Water Change Question

T

tikitiki

AC Members
Sep 11, 2006
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TN
I've been seeing more and more a lot of people on other "chats" I guess you'd call them, claiming that you don't want to do a large water charge because you'll lose all the beneficial bacteria in the tank.

Now, I was always under the impression the bacteria wasn't in the water, or at least minimally, enough to not make a difference, but was on the substrate, decorations, filter media, etc. I am right, right? I thought the problem with larger water changes was basically getting the right temperature and the ph difference.

Tell me I am the -oh wise one- :idea: The way I figure, if it was in the water, we'd all make a killing selling tank water on ebay lol.....

Thanks!
 
I believe you're right. We only do a 1/3 wc once a month on our 30g....and the parameters stay just perfect. Now....if I can only get my new 5g @ work cycled....I'll be just peachy!
 
I think you already know the answer here :)
You're right, your bio-filter or benificial bacterial colonies reside in your substrate, filter media, and decor, not so much in the water column.
When doing larger wcs you're talking about the differences in the water itself, like you mentioned, ph, temp, etc...
So that is why saving water from an established tank really doesn't help much for cycling new set-ups but rather running filters, using substrate etc, from established tanks is what definitely speeds up your cycling process...
HTH :)
 
Having run as many as 16 tanks and done weekly water changes of 35-50% on them for years, I can tell you they work just fine. For the most part keeping fish healthy longer term comes down to a couple of things- clean water and good food are keys.
 
Hey Boofish- yeah I figured I was right lol. It's just that I keep seeing more and more people saying that, and of course they always claim to be the "I've worked in a fish store for 40 years" lol.... which I know usually means nada. Just making sure I wasn't missing something!
Thanks again!!
 
There is a system of keeping a tank called El Natural. It seems to invlove heavily planting the tank and never doing water changes, just adding top off water. It can work for some people but there seem to be strict rules about it.

Generally i think water changes are the easiest thing to do to make your fish healthy. And bacteria does not heavily populate the water column.
 
No, you've got it right. The "beneficial bacteria in the water" myth is probably the biggest misconception in the hobby. I've talked to hobbiests that I would consider very experienced and very knowledgble in most other things who insist that the bacteria is in the water column. If it was in the water then you would see a mini-cycle every time you did a water change.
 
You can do an 80% water change (or catch the fish and do 100%) water change, and you don't even get a minicycle.

The 'cured water' myth is from way back. It was the theory of many when I started in aquariums. We know better now :)
 
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