Are Water Changes Actually Necessary?

[platytudes]

Thanks for correcting that...and yes I see there's a thread for it now.

It's ok really - not like this thread hasn't had some major derailments from the first two questions, as Pinkertd has shown

 

[jpappy789]

LOL, I understand...just wanted to throw that out there for other people to realize.

 

[Fishfriend1]

i know that i was just wondering if my male swordtail would have babies with my female sailfin mollie. I was worried but thats over and done with now.

 

[Barnacle]

Back on the original topic:

I don't think this topic will ever be decided one way or another. Anyone can go out on the net and dredge up reasons to do changes or not. All you can really do is do all the research you can and make your own decision on the subject.

Personally, I try to do a small change once every couple of weeks. Luckily my tanks are well established and seem to take care of themselves pretty well. I do however worry about all the crud floating around in the water and don't currently have the means to test for every little factor that could affect the fish one way or the other.

That's just how I do it, not the only way to do it.

 

[Fishfriend1]

"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Best statement ever.
:worthy::dance::dance::dance:

 

[chefjamesscott]

"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Best statement ever.
:worthy::dance::dance::dance:

A thought for you fish friend.

Think of the color spectrum in three terms-WHITE, GREY AND BLACK.

Then think of this "Black is what black is, white is not! Nor shall it ever be, yet, though grey desires ever to be associated with white it shall forever remain but a pale shade of black"-chefjamesscott

 

[jpappy789]

"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Best statement ever.
:worthy::dance::dance::dance:

I agree, and no one is forcing anyone else to do anything. However, the original question(s) asked for a justification of a certain practice.

 

[Barnacle]

Ack, that request totally slipped my mind since I've been on reading this thread...

I'm not positive there is a justification since everyone's setups are different. Anyone can try to prove their way works, but ultimately doesn't this only prove their way works for their setup?

 

[PhaidOut]

It's amazing how long this thread is already. And No, there is no way I am going to read it all so forgive me if I rehash some things already said.

Some personal thoughts... Water changes are about keeping TDS of all types at healthy controlled levels. It is also about keeping hormones at healthy levels as well.

Some things to think about. Where do you find fish living in natural population densities like you find in an aquarium of any type? You pretty much don't unless you start talking about drying up water holes. The population density plays a large role on how the ecosystem deals with nutrients (aka TDS). Not to mention the continual addition of more TDS via food. It's not like a natural ecosystem where the food that the fish eat is produced by the surroundings. We daily add food and nutrients to the tank but they don't go away - unless you have a planted tank where they can be transformed into plants that are clipped and removed.

When a tank water level drops it is due to evaporation of H2O. When you refill it, unless you are using pure RO water, you are adding more TDS.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Anyone else notice the OP hasn't posted since page 19 and we're now nearly page 26? Troooooll