I have some poly questions.

[Cohazard]

Define filled with plants?

Besides you do realize you are making your tanks system Start to Cycle half its water every week....

The water doesn't cycle bro, it's the bacteria that colonize every surface water touches in your system.

50% WC's will not harm anything, as long as the water temp is not drastically different, but even in the coldest places, that can be worked around by having a container to heat the water before adding back into the tank.

I do 50% WC's on my setups and I had an endli go from 3-4" to 12" in under a year.



As far as the plants recommendation.... remember plants have needs too, and if your lighting is not bright enough, or you don't have the right balance of nutrients for the plants (plant food... Potassium, Nitrate, Phosphate, Carbon, and micros) fish poop alone is not enough for good plant growth.

So if you aren't properly caring for the needs of the plants, they will melt and rot in your tank, fouling up the water.

 

[flamenco-t]

Define filled with plants?

Besides you do realize you are making your tanks system Start to Cycle half its water every week....

Since when does water CONTAIN bio bacteria ?

Water contain trace elements that BIO BACTERIA feed on. The more bio load, the more bio bacteria, the more bio bacteria, the more trace elements it needs to survive. Water changes replenish this.

If your theory is right, then I must be in trouble becasue my drip system in my tank changes 80% of water per week.

You obviously have A LOT to learn...

stan

 

[Guppy's_Hell]

Since when does water CONTAIN bio bacteria ?

Water contain trace elements that BIO BACTERIA feed on. The more bio load, the more bio bacteria, the more bio bacteria, the more trace elements it needs to survive. Water changes replenish this.

If your theory is right, then I must be in trouble becasue my drip system in my tank changes 80% of water per week.

You obviously have A LOT to learn...

stan

First off...

You couldn't be more right! I do have A LOT to learn. That's why I'm here exchanging information with other members.

And I'm sorry If my post seemed mightier than though to anyone's practices of fish keeping, it was not the intention...

Now... In the spirit of sharing information... Like Cohazard did...

Wouldn't you also have a significant change in PH from water that was in a tank for a week to water straight out of the tap? Minerals and hardness vary from the tap don't they?

I rely a lot on the plants I have in my tanks then I guess.

I just now tested my water for this post...
Nitrate is between 40 and 80 mg/L
Nitrite is >0 <.5
Hardness is around 75GH
Chlorine 0GH
Alkalinity is < 40KH
PH is Slight if at all above 6

Yes I keep the water soft and acidic FOR the plants, the fish don't mind it since it is CONSTANT (caps to stress the point not be rude). It usualy has a ph of around 6.5 (haven't changed the water this month)

This is the way I've been keeping fish for the last 5-6 years.

I'm not knocking the super water changes just pointing out there is ANOTHER way to do things that requires less work.

Now is there anything wrong with the water I have?






And knock your self out I have my flame suit on just in case...

 

[COLDasICE]

I'd get a liquid test kit, strips are unreliable. My nitrates never get over 20. I do weekly 50% wcs my tank is unplanted.

 

[flamenco-t]

I'd definitely get a titration type test kit versus a strip. UNLESS (again, noting importance, not being rude) you have compared your results with other type of test kit.


Nothing is wrong with your water whatsoever, you obviously don't have as much as bio-load as the tank in question.

OR (again, showing importance)

You have a lot of bio load and a lot of plants to consume the result of nitrogen process. More plants - less CO2 in the system (as plants consumes CO2) - PH stays higher than a non planted tank. More CO2 - Lower PH.

One way to tell is to take out ALL your plants and if your PH don't drop siginficantly in 1-2 weeks, then I would be VERY VERY VERY (again, not to be rude) surprise..

Have you ever test your tap water out of the faucet ?


I am here to learn as well, but IMO...we need to be sure of what we shares with others. Don't based your facts on "I think, or I red somewhere"

Good luck and I have a fire extinguisher already.

stan

 

[Jakob]

I can put water straight from the sink here cause iceland has so clear water, dont have to put any cemicals in W/C.

 

[flamenco-t]

Filter is not a substitute for water changes. Do your water changes religiously. With your plan stocking, I would do twice a week at 50% at a time.

You'll have happier fish !!!...WC also helps to keep nitrate down. Nitrate is harmless but they do slow down growth.

stan

 

[COLDasICE]

Nitrate is harmless to a certain level. Water changes do more than reduce Nitrate they also replenish electrolytes which is good for proper gill funtion and reduce the chance of osmoctic shock when introducing new fish by lowering TDS levels.

 

[Guppy's_Hell]

I'd definitely get a titration type test kit versus a strip. UNLESS (again, noting importance, not being rude) you have compared your results with other type of test kit.


Nothing is wrong with your water whatsoever, you obviously don't have as much as bio-load as the tank in question.

OR (again, showing importance)

You have a lot of bio load and a lot of plants to consume the result of nitrogen process. More plants - less CO2 in the system (as plants consumes CO2) - PH stays higher than a non planted tank. More CO2 - Lower PH.

One way to tell is to take out ALL your plants and if your PH don't drop siginficantly in 1-2 weeks, then I would be VERY VERY VERY (again, not to be rude) surprise..

Have you ever test your tap water out of the faucet ?


I am here to learn as well, but IMO...we need to be sure of what we shares with others. Don't based your facts on "I think, or I red somewhere"

Good luck and I have a fire extinguisher already.

stan

I think I'd be scarred to take out my plants lol
Here is my tap...

Nitrate 0 mg
Nitrite 0 mg
Hardness 150 GH
Chlorine >1 <2 mg
Alkalinity >80 <120
pH is about 7.5

Most of the parameters are very different...

Like I said...

I'm no biologist but 50% changes might be a little bit of over kill....


Add some live plants and snails and you should be OK with A LOT less...

My bio load is not as great as his would be I imagine with those big fish, but it is a smaller tank @56g with 5 fish.

All of my knowledge does come from reading here and there on Google and boards like this one... With of course the lovely trial and error associated.

IMO...

If he has some inexpensive plants some snails...
(snails require physical population control)

Eventually he might get nematodes and spec size crustaceans as my tank does, they would also help with waste consumption. And he could get pretty close to smaller water changes, less than 50% less frequently than once a week...

(yes I have worms in the tank, not parasites and the tank is not "infested" you have to search for the things to see them in the tank)

I'm not saying by any means I have a self sustaining system. But it does make the water keeping pretty hassle free most of the time. Which he might like....



Would you like live plants in your tank anyways, Jakob?

 

[tezr]

I think I'd be scarred to take out my plants lol
Here is my tap...

Nitrate 0 mg
Nitrite 0 mg
Hardness 150 GH
Chlorine >1 <2 mg
Alkalinity >80 <120
pH is about 7.5

Most of the parameters are very different...

Like I said...






My bio load is not as great as his would be I imagine with those big fish, but it is a smaller tank @56g with 5 fish.


IMO...

If he has some inexpensive plants some snails...
(snails require physical population control)

Eventually he might get nematodes and spec size crustaceans as my tank does, they would also help with waste consumption. And he could get pretty close to smaller water changes, less than 50% less frequently than once a week...


I'm not saying by any means I have a self sustaining system. But it does make the water keeping pretty hassle free most of the time. Which he might like....



Would you like live plants in your tank anyways, Jakob?

Snails actually add to the bio-load of the tank not take away from it. They consume left over food and detritus but produce their own waste. The plants are the biggest key to natural nitrate and detritus removal. It is also beneficial to keep on top of and dead or dying plant leaves or parts.