Importance of filtration to stocking

[esoxlucius]

There are so many ways to do it, it's funny to me when someone insists there's only one way, whether water changes or whatever else. The hobby certainly did exist before water changes. Some of the earliest glass box aquariums were essentially self-contained miniature ponds, with plants and algae balanced with a fish or two and water replacement, not water changes The concept was to mimic nature and be as self-contained as possible. In the early 1850s a chemist named Warrington made some of the earliest versions of a glass freshwater tank with this concept, ran them successfully for a few years, published and lectured, before moving on to soil chemistry. Some people still do something similar, size the tank right, plants, moss, get water volume to surface area right, a few smaller fish, water replacement or practically negligible water changes, not much else. I've seen tanks left for years without water changes or even feeding-- they evolved their own balance and ecosystem, tiny overgrown ponds, essentially. Not pretty but they worked.

Most of what we do now is for the sake of keeping more, larger, or messier fish per volume of water than the early days. Even if you go back in the hobby, (I had a 100 gal tank as a kid in the 60s), what you remember isn't always all there was at the time. Some say there were only bubble filters or under-gravel back then, but at least one company already made hang-on power filters by the mid 60s. Same as now, I'm not arguing against water changes, I do big water changes, but what you're familiar with isn't all there is.

We're talking about two very different scenarios here though. A little ecosystem with barely any bio load can find its own balance and just the odd top up of water to compensate for evaporation will probably all it needs, you're spot on.

However, a heavily stocked, heavily fed tank that probably a good % of us run on here is a different ball game altogether. For those guys water changes are absolute key to success imo.

 

[neutrino]

...It occurs to me I meant to say "what we're familiar with isn't all there is." Meant it as a general statement, not pointed at anyone in particular. I've done fish for decades and I'm still learning.

 

[jjohnwm]

There are so many ways to do it, it's funny to me when someone insists there's only one way, whether water changes or whatever else. The hobby certainly did exist before water changes. Some of the earliest glass box aquariums were essentially self-contained miniature ponds, with plants and algae balanced with a fish or two and water replacement, not water changes The concept was to mimic nature and be as self-contained as possible. In the early 1850s a chemist named Warrington made some of the earliest versions of a glass freshwater tank with this concept, ran them successfully for a few years, published and lectured, before moving on to soil chemistry. Some people still do something similar, size the tank right, plants, moss, get water volume to surface area right, a few smaller fish, water replacement or practically negligible water changes, not much else. I've seen tanks left for years without water changes or even feeding-- they evolved their own balance and ecosystem, tiny overgrown ponds, essentially. Not pretty but they worked.

Most of what we do now is for the sake of keeping more, larger, or messier fish per volume of water than the early days. Even if you go back in the hobby, (I had a 100 gal tank as a kid in the 60s), what you remember isn't always all there was at the time. Some say there were only bubble filters or under-gravel back then, but at least one company already made hang-on power filters by the mid 60s. Same as now, I'm not arguing against water changes, I do big water changes, but what you're familiar with isn't all there is.

I don't disagree with any of that. But in 2020, bringing up the example of a balanced aquarium set up by one man three-quarters of a century ago...out of how many other unsuccessful attempts?...does what exactly? A new hobbyist setting up his first tank doesn't really benefit from a recitation of the rare exceptions to the norm, even if they are successful. Of course it can be done...but even assuming that a typical 20th century aquarist would be satisfied with the stocking levels that this method demands, would you really suggest he try it? Would you suggest to a new car buyer that he look for a model with a hand-cranked starter...or maybe a horse?

Those "retro" ideas can work, and may be appealing to a seasoned hobbyist who may well be successful with them...but telling a newbie about them as anything other than a curiosity is, I think, a disservice to him/her. Read the OP's desired stocking list; consider his experience level; and then try convincing yourself that a balanced no-tech aquarium has any relevance.

As a kid, I had an old Supreme HOB power filter, with that exposed-winding motor humming and sparking merrily away a couple inches above the water surface, with the return splashing into the tank nearby. I also used for years a Supreme air pump...which had a piston, with an exposed belt drive spinning the gears around like a crazy little locomotive. I'm still alive...somehow...and the tanks ran nicely...somehow...so it can be done. But...so what?

 

[neutrino]

I would think anyone who read through my posts in this thread would understand that, as I've often done, I've encouraged sufficient filtration, sufficient water changes, and optimizing filters to get the best out of them for the conventional tanks most people run, including links to instructional videos for making power filters more effective. Stating that one filter-and-water-change formula doesn't fit all, or that beyond that there are even more esoteric ways to do things doesn't negate what I encouraged for conventional tanks and filters.

As for retro, while it might seem arcane to most members here, people still do very low maintenance tanks, sometimes low tech and sometimes high tech. Again, my point was simply as stated: there's more than one way to do things. I don't know or want to assume the level of experience of this thread's author, but a person doesn't need decades of fish experience to understand that.

 

[Dalfrey86]

The genesis of this post started from a failed filter that I am keep up with just water changes, no plants. Mind you it is only one 5 inch Africian Cichlid in a 29g tank but still it can be done. Come on payday for a replacement.