Fish are known to SURVIVE incredible amounts of nitrate (provided they adjust over time) and as far as I know theres really not a whole lot of actual scientific research on the effects over the long term...but there was a thread here a while ago where someone actually put up some links to some real research on nitrates and fish health...it was pretty scary, nitrates over 20 ppm can apparently have major major effects on growth and long-term health.
Lucky Dad?
- Thread starter dchaos52
- Start date
The jury is still out with me on this.
In the "Lessons Learned" section here I wrote about fish I had that died after having them for over ten years. They initially were in a twenty gal tank outside under a shaded patio. All they had was a corner filter. Temps here get below freezing in the winter and top 112 degrees in the summer. I only cleaned the tank when I couldnt see the fish anymore because of all the algae. This went on for about 5 years.
I finally brought them inside and had them for another five years. They were still solid healthy - and huge. Never lost a single one until I tried to go up to an even larger tank. Funny thing was by this time I learned about cycling, nitrates, etc. and that's when I got into trouble. Sometimes i think I was better off doing it "old school".
Months ago found an aquarium shop in LA where the owner has been there 43 years, doesn't do water changes or much else. His tanks are very old and have TONS of substrate. You have to shake off everything you know when you go in there or you'll freak out. I buy my plants there and nowhere else.
With my current tank I monitor it but I dont obsess. I enjoy the fish but I also scan them daily for anything unusual.
In the "Lessons Learned" section here I wrote about fish I had that died after having them for over ten years. They initially were in a twenty gal tank outside under a shaded patio. All they had was a corner filter. Temps here get below freezing in the winter and top 112 degrees in the summer. I only cleaned the tank when I couldnt see the fish anymore because of all the algae. This went on for about 5 years.
I finally brought them inside and had them for another five years. They were still solid healthy - and huge. Never lost a single one until I tried to go up to an even larger tank. Funny thing was by this time I learned about cycling, nitrates, etc. and that's when I got into trouble. Sometimes i think I was better off doing it "old school".
Months ago found an aquarium shop in LA where the owner has been there 43 years, doesn't do water changes or much else. His tanks are very old and have TONS of substrate. You have to shake off everything you know when you go in there or you'll freak out. I buy my plants there and nowhere else.
With my current tank I monitor it but I dont obsess. I enjoy the fish but I also scan them daily for anything unusual.
No one should be complaining about maintanance now adays. We have pythons, easy to maintain filter options, and if you don't like siphoning gravel why not go barebottom? That's what I did with a lot of my tanks.
The bottom line is, if you don't want to do the maintanance either:
Don't, and know that your fish might not be happy and will potentially die or have a shortened lifespan.
DON'T keep fish. or at least think about whether or not you really want fish. Fish are like any other animal, if you don't want to take care of them they suffer.
Set up your tanks for easier maintanance. If maintanance really bothers you don't just think about looks and decor, set up the tank for ease of care. This also means choosing your fish carefully. Don't choose a sensitive hard to care for fish if you hate maintanance. Some of my fish are rare and interesting but they're almost impossible to kill. Interesting doesn't have to mean a lot of work.
Downgrade to less tanks if possible. If you have a lot of compatible fish that can be mixed maintanance is actually easier on a larger tank but with less tanks overall. At least IMO.
Just know that you can generally only go so long without doing water changes and other maintanance. Some fish will appear fine, but generally the longer you go without doing anything it will bite you in the ass. Fish can appear beautiful, healthy and active for a long time and then suddenly they all have ich because of the water quality. Then you're stuck doing tons of water changes to get the nitrates back into wack and treating your fish and stressing them out even more.
The examples that people are using are EXCEPTIONS. You don't use exceptions to dictate your maintanance schedule or fishkeeping style.
Do you deny your other animals vet care and a good diet just because some people had dogs/cats that lived for 20 years roaming around outside with no shots, crappy food and poor care? Probably not, at least it wouldn't be a good idea.
The bottom line is, if you don't want to do the maintanance either:
Don't, and know that your fish might not be happy and will potentially die or have a shortened lifespan.
DON'T keep fish. or at least think about whether or not you really want fish. Fish are like any other animal, if you don't want to take care of them they suffer.
Set up your tanks for easier maintanance. If maintanance really bothers you don't just think about looks and decor, set up the tank for ease of care. This also means choosing your fish carefully. Don't choose a sensitive hard to care for fish if you hate maintanance. Some of my fish are rare and interesting but they're almost impossible to kill. Interesting doesn't have to mean a lot of work.
Downgrade to less tanks if possible. If you have a lot of compatible fish that can be mixed maintanance is actually easier on a larger tank but with less tanks overall. At least IMO.
Just know that you can generally only go so long without doing water changes and other maintanance. Some fish will appear fine, but generally the longer you go without doing anything it will bite you in the ass. Fish can appear beautiful, healthy and active for a long time and then suddenly they all have ich because of the water quality. Then you're stuck doing tons of water changes to get the nitrates back into wack and treating your fish and stressing them out even more.
The examples that people are using are EXCEPTIONS. You don't use exceptions to dictate your maintanance schedule or fishkeeping style.
Do you deny your other animals vet care and a good diet just because some people had dogs/cats that lived for 20 years roaming around outside with no shots, crappy food and poor care? Probably not, at least it wouldn't be a good idea.
i have to say i do 1 wc a week on all my tanks and my bichirs and FH are good healthy looking fish. now my step dad had his 12" aro in a 100g did one wc a year healthy fish again idk much about arows or any other fish for that matter but i think a happy medem would suffice between the old and new skools ya dig.
Oh and to the poster in the thread. I wouldn't brag about your dad doing any water changes. I would keep that under my hat.
ShadowBass;1139497; said:
i realy dont know i haven't seen them in such a long time now and i was young then idk how long he had it or anything i know he no longer has it as the tank is no longer running after there last move. but i do know that even b4 he got ride of the aro he was only doing 1 water change a year. ill can and ask if u would like?
ShadowBass;1139205; said:
This is true. Despite my experiences and some of the others it's best to stick with a real maint. schedule. Especially for new fishkeepers. This way you have at least a benchmark to refer to and feel comfortable with.
