Maintenance... worth it or not

[crashinc25]

I'm sure the flames are heading my way and I'll be called stupid and told I have no idea what I'm talking about, but somewhere in this fish-keeping hobby, I've come to the conclusion that too much fiddling with water parameters, water changes, chemical adding, bacteria growing, over-filtering, and all the rest of this time we spend is a bit....... useless?
Don't get me wrong, I understand the reasoning behind it, but I also hear all these stories of fish dying and algae blooms, etc.

Honestly, I don't change my water as much as I would be told or advised to do. I don't check the water parameters nearly as much as what is said to be acceptable. I don't suck every last bit of crap (poop) out of the tank and all seems to go as planned. No, I don't think I'm just lucky and I don't think it's all going to hit the fan one day.

Maybe all this messing with everything is the cause of a good amount of disasters members here run into.

Opinions?

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

The only stories I heard where they went wrong is when they are in the hand of another person, or they are just starting out in the hobby.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I have been keeping fish for 30 years. I rarely test my FW/BW tanks. This is because I never have any problems with my fish. The #1 thing I have learned in this hobby is to do water changes. It is the 1st & most important thing I can tell someone starting out in this hobby & the 1st thing I suggest, whenever something looks awry in a tank. 1st thing I ask on a list of questions for diagnosis is water change schedule--how much, how often?

Only thing I add to my tanks is Prime.

 

[Fish on Fire]

I have never tested my water parameters, and have rarely lost a fish. I also used to never acclimate my fish or wait for my water to age (I do acclimate them now, but still don't age the water, it goes straight from the sink to the tank.) I never used to cycle my tanks before adding fish, though I do that now just for precautionary reasons cause I buy fish that cost more than $1 now, lol. But then again, I still don't cycle the set ups for more than a day before adding fish. Surprisingly, I have rarely lost any fish. Though I would never suggest this to other people.

However, if I were dealing with an expensive specimen, I would take every precaution possible not to lose it, lol. Happy fish keeping.

 

[captainawesome]

I don't follow the cleaning schedules as well as i should either, but I do try to keep my water changes a regular thing. rarely do I test the water params, and quite often don't use water conditioner. I lose a fish once every few months, considering I keep at any given time approx 40 fish, I don't think I do to bad. just lost my favorite firemouth the other day though may he rest in peace.

 

[Mystix212]

If I could do more water changes, I would. But my city is in the worst drought in recorded history. Thus my parents dont allow me to perform them. And they think its isnt nessesary. I go off my rocket, but they dont think different.

 

[Wolf3101]

A lot of maintance is done just because we're used to it rather than it bieng necessary. My water change schedules for the last 35 years or so would probubly scare some of you but then I have water testing records going back that far. You test in order to know whats going on....get advanced warning about problems...and to know when a water change is REALLY needed and when it's nothing more than a cheap work out.

Effeciant filtration is never a waste of time and rarely ever excessive. I belive the term for the type of fishkeeping your describing is...complancy. If it works...more power to you. But if I still did everything the same way I did 35 years ago all of my tanks would have air driven UGF's on them.

There IS NO... end all and be all of fishkeeping...it's an ongoing process that teaches us something new every day...or at least it should. We cut corners and decide we have it all under control at our own risk.

You can cross against the light every day of your life for 40 years but it only takes ONE city bus to ruin your day...

 

[Mystix212]

A lot of maintance is done just because we're used to it rather than it bieng necessary. My water change schedules for the last 35 years or so would probubly scare some of you but then I have water testing records going back that far. You test in order to know whats going on....get advanced warning about problems...and to know when a water change is REALLY needed and when it's nothing more than a cheap work out.

Effeciant filtration is never a waste of time and rarely ever excessive. I belive the term for the type of fishkeeping your describing is...complancy. If it works...more power to you. But if I still did everything the same way I did 35 years ago all of my tanks would have air driven UGF's on them.

There IS NO... end all and be all of fishkeeping...it's an ongoing process that teaches us something new every day...or at least it should. We cut corners and decide we have it all under control at our own risk.

You can cross against the light every day of your life for 40 years but it only takes ONE city bus to ruin your day...

Times are changing, and everythings getting bigger, better and easier.

 

[CHOMPERS]

When you find yourself avoiding "yet another of the never ending water changes", it is time to consider a drip system doing it for you. Trust me, it makes the hobby much more managable and enjoyable. (With all the extra time on my hands, I was able to add a bunch more tanks )

 

[PacKRaT]

python, python, python. I've never tested my water in 10 years of the hobby, BUT, I live in the mountains, Greenville, SCs tap water is some of the best in the nation. Stays nuetral, not a lot of chlorine, makes it easier on me. I've never had to buffer ph, I just use crushed coral substrate for my hard water fish. I change my water when I have time, strictly before it looks dirty, usually every week or two. Keep my filter medium fresh, too. Never had any major problems.