I have some poly questions.

[Cohazard]

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.

He speaks the truth.... well, he types it anyways.

 

[Guppy's_Hell]

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.

Snails don't only scavenge for food on the tank substrate, they also "pick" predigested bits from other inhabitants waste products. Further assisting with the breakdown.

Snails also prefer to eat dead/or dying plant material. Its easier to eat. (assuming you dont have readily available fish food just sitting there for them)

They consume algae pretty darn well which is a competitor for nutrients with the plants in question. Less competition for the plants... More food for the Plants... Plants grow and stay alive... Plants help water quality...

Also if your brave enough... Trumpet snail population can do a very good job of moving your substrate around.

Yes they add to the bio waste, but they help break it down to something more manageable by filtering and micros and of course the plants.

 

[Guppy's_Hell]

Am I the only one on this thread that doesn't do these giant water changes all the time?


Or relies on plants to help a little with the water?

 

[machine]

Am I the only one on this thread that doesn't do these giant water changes all the time?


Or relies on plants to help a little with the water?

no i dont either

 

[Cohazard]

Right now I have a bunch of anacharis, windelov, java fern lace, and some aponos, but I still do 50% WC's.

I've read about fish hormones stunting growth too, which is why I don't rely on my plants to keep up water quality, to me I keep live plants mainly for aesthetics.

 

[tezr]

Snails don't only scavenge for food on the tank substrate, they also "pick" predigested bits from other inhabitants waste products. Further assisting with the breakdown.

Snails also prefer to eat dead/or dying plant material. Its easier to eat. (assuming you dont have readily available fish food just sitting there for them)

They consume algae pretty darn well which is a competitor for nutrients with the plants in question. Less competition for the plants... More food for the Plants... Plants grow and stay alive... Plants help water quality...

Also if your brave enough... Trumpet snail population can do a very good job of moving your substrate around.

Yes they add to the bio waste, but they help break it down to something more manageable by filtering and micros and of course the plants.

But what goes in must come out except for what is used as energy so while they might change it's form it still ends up in the water column as Ammonia which will become Nitrate in an established tank. Plants, water changes, ion exchange, and anaerobic bacteria are the only ways to remove Nitrates from a fresh water aquarium...

 

[Guppy's_Hell]

...I've read about fish hormones stunting growth too, which is why I don't rely on my plants to keep up water quality...

Stunting plant growth or too much fish water stunts fish growth? I would like to avoid both...

But what goes in must come out except for what is used as energy so while they might change it's form it still ends up in the water column as Ammonia which will become Nitrate in an established tank. Plants, water changes, ion exchange, and anaerobic bacteria are the only ways to remove Nitrates from a fresh water aquarium...

Yes it "comes out" but you must agree broken down more or no?

Making it easier for plants, ion exchange, and bacteria to do their part as you say?

The plants are a much larger contributor here im sure we all agree, if anything the snails might just be helping with the plants in some small way?

I mean its not like they eat the "sh*t" just soften it up some lol

And remember its not like you would be "feeding" the snails, they only eat if they find food, if not they die and you remove them. Their population grows according to food supply. You are not adding "more" waste than what would eventually already be there.

They are consuming decaying plant mater left over food and other little nasties in every nook and cranny you might have missed with the gravel vac anyways...

 

[Cohazard]

Stunting plant growth or too much fish water stunts fish growth? I would like to avoid both...

The article was only about fish. I doubt that the hormones would affect plants, but I just don't know.

 

[tezr]

Stunting plant growth or too much fish water stunts fish growth? I would like to avoid both...



Yes it "comes out" but you must agree broken down more or no?

Making it easier for plants, ion exchange, and bacteria to do their part as you say?

The plants are a much larger contributor here im sure we all agree, if anything the snails might just be helping with the plants in some small way?

I mean its not like they eat the "sh*t" just soften it up some lol

And remember its not like you would be "feeding" the snails, they only eat if they find food, if not they die and you remove them. Their population grows according to food supply. You are not adding "more" waste than what would eventually already be there.

They are consuming decaying plant mater left over food and other little nasties in every nook and cranny you might have missed with the gravel vac anyways...

Fish growth..


The end result of biological waste in the freshwater aquarium? Nitrates.......

Unless you have a special set up or a really deep fine sand bed you do not have that much anaerobic bacteria in a tank. If you do gravel vacuuming you will have little to none as it will be brought to the surface and exposed to O2 where it will die. The only way you can remove Nitrates through Ion exchange is with regular maintenance of some sort of absorbing material. If the material is not removed after it becomes saturated it will begin to leach out the very things you want it to remove. So that only leaves 2 ways of removing the Nitrates.... plants and water changes.....

The drop in ph from your tap water to what you are reading in your tank is at least partially caused by the the bio-wastes in the water.

Developing a routine maintenance system of frequent partial water changes will increasing the stability of your water by replenishing the buffers and trace minerals as well as the removal of Nitrates, growth inhibiting hormones, and dissolved solids. Plants will only remove Nitrates.....

Your tank will probably run fine for a long time to come but if it does reach a point to where the constant exposure to all the accumulations in the tank water does have a negative effect it will probably be catastrophic. This is what people usually refer to when they talk about a tank crash....

I am not saying I am in any way perfect or routine about my tank water changes but when a fish that I have swims forward for it's meal and I notice a degradation in it's overall health I know I am letting my little finned friend down with my laziness or lack of neglect......

 

[flamenco-t]

Am I the only one on this thread that doesn't do these giant water changes all the time?


Or relies on plants to help a little with the water?

I think you're just lazy....don't feel bad, I am lazy as well

This is why I have a 24 hours a day drip system on ALL my tanks.

stan