Water Changes - the mathematical bit!

Lol....Roan, I really didn't mean to be "ripping" anyone. I reread the posts here and you're right about there not really being any 'bad mouthing' on this particular thread....(though I have seen it elsewhere, and I think that's why I spoke up)

I think I misread this comment here when I made that last post...

"I realize you are being pressured into not spending as much time on maintenance as you would like, but trying to find ways to cut back on water changes isn't a good long-term choice for your fishes' health."

My appologies for the misunderstanding Roan.....BTW, it wasn't directed at you specifically...I dont even read the names of the posters when I'm in a hurry..which I was....

To keep "ON TOPIC"....lol.......I'm in the habit of the smaller more frequent water changes, with occasional maybe once a month large water change. Works for me, but again, thanks CS for sharing your info ! :)
 
RTR said:
A 10% daily change for 5 days serially is not equal to a 50% change on day 5. Over time the differences become highly significant.
csdax said:
That was what I set out to find out - whether 10 x 1g changes is the same as a 1 x 10 g change - I have my answer: both will give me the same overall rate of water change and will bring my nitrates to the same stable level!
Ok, now I'm confused. These two statements seem to disagree (don't they?). Who is right?
 
It was my SO that was complaining on my weekly water changes. I replace 10 gallons once a week right now in my 55 gallon and the fish and my water seem to be doing just great. Hubby thinks I should do it every other week. What he doesn't know won't hurt him... :cool:
 
Emg said:
Lol....Roan, I really didn't mean to be "ripping" anyone. I reread the posts here and you're right about there not really being any 'bad mouthing' on this particular thread....(though I have seen it elsewhere, and I think that's why I spoke up)
Heh, it's the same thing I did when I made the SO post :o


My appologies for the misunderstanding Roan.....BTW, it wasn't directed at you specifically...I dont even read the names of the posters when I'm in a hurry..which I was....
Me three, but more in a "bad mood" than in a hurry ;)

Roan
 
LisaB said:
It was my SO that was complaining on my weekly water changes. I replace 10 gallons once a week right now in my 55 gallon and the fish and my water seem to be doing just great. Hubby thinks I should do it every other week. What he doesn't know won't hurt him... :cool:
Thanks, Lisa. I was trying to find the other post unsucessfully. At least now I know I wasn't hallucinating when I originally read it :D

FWIW you and Caroline write in a similar fashion and I think that's what threw me. Sometimes you get to know who is who by the way they write, but I screwed up this time ;)

Roan
 
Roan Art said:
Read RTR's article I linked to a few posts above.
I have read it...good article. It makes sense to me.

csdax seems convinced that RTR is wrong (unless I'm misunderstanding):
csdax said:
That was what I set out to find out - whether 10 x 1g changes is the same as a 1 x 10 g change - I have my answer: both will give me the same overall rate of water change and will bring my nitrates to the same stable level!
I just want to clarify so people aren't confused reading this thread.
 
TDWagner said:
I have read it...good article. It makes sense to me.

csdax seems convinced that RTR is wrong (unless I'm misunderstanding):

I just want to clarify so people aren't confused reading this thread.
Well, I don't think she's had time to read his article as yet. I'm interested in hearing what she thinks of it.

Roan
 
One of the things that I have read recently about water change percentages is that the larger the percentage of change, the more stress the change causes your tanks inhabitants.
Another way to think of changes is maybe:

10% very little stress
20% little stress
30% a little more stress
40% definate stress
50% disruptive stress
on up percentages... can eventually cause death.
It doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that increased stress kills.

My tank friends are very important to me and as far as I'm concerned,
the less stress I put on something I enjoy, the better it is for me and my fishy friends. If your too lazy or don't give a hoot, do yourself and your fish a favor and take them back to the store you got them from, sell your equipment and find something else that doesn't stress you out.
 
wtpdosa said:
One of the things that I have read recently about water change percentages is that the larger the percentage of change, the more stress the change causes your tanks inhabitants.
That's only true if your tap water is significantly different from your tank water. If the parameters are close, then a water change is merely replacing polluted water with clean, fresh water...not significantly altering their environment, just cleaning it up.
 
AquariaCentral.com