Are the chemicals really needed?

[i_am_511]

If you let the water set for 24 hours the Chorine gets out on its own is what i have heard. And what do you do with the goldfish?

Im glad to hear that you have made it thru without messing with those test kits. Ive done the same thing closest thing to testers ive had is PH strips that came with a craigslist tank. And i havent had any major mass deaths.

 

[sostoudt]

no its not necessary, but neither are hospitals or doctors for humans. but there good to have when you need them.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I have kept aquariums since I was 15-now 35 and I have never used any treatments, water test, nitrate/ammonia kits, never tested the levels or anything. I have raised piranhas from hatch lings to 7 inches,Peacock Bass from 3inches to 12 inches, I have had Sturgeons in my outside pond, bread tilipia, Red Devils, Texas cichlids and dozens of other fish. I have caught and kept Nurse Sharks, Octopus, Seahorses and many other fish and NEVER used any of the kits,chemicals and test that a lot of people swear by. Are these things really needed? All I ever used were good filters and minimal water changes and they THRIVE, not just live.

not surprising. if you change the water regularly and feed your fish well, your going to do great.

the test kits really only come in handy for people that don't do the maintainence, and need to find out why their fish are sick/dying (from water quality related problems)..

most of us only test when we have a problem, which for most of us, is hardly ever because we change water regularly and feed well.

 

[telepw]

since I have RO unit, I don't use any chemicals anymore