Slacking on my tanks

[Vincenia]

I also have other pets to care for such as my kitty and leopard gecko, most of my money goes to my cat for food, treats and litter. I feed my pets better then I feed myself, fish get frozen foods and crisps, gecko gets worms and crickets, and kitty gets expensive grain-free foods(she wont eat meow mix or cat chow) I spoil my pets a lot! Going to get water changes done on sunday after I do a few other things.


I have plans to do a self retaining eco-system in a large jar thats about 2-3 gallons or get a 5.5 gallon for shrimp, not sure how to do it just yet. Anyone wanna help me out with my project?

 

[Vincenia]

Took photos of my tanks, lots of them, I used my Iphone which sucks taking pics. The water level is low on both of my tanks.

20 Gallon setup/stand, gecko tank is under it. Moss was half dead to nearly dead when I put in the tank tied to my driftwood, it filled in quite nicely and is spreading, Anubias' are growing new leaves weekly, the three in my tank, came from one plant! I don't inject Co2 or add anything to my tank for plant growth.


37 gallon tank set up. I have old pictures of the tank set up, but lost those. Heres a few new pics. I got new plants for the tank along with a new strip LED light. The new plants have yet a chance to grow and I do have an algae eater, a SAE/Flying Fox, better then a pleco.

 

[Byron Amazonas]

Just to pick up on a couple points in previous posts that are inaccurate. Nothing can take the place of a water change. Removing water and replacing it with fresh achieves benefits that no amount of filtration can accomplish simply because no filtration can remove certain pathogens that are in the water from fish. Plants can, but only when the fish load is very low by comparison to the plants. The number of fish most of us keep in a tank is way above this level.

Water changes are better done more frequently than less. Once or twice a month is not as beneficial as every week, regardless of the volume. Plus, the less frequent the water changes, the more fluctuation in water conditions.

I don't mean for this to sound mean, but it must be said. There is no excuse for any aquarist not finding time for weekly water changes. Even on my largest tank, a 115g, I can do the water change within 30 minutes. All six or seven tanks takes me no more than three hours a week. Fish are living creatures that need certain care, and it is irresponsible to ignore that. If you have an aquarium and cannot find even one hour a week for looking after the fish properly, perhaps you should look at another hobby.

Nathan Hill writing on this topic in PFK:
Something we all need to remember: The fish you've acquired was quite happy not being owned by you, minding its own business. If you’re going to take it under your wing then you’re responsible for it. Every aspect of its life is under your control, from water quality and temperature to swimming space.

Byron.

 

[Fishfriend1]

Byron, just want to say, no one ever said less was better. We only noted that you can get away with less if you do more in other areas of your tank care. Also, I want to know your secret to 30min waterchanges, because I have to set up multiple eleborate contraptions to get from my tank to my sump and then from my kitchen sink back to my tank using only a siphon, it takes me 30min to set that stuff up xD

Vinceana, those are some very nice tanks Just a word of warning, I once lost a rainbowfish in my java/fire moss pile, it got tangled overnight and never recovered. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't take over half your tank lol. Other than that the tanks look very nice. How on earth did you get so many betta to live together?

 

[rufioman]

This may help you, V:

My water change schedule!
Saturday: 8-10g from 40b freshwater (every other Saturday I rinse media in cold tank water to clean), also 8g from 55g saltwater tank and algae scrub
Sunday: 25% of water from 100g freshwater (every other Sunday I do the media cleaning)
Wednesday: 25% of water from 100g freshwater

It's easy when you have a repeating schedule!

 

[Byron Amazonas]

Byron, just want to say, no one ever said less was better. We only noted that you can get away with less if you do more in other areas of your tank care. Also, I want to know your secret to 30min waterchanges, because I have to set up multiple eleborate contraptions to get from my tank to my sump and then from my kitchen sink back to my tank using only a siphon, it takes me 30min to set that stuff up xD

I would have to disagree with "getting away with less," this is not really in the best interests of your fish. And that still has to be the bottom line when one keeps any living creature in captivity. Nothing can replace the benefits of water changes, unless the fish stocking is minimal to non-existent. There was a two-part article in TFH a couple of years back in which the author worked out the mathematics of diluting "crud" via water changes and according to his figures there is no doubt that the more frequent and more substantive the water changes, the "cleaner" the water. And even if one were to argue over the mathematics, you will not find any reputable source that doesn't recommend weekly water changes.

On the time, I use a Python connected to the laundry room faucet. I do all the tanks at one go as it is for me easier, and this takes normally around 2.5 hours minimum every Sunday morning, for a 115g, 90g, 70g, 33g, 20g and 10g. If I do plant trimming, it can be longer, or on the weeks I clean the canisters which are done one a week at 2-3 month intervals. Or when introducing new fish out of quarantine, which I always do at the time of water changes because it is less disruptive to the fish, and they come first. The 115g on its own takes about 30 minutes.

Heath has a good point too, on setting aside a block of time weekly; choose a normally-free period and once in the routine, it becomes second nature.

Byron.

 

[Vincenia]

Vinceana, those are some very nice tanks Just a word of warning, I once lost a rainbowfish in my java/fire moss pile, it got tangled overnight and never recovered. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't take over half your tank lol. Other than that the tanks look very nice. How on earth did you get so many betta to live together?

Thanks, just replanted the 37g last week, the plants still got to grow. As for the female bettas, I bought 5 at the same time then added 3 more and they never fought at all. They came from the same tank from where I work so I knew they wouldn't really fight. All 8 dance when they see me walk by or when I feed them. The tetras provide a destraction I think.

 

[Vincenia]

I'm doing water changes tomorrow before anything esle.