Water Change Question

A

Ayrianth

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Sep 13, 2004
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If all your readings are within the normal range, why would you do a weekly water change? I admit I haven't had a tank in many years but I never changed the water that frequently. I would occasionally vacuum the rocks when they got dirty but I never did more then that and my fish always thrived.

I'm curious as to why because it seems to take the pleasure of a tank and turn it into work.
 
Ahhh but keeping any living 'thing' alive takes work. These creatures are not here for our comfort or pleasure, so we must do what we can for them. You do weekly (or bi-weekly) water changes to keep the toxins down. Nitrates would quickly build up if you slacked off on the water changes. Although disputed as to how much will harm a fish, we like to keep nitrates down below 20-30 if at all possible. Ammonia and Nitrites should be at 0.
 
There are also toxins in the water that aren't measured by your average test kit. In the wild, these are diluted and removed, but in a tank, they are contained.

We could surely live without ever flushing our toilets, but our homes would be unpleasant, to say the least, and would quickly become unsanitary. Now imagine having to live in the bathroom with it, and the analogy is getting closer.

I have seen fish survive in some pretty gross conditions, so it's certainly possible. Regular water changes just help us make their existence a little more pleasant, I think.

-sj
 
aquariumfishguy said:
Ahhh but keeping any living 'thing' alive takes work. These creatures are not here for our comfort or pleasure, so we must do what we can for them.
Click to expand...


While agree that it takes work to keep a living creature, I totally disagree with your statement that these fish are not for our comfort or pleasure.

Man removes animals from the wild for one of three reasons (or a combination of these reasons). They are survival (food, shelter, clothing), servitude (horses, dogs, camel, etc) and pleasure.

I see no way to derive servitude or a survival from Cichlids so that leaves the pleasure option.

If you get nothing from your pet, why keep it? There is no reason to keep them just for the sheer work. Nature will care for them just fine if there is no market for them.


Vitamin, I agree that toxins must be removed and appreicate your answer. I just think that changing 30-50% of your water weekly is a bit extreme. My tanks have always been clean and the water conditions good. If they were to spike, I could see doing the frequent changes though. I used to vacuum my rocks about once a month. I image the size of the tank and the number of fish should figure into the equation, don't you?
 
Of course the stocking level is important, but what it comes down it that SINCE I choose to provide a home for these fish, I am obligated to provide the best home I can. This means frequent water changes, because quite simply, the conditions in a tank will never be that of a natural stream or pond but I can try. And, since the fish are to be pleasing, healthy fish with good color and behavior are much more pleasing than ones that hide all the time or are covered with bacterial infections and parasites. Best water conditions decrease the odds of ailments.

Honestly, I enjoy doing water changes. It's a guaranteed 'down' time for me, when I can wander through the tanks, spend time checking the fish, not rushing around running errands, dealing with dolts in traffic, answering telemarketers, etc. I'd prefer more hours like that.
 
Onion Girl you are the bomb! I love your repsonses and you have helped me with those responses to be a beter fish keeper. Thanks!!!
 
Orion, I agree with keeping the water as close to natural as possible. I wasn't pointing fingers at anyone. I was just questioning why. It seems that just about everyone on this site does weekly water changes and I was curious as to why if your levels are all fine.

You and Vitamin have provided legitimate answers: removing toxins that would otherwise build up and are not measured by standard test kits. Thank you.
 
One reason I do water changes, in addition to the principal reasons already mentioned is that my fish seem to like it. I see all sorts of energetic behavior, increased frequency of spawning in my cichlids, etc. It really seems to be a postive event for them.

I find it very therapeutic, too.

Jim
 
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