Are Water Changes Actually Necessary?

[jpappy789]

Good thing I got more popcorn...

opcorn:

I honestly do not see ANY reason behind never changing the water ever. There are certainly different schedules used but the question, as mentioned, is horribly misguided.

 

[Lab_Rat]

opcorn:

 

[SidtheMonkey]

Sorry folks, but I ain't wadin' through 46 pages to see what everyone else thinks.

What I was taught, was nitrate and other compounds, dissolved organic compounds, are naturally occurring in an aquaria and accumulate. The DOCs accumulate right along with the nitrate. Since we don't have test kits for the non-volatile acids and other DOCs that build we use nitrate as our marker. By keeping nitrates diluted below a certain number, and the ppm varies depending on the tank and the aquarist's opinion, we also keep the DOCs diluted to that same extent.

This is pretty much what I was taught and what I've learned from some very saavy fish breeders over the yrs.

My ex kept all kinds of tropical fish growing up, as a serious hobby with his dad. 60s-70s. Back then, the value was placed on 'aged water,' and not changing water very often.

He (Masters in Zoology, zookeeper, and someone who studied & kept just about every kind of animal as a hobby over the yrs except larger mammals) also found that the 'aged water' thing wasnt working as well and that water changes benefitted the fish.

Probably already mentioned, but adding water also adds minerals that get depleted.

 

[nobble1430]

I'm going to attempt a 0 water change tank. However I will have a stream of freshwater continuously dillute the tank. Evaporation is the only twist to my eco system so I will be adding pure water to simulate rain equivalent to the estimated evaporation. I plan to document it and hope to have some positive data from it.

 

[jm1212]

I'm going to attempt a 0 water change tank. However I will have a stream of freshwater continuously dillute the tank. Evaporation is the only twist to my eco system so I will be adding pure water to simulate rain equivalent to the estimated evaporation. I plan to document it and hope to have some positive data from it.

you will still need to find a way to add minerals that are lost from fish and plant cell processes. you also need to have lots of plants and almost no fish...we're talking a 20 gallon with maybe a betta. also, there is going to need to be some way to get rid of other DOC's that you can't test for with a test kit, usually a few weak acids that nonetheless have a drastic effect on water quality when they are not removed.

 

[WinstonCourt]

Hmmm, already mentioned?

you will still need to find a way to add minerals that are lost from fish and plant cell processes. you also need to have lots of plants and almost no fish...we're talking a 20 gallon with maybe a betta. also, there is going to need to be some way to get rid of other DOC's that you can't test for with a test kit, usually a few weak acids that nonetheless have a drastic effect on water quality when they are not removed.

Or, just RO the water and add complete micros as necessary? And, add macros for the plants.

 

[nobble1430]

sorry didn't specify the freshwater added on a continuous basis is not ro water but very good well water that has minerals low levels of phosphates low hardness and no nitrates. I agree I will need alot of plants. the pure water I mentioned is so that the levels of elements in the well water don't climb due to evaporation. With continuous flow of water thru the tank I hope to simulate a small body of water with a stream running thru it. I due expect alot of algae if i do not use plants since the phosphate level will never truly bottom out. I am hoping for instead of water changes weekly to conduct a continuous natural water change. This would eliminate the stress from water changes in the traditional method.

 

[wespastor]

I answered undesided, However, I still change water from time to time in ver sma,, amounts. For general tank clean-up and to remove the film from the top of the water. (Still working on a solution for that.)

I too, Like the OP would like to know reasonable, measurable and difinitive explanation of the need for water changes, IF any.

Admittedly I have not read this entire thread due to time constraints just now, but will review it at length at a later time.

Best wishes,
Wes

 

[dundadundun]

I answered undesided, However, I still change water from time to time in ver sma,, amounts. For general tank clean-up and to remove the film from the top of the water. (Still working on a solution for that.)

I too, Like the OP would like to know reasonable, measurable and difinitive explanation of the need for water changes, IF any.

Admittedly I have not read this entire thread due to time constraints just now, but will review it at length at a later time.

Best wishes,
Wes

more water changes would certainly be a step in the right direction for your surface film issue... there's a start...

 

[jpappy789]

I answered undesided, However, I still change water from time to time in ver sma,, amounts. For general tank clean-up and to remove the film from the top of the water. (Still working on a solution for that.)

I too, Like the OP would like to know reasonable, measurable and difinitive explanation of the need for water changes, IF any.

Admittedly I have not read this entire thread due to time constraints just now, but will review it at length at a later time.

Best wishes,
Wes

I suggest you do read the entire thread and pay attention to posts mentioning DOC and TDS.