Water change experiment

[duanes]

As many of you know, I'm a bit anal about water changes, usually 33% on all tanks every other day.
But I have been running a small tank (40gallon high)with very few water changes for about a year.
The tank gets topped off, and when house plants need a little water it comes from the tank, but other than that nada.

It contains lots of plants and few fish.
6 Xenatoca eiseni, and 2 bristlenose plecos.
The 2 plecos were picked up at an auction with 4 others the same size and age, from the same bag, the 4 other housed are in my normal anal water change tanks.
The plecos in the experimental tank (few water changes) are approx 2-2.5 ".
The plecos in the water normal change tanks are 4"-5".

Other than water changes (or lack there of) and tank size (50 gals-100gals in the water change tanks), feeding is the same.
The tanks that get lots of water changes are however, much more crowded.

 

[pigoo]

But I have been running a small tank (40gallon high)with very few water changes for about a year.

The plecos in the experimental tank (few water changes) are approx 2-2.5 ".
The plecos in the water normal change tanks are 4"-5".

Other than water changes (or lack there of) and tank size (50 gals-100gals in the water change tanks), feeding is the same.
The tanks that get lots of water changes are however, much more crowded.

Interesting experiment. It would be even better if both "test tanks" were the same size & same fish populations (to eliminate any complicating factors).

But if tank size & tank fish population weren't major factors...that growth rate (2-2.5" versus 4-5") would be/is amazing!

p.s. Not sure if the environmentalist folks would be very happy to hear about 33% water changes every other day (that's a lot of water)!

 

[duanes]

Here in Milwaukee, all our tap water comes from Lake Michigan, and returns via the sewage treatment plant, or thru the slope of the watershed, so it is all recycled.
I also use old fish water to flush toilets and water the garden, so I feel no guilt.
But yes, a lot of water, and my water bill reflects it.
Also, to be realistic, I feel I could only do a the lack of water change experiment on a tank with a very low bioload. I believe it would be too stressful on an even moderately stocked tank, and disease would become a much too damaging factor, so far there has been no disease problem in the ow water change tank.
I never add new fish, the only population change occurs when the Xenatoca occasionally drop a few fry.

 

[amazontank]

I been doing 1 33% water change a week on all my tanks. I would like to see everybody ideas on the best way to go.