Incorrect Advice? A little confused...

StarStruck8

StarStruck8

AC Members
Jun 9, 2008
556
0
16
41
Central NJ
Real Name
Lindsay
I posted on a different forum asking for help with my sick betta, and the person responded that it is pointless to do water changes when you have a filter, and that my weekly water changes were wrecking havoc on the water chemistry and destroying any cycle my tank may have. They said that you either do 100% water changes or have a filter and do none.

I responded and asked why they would say this, since I believe the bacteria are on the filter media (one of the reasons I have one) and not in the water column.

They said doing large water changes makes your tank go into mini-cycle mode every time. They told me to read some articles on it and that the filter media is only a very small part of the cycling process.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing something, because they seem to be very sure of what they are saying, while it seems wrong to me? Doing 50% water changes once a week on a 5.5 gallon might be a bit much, but its mainly to vacuum out the snail poop. Really I just want someone to assure me that everything I thought about cycling and such isn't wrong. :uhoh:
 
You are absolutely right, do water changes! You are also correct in remembering that the bacteria are on the filter media, not the water column(and to a minor extent, substrate). Perhaps they are thinking of adding untreated water (water with chlorine/chloramines) to a filter, that CAN destroy the beneficial bacteria.
 
The other guy was wrong. Filters are optimal places for bacteria to grow. The provide lots of food and oxygenate the water by moving it around. There is of course a large amount of bacteria in the gravel and less in the water column. In doing a water change you do lose some bacteria. However remember you can remove up to 50% of the bacteria in the tank and have the numbers back up to where they were in 24 hours.

Think of your fishtank as a mini-pond. In all freshwater bodies of water flows in and water flows out. Either on the surface (streams, rivers) or beneath the ground. If water get's trapped and can't flow out and evaporates you end up with the the Great Salt Lake or the Dead Sea. So basically you either change the water in your tank or everything eventually dies.
 
the bacteria in the water is old thought... we know better now... water changes are good. I only change monthly, but nothing wrong with weekly, that's for sure.

Bacteria breed fast, so even if you did manage to remove 75% of them, they back in a couple days...
 
As the previous posters have said somehow the previous advice given wasn't all that correct. Bacteria form on hard surfaces. This means filter media, glass, rocks, etc. In this case hard surface refers to non-soluble items. It is correct that bacteria itself does not reside in the water column but the converted DOC's do, such as Nitrite and Nitrate which act as a fertilizer from ammonia degradation to develop beneficial bacteria. These can become too high as well and be just as unhealthy for the fish. To keep them in check and "balanced" means having to do a partial water change. This is why testing of the water is important. It is a guide to help you to know what your water is doing.

It would be a good idea to test daily in the beginning and to chart your results. This will show how long it takes your water to change. It should be done at the same time each time and under the same circumstances. You will then understand your bio-load better and how your water changes.

Think about your lawn - ammonia will kill the grass (the fish) and so will too much fertilizer. The right amount will give you a superb, healthy lawn. I grant you it is more complex than that but that is the Reader's Digest version.

Maybe you will understand better why some people have to do weekly changes and some have to do a partial change more often. It should also help you to understand that 100% may not be a good idea.
 
Ahhh thanks everyone! I thought it didn't sound right, but a combination of getting home from work late at night, being tired and cold, and finding my sick betta (the one I was trying to get help for) dead made me doubt what I had known and feel like I had killed him. I still don't know what happened to him, but that will be a post for another thread.

And I like the idea of graphing the water changes over time...I will have to try that. :)
 
You are using a tap water conditioner like Prime or Stress Coat, right? This will remove the chlorine and chloramines from the tap water, which in addition to killing the bacteria, will be very hard on and maybe fatal to you fish
 
I'd be doing water changes every couple of days in a 5.5 gal, totaling 100% weekly. Not that it's needed, but I find the more water I change, the less trouble I have keeping my fish and the system itself stable. Water changes are absolutely necessary IMO, if for no other reason than to remove/ dilute the build up of nitrates.
 
I saw that post.
I questioned that advice, though I thought I'd see what more experienced people would say.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom