% percent. But it is only because I clean the substrate.