Are Water Changes Actually Necessary?
- Thread starter kazvorpal
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I just picked up a free 7.5 gallon tank that looks like it's from the '80s, and has all the junk of 30 years of neglect too. Should I rinse before filling or will it stress out the fish that it isn't as filthy as it could be? :help: please! 
johnlarson66
These Pandas Rock
Why can't good filtration take care of the TDS and other things that build up in the water?
How about this product that is advertised on AC - http://www.aquaripure.com/testimonials.htm?gclid=COD4hc_DyJ8CFZMK5Qod1BBPtg
I have asked about using a RO system before but was told basicly that it would remove the trace elements, which would be bad.
I think the OP has found that not doing a WC for over 2 years has not caused him to lose any fish. I am sure he is unable to add any fish as his fish have become used to the toxic nature of the water. His fish will have a shorter life and most likely be stunted.
I also agree with the OP and a few others that over feeding is one of the major issues in keeping fish, much more of a bigger problem IMO than WC and overstocking.
I know I have gone long periods without doing a WC and I have done weekly WC for a long period.
As far as fish being happy? Treating fish humane? Might as well join PETA folks. If we truely cared about the fish being happy, we would not keep them in glass boxes for our enjoyment, we would leave them alone. We do the best to keep them alive and healty - for our enjoyment.
Want to know about fish happiness and humane treatment, look how they are bred and shipped. If dogs were handled like fish, lots of people would be going to prison.
How about feeder fish feelings, I am sure they are not too happy. Betas also.
If the OP does not want to do WC, well that is their right. My biggest and most expensive fish loss was during a WC that I forgot to treat the water - not a good time at all.
I hope the OP continues to be a part of AC.
How about this product that is advertised on AC - http://www.aquaripure.com/testimonials.htm?gclid=COD4hc_DyJ8CFZMK5Qod1BBPtg
I have asked about using a RO system before but was told basicly that it would remove the trace elements, which would be bad.
I think the OP has found that not doing a WC for over 2 years has not caused him to lose any fish. I am sure he is unable to add any fish as his fish have become used to the toxic nature of the water. His fish will have a shorter life and most likely be stunted.
I also agree with the OP and a few others that over feeding is one of the major issues in keeping fish, much more of a bigger problem IMO than WC and overstocking.
I know I have gone long periods without doing a WC and I have done weekly WC for a long period.
As far as fish being happy? Treating fish humane? Might as well join PETA folks. If we truely cared about the fish being happy, we would not keep them in glass boxes for our enjoyment, we would leave them alone. We do the best to keep them alive and healty - for our enjoyment.
Want to know about fish happiness and humane treatment, look how they are bred and shipped. If dogs were handled like fish, lots of people would be going to prison.
How about feeder fish feelings, I am sure they are not too happy. Betas also.
If the OP does not want to do WC, well that is their right. My biggest and most expensive fish loss was during a WC that I forgot to treat the water - not a good time at all.
I hope the OP continues to be a part of AC.
fair enough john except the way I see it the op wanted to dish people like they were a lasagna.
I am all for people keeping fish as they wish, and fish well they are fish. Yet to dish people as was done on this thread sorry the op gets what he asked for. Answers from the forum on the subject of wc. After all he asked if wc were actually necessary.
Please go check my post with the link to the museum tank I took over and tell me was a water change actually necessary there. Was a water change actually necessary for the slider turtle who was forced to live in it's own waste for a good 2 years prior to my coming along where it only got top ups?
Nah I have no desire to have anything to do with peta but there is the core responsibility people have to do their best to care for their pets and if proven truth says things need to be done a certain way it is exactly that proven truth.
I am all for people keeping fish as they wish, and fish well they are fish. Yet to dish people as was done on this thread sorry the op gets what he asked for. Answers from the forum on the subject of wc. After all he asked if wc were actually necessary.
Please go check my post with the link to the museum tank I took over and tell me was a water change actually necessary there. Was a water change actually necessary for the slider turtle who was forced to live in it's own waste for a good 2 years prior to my coming along where it only got top ups?
Nah I have no desire to have anything to do with peta but there is the core responsibility people have to do their best to care for their pets and if proven truth says things need to be done a certain way it is exactly that proven truth.
johnlarson66
These Pandas Rock
Here I think is the part of the OP that caught my attention.
I didn't think the Op was out of line and was dishing on anyone, could just be I am used to not taking posts personal. (thanks AC mafia)
As far as proven truth, well the truth changes. It was a proven truth that man could not fly, that the earth was flat and that there was no such thing as vacuum. One day WC might be a thing of the past. Maybe someone will have a filtering system that is economical that makes the water ideal for keeping fish.
A better discussion would be water other things can be done to do less WC or no WC. Plants, certain plants, filters, UV lights, tempature, etc?
Who really likes to do water changes?
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