Can to many water changes be bad?

[kdrun76]

too much water changes can remove the trace elements in the water that is already mature.

Huh? Please elaborate on this with details. I can't wait to hear what trace elements "mature in the tank". I would really like a reference too. I have access to a good academic library, so if its a book or something that isn't digital, I can get it.

The only things in the water that are "maturing with time" are DOC's and nitrates, both of which need to be removed as they are toxic when they build up.

Freshwater fish need freshwater. Change away.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

I'm with kdrun76. Fresh water is nothing but good for fish. Discus used to be the so-called delicate fish years ago and owners would change their water up to 100% a day to keep them healthy. If it's good enough for Discus it's good enough for all my other fish. There's no nitrate build up in the wild. Why is it 'ok' for it to build up in home tanks?

 

[tcarswell]

I'm with kdrun76. Fresh water is nothing but good for fish. Discus used to be the so-called delicate fish years ago and owners would change their water up to 100% a day to keep them healthy. If it's good enough for Discus it's good enough for all my other fish. There's no nitrate build up in the wild. Why is it 'ok' for it to build up in home tanks?

To sum it up. Besides what turtles rock had to say

frequent Water changes are a great thing for your fish when done properly. Ive done 50-75% twice a week without problems.

 

[big dovii]

I do 40-60% every 2-3 days, and my bass love me for it.

 

[big dovii]

I'm with kdrun76. Fresh water is nothing but good for fish. Discus used to be the so-called delicate fish years ago and owners would change their water up to 100% a day to keep them healthy. If it's good enough for Discus it's good enough for all my other fish. There's no nitrate build up in the wild. Why is it 'ok' for it to build up in home tanks?

There is an article in TFH about a guy growing 12 Oscars and a Pictus up to full size, and all being healthy with 100% wc's everyday in a 75 gallon.

 

[mgk]

There is an article in TFH about a guy growing 12 Oscars and a Pictus up to full size, and all being healthy with 100% wc's everyday in a 75 gallon.

haha eventually hes gonna need more then once a day to keep that load

 

[TwistedPenguin]

There is an article in TFH about a guy growing 12 Oscars and a Pictus up to full size, and all being healthy with 100% wc's everyday in a 75 gallon.

I read that! He's the magazine's editor or something like that (named David?). I try to tell people that all the time-that stunting comes from nitrate build up and not crowding & tank size (within reason). There's always someone that tries to tell me that can't be true. But that guy *did do it to prove it. I know my Oscars have thrived, grown like crazy & stayed super active with multiple huge water changes.

 

[tcarswell]

There is an article in TFH about a guy growing 12 Oscars and a Pictus up to full size, and all being healthy with 100% wc's everyday in a 75 gallon.

wow.... Got a link to the article that sounds interesting

 

[wizardslovak]

15% every saturday in 55 gall with lots of cichlids and i am more then fine

 

[Err]

There's no nitrate build up in the wild.

That is soooooo not true, even in the amazon when the basin floods and the forest fills with water that water is Nitrate soup (amongst other things tannins ect) any body of water with a large ammount of decaying organic matter will have nitrates and the amazon is a floating compost bin. I'm not sure how much the plants (terestrial and aquatic alike) absorb but even in the local natural springs (protected wildlife area) the Nitrate readings there are quite high after a good rain. And there are 5 foot cat fish and monster Texas cichlids looking good as ever in there.

http://www.stroudcenter.org/about/aufdenkampe/pdf/Mayorga2002-IAHS-AmazonRivSystem.pdf