Don’t worry, different points of view are beneficial! I liked your explanation too!
Do i need to do water changes if i have good filter
- Thread starter Ender024
- Start date
I've only just got up so i'm late to the party. Everything that needs to be said has been said, good advice too. All I can add is that whoever give you that first bit of advice in the first place about not doing water changes doesn't have the first clue about our hobby. And if they're actually in the hobby, well I feel very sorry for their fish.
Some very good explanations have been given, kudos to all of yall.
Please don't think we are trying to attack you, we are trying to help your fish get the best life it can have short of being in the wild. It may seem like a lot at first but you can take it 1 step at a time if you're willing to listen to us
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Please don't think we are trying to attack you, we are trying to help your fish get the best life it can have short of being in the wild. It may seem like a lot at first but you can take it 1 step at a time if you're willing to listen to us
.
I agree excellent job explaining the need for wc's and the Nitrifying Cycle.
Hello; Let me add one or two additional reasons for WC. First is that as the tank water evaporates the concentration of dissolved minerals and other such remains in the tank water. If all you do is to add new water over then over time these dissolved materials will become more and more concentrated.
Another thing is that we spend most of our time on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, We may also talk pH and hardness. These are things we have test kits for. My take is there are other things (stress hormones, sex hormones are two possible examples) building up in the tank water we cannot as yet measure. So even if somehow a filtration system can be had that takes care of all nitrates, then this other stuff will build up.
A last advantage of WC for me is the chance to siphon out the detritus (mulm) that will build up. Food bits, fish waste, dead plant parts and such all eventually break down into some state that does not further break down any more. While the mechanical part of a filter system catches some of this stuff, there is plenty still left in the substrate. I use a siphon with a large tube which feeds into a small hose to dig into the substrate and always have such stuff come out. So a WC helps keep a tank clean in that sense.
Another thing is that we spend most of our time on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, We may also talk pH and hardness. These are things we have test kits for. My take is there are other things (stress hormones, sex hormones are two possible examples) building up in the tank water we cannot as yet measure. So even if somehow a filtration system can be had that takes care of all nitrates, then this other stuff will build up.
A last advantage of WC for me is the chance to siphon out the detritus (mulm) that will build up. Food bits, fish waste, dead plant parts and such all eventually break down into some state that does not further break down any more. While the mechanical part of a filter system catches some of this stuff, there is plenty still left in the substrate. I use a siphon with a large tube which feeds into a small hose to dig into the substrate and always have such stuff come out. So a WC helps keep a tank clean in that sense.
One day in a far off galaxy there will be a filter that copes with the nitrogen cycle, compensates for mineral build up due to evaporation, neutralises fish hormones and keeps the water 100% fresh, without doing any water changes. For the time being the next best thing we have are drip systems, yes I realise they're still water changes but without the physicality.
