No water changes ever. Why am I not having any problems?

247Plants said:
Diana Walstad has written many articles and a book about El Natural tanks.

Sounds like you have things in hand. Awesome that its working out for you!
If you want a little more hardness in your water you can put a small bag of crushed coral in one of the compartments in your filter and it will bring your ph up some. You can always add more or take some out depending on the ph you would like to achieve.

Keep us updated. I will watch this thread.
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I just went to LFS to buy Crushed coral, and they only had dolomite. (In 25 lb bags). Do you know of a good source?
 
12 Volt Man said:
one of the toxic byproducts that a bacterial population will give out via respiration is c02, which of course drops the pH of the water via the formation of carbonic acid.

so, yes, this is part of it.

but the ammonia excreted by the fishes gills is also acidic, as is the urea produced by the fishes urine in the water.

so, there are lots of waste products that can drop the pH on the tank (decaying plant matter is another for example).

the function of water changes is not not only reduce and then dilute these wastes, but to add carbonate minerals into the water to help to buffer the pH against further drops.
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So technically the crushed coral in filter method would be the only real change I need to do? (I have been reading that coral is >50% calcium carbonate.)

Does the coral get depleted? Or does it just dissolve?
 
Coral will dissolve til a point. Once the pH comes up high enough the dissolving rate will slow down as the water isn't acidic anymore. Also overtime a film will coat the crushed coral which will slow down any dissolving as well.
 
micro fiber aquativ cloth

I would appreciate your providing some additional information on the captioned "filter media" that you are using in your aquarium filter. It is my understanding that you filters are cannisters. Do you use this media in both of the filters? Where do you source this media?
Thanks;
Vic
 
Brandorr said:
So technically the crushed coral in filter method would be the only real change I need to do? (I have been reading that coral is >50% calcium carbonate.)

Does the coral get depleted? Or does it just dissolve?
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to be honest, the best way around this is to begin a regular water change schedule.

changing water does more than just keep the pH up, it adds dissolved minerals that are required in trace elements for fish.

also, you will find that water changes often 'perk up' fish, many aquarists note how fish will tend to 'colour up' and look more vibrant follwing a water change.

I have a flagtail prochilodus that lights up like a christmas light after a water change.

his tail colour literally goes from orange to red overnight after a normal water change..
 
Well, it's time to put my two cents worth in and then listen to people yell at me! I've wondered the same thing about water changes with my cherry shrimp tank. 3 months ago(roughly), I got around 70 cherry shrimp from someone getting rid of all their tanks. I put them into a 29 gallon extra tank I had, with ALOT of java moss, a few huge moss balls, 2 good sized amazon swords, and a big sponge filter. I was expecting to feed them to my ACF's(didn't work out as feeders, too small!), so I wasn't really really worrying about parameters, bioloads, etc,. Since that time, I have become extremely intimidated by this tank, afraid to gravel vac, change water, etc,. because there are a gazillion babies EVERYWHERE, at all times. Soooo, I have done NO water changes in the time I've had them. Granted, the tank was already cycled, since I had just moved my ACF's to my newer 55g tank. Oh I've added water when the water evaporated, and I've rinsed off the filter, but that's it. And they won't stop multiplying!!! I've only lost 3 shrimp in that time(that have been seen!), and they were bigger ones, so it's possible it was just their time. I now have over 300 of these little guys, with a million more on the way! Oh, and there are also a gajillion ramshorn and pond snails too! Boy do THOSE puppies multiply! I know, I know, this isn't the way it was supposed to be done, but why has it worked? I continually check the tank for sudden deaths, or any signs of problems, figuring if there was a sudden problem, I'd quickly get over my intimidation and change out water, but so far nothing!
 
the low ph is from old tank syndrome... do a 50% water change 2 times a week it ph is back up.. i had the same problem with my 90g, everything was fine except nitrates at 40% and low ph, fish were fine till you put new fish in there than you know you have a problem..

do routine water changes just to keep some fresh water in there.. old water just gets used up and then no good.. just like rain to freshin things up.. as in nature... and then enjoy..:)
 
When I first started adding plants to my tank I noticed that the levels just before a water change were still great. My tank is not heavily stocked with fish and I was adding more plants every 2 weeks.

It got to the point that I was wondering why I was doing water changes - but then I realized that it was during water that I spent the most time checking everything in the tank.

I did end up doing smaller WCs but did them every week. It was great because I did seem to find a balance. I knew that if I couldn't do the WC on Sat. I could go a day or two without the levels in the tank being a problem.

Then the 'bubble burst' - I had Ich in the tank.
Most of the plants are gone - the rest in the QT.
It was nice, but I am more interested now in keeping the tank free from problems than finding that 'balance' again.
 
I just went to LFS to buy Crushed coral, and they only had dolomite. (In 25 lb bags). Do you know of a good source?
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dolomite, as in farming is the highest and best lime for your fields, and very expenceive, it is very high in calcium, and buffering capasities.. as for farming so apply that to your tank.. i've never seen what your talking about, but i never looked..

also doing a water change isn;t going to take your nutrients out .. just some of them but they are constantly being made.. after i figured out what was the problem i doo 60% wt. every week and still can't keep up with trimmings.. so it hasn't hurt my tank or plants..
 
Barthur33, could you sell the shrimp? I have a tiny version of the same problem, but with scud and snails in an acrylic container. They're having fun (though some scud seem to fight each other) and the algae covered bits of plants I've dropped in with them are clean, but I don't have enough to somehow suction up and put in with my tetras who I'm only assuming would eat the (i.e., tetras eat scud... though the tetras aren't bothering the ghost shrimp...). But if the scud survive in a regular aquarium... at least I know that hair algae wouldn't.

So I'd say, ask your local fish or pet store if they want some of those shrimp.
 
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