How can this be!??

[philliptobin]

From the way it sounds, the fish are perfectly healthy, which doesn't suprise me. In my younger dumber years before the internet, I didn't know that persons was to do water changes. I had tanks that were set up with goldfish for about 4 years and I never did any water changes. I do know that if you keep the filtration up and filters clean, you can keep a tank going for years with only topping of the water and have perfectly healthy fish.

 

[Sunpoe]

Yeah with that little in the way of food, the waste product definitely would up the amount of time between w/cs. I'm just curious, do you know what the nitrate levels are at, or could you find out?

I am really curious about the nitrate level too, I think I will lend him my test kit or ask him to give me a sample of his water and test it myself.

On a side note he thought it was rediculous that I change 90% to 100% of my water a week.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Hes got to have done some water changes of some sort I'm sure. Cleaning or changing the filter at least probably. Most filters will clog up and stop working at optimal levels, which would probably make the tank start smelling~~~ so pretty sure hes done at least A LITTLE maintence on it than he is lettin on.

 

[dr_sudz]

I know that if you have the tank stocked very lightly and the filtration is ramped up its going to reduce the amount of nitrates compared to the regular tank set up. Also that helps is the light feedings. 5 P's in a 125 doesn't seem like much. And with regular filter changes that will remove some of the nitrates in the tank as well.

Think of how often you would need to change the water if you had 1 or 2 guppies in a 100?

 

[Sunpoe]

I know that if you have the tank stocked very lightly and the filtration is ramped up its going to reduce the amount of nitrates compared to the regular tank set up. Also that helps is the light feedings. 5 P's in a 125 doesn't seem like much. And with regular filter changes that will remove some of the nitrates in the tank as well.

Think of how often you would need to change the water if you had 1 or 2 guppies in a 100?

I don't know the smallest P in there is 8", I think that would make the bio load significant. Eventhough the feedings are once a month we are talking 2 years hear, nitrates have to be high.

Lets assume that the filters are in perfect condition throughout the two year period does it really make a diference? It will only remove the ammonia and the nitrite. Maybe there is a lot of algae present and that is what is removing the nitrate?

Anyway I will try to get some water samples so we can see what's up.

 

[DiXoN]

you say he has done no water changes and only tops up.
how much is he topping up per week,month etc thats the ? that needs answering