Water Changes....Why?

[Bderick67]

O.k. guys before you get your flame throwers going, Let me tell ya I fully believe in W/Cs I myself change between 65 and 100 gallons weekly. But I have one tank in question; my 72 gallon planted bowfront which is currently overcrowded. The water params are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. No W/C on this tank since Thanksgiving weekend. I have only added 1 to 1 1/2 gallons of R/O water per week for evaporation.

So ya change water to reduce nitrates, but what do ya do if ya have zero nitrates? What other trace elements or ????? would I be missing by not doing W/C on this tank.

 

[shekes]

Man, you want nitrates? Put a Crenicichla in your bowfront! You'll have'm.

 

[soggysandwich]

since you have plants in your tank, you should have low nitrates cause the plants use nitrates to surive, this is why nitrates are used in fertilizers

 

[Bderick67]

Man, you want nitrates? Put a Crenicichla in your bowfront! You'll have'm.

WOW...... such an intelligent post.

 

[Bderick67]

since you have plants in your tank, you should have low nitrates cause the plants use nitrates to surive, this is why nitrates are used in fertilizers

I agree, but I am just wondering if there is something that will be missing by not changing the water.

 

[benzjamin13]

Live plants will definitely help out with the water parameters.

 

[benzjamin13]

I agree, but I am just wondering if there is something that will be missing by not changing the water.

I think that the plants can only absorb so much nitrate, so water changes can help in the long run.

 

[WyldFya]

I think that the plants can only absorb so much nitrate, so water changes can help in the long run.

Plants use nitrates like fish use food.

 

[WyldFya]

O.k. guys before you get your flame throwers going, Let me tell ya I fully believe in W/Cs I myself change between 65 and 100 gallons weekly. But I have one tank in question; my 72 gallon planted bowfront which is currently overcrowded. The water params are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. No W/C on this tank since Thanksgiving weekend. I have only added 1 to 1 1/2 gallons of R/O water per week for evaporation.

So ya change water to reduce nitrates, but what do ya do if ya have zero nitrates? What other trace elements or ????? would I be missing by not doing W/C on this tank.

The only major reason to do water changes in a planted tank is to add more trace elements. If you are dosing nitrate, phosphate, potassium, micro and macro nutrients then you won't have many problems. My 135 hasn't had a wc in over 2 months.

 

[Dr Joe]

O.k. guys before you get your flame throwers going, Let me tell ya I fully believe in W/Cs I myself change between 65 and 100 gallons weekly. But I have one tank in question; my 72 gallon planted bowfront which is currently overcrowded. The water params are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. No W/C on this tank since Thanksgiving weekend. I have only added 1 to 1 1/2 gallons of R/O water per week for evaporation.

So ya change water to reduce nitrates, but what do ya do if ya have zero nitrates? What other trace elements or ????? would I be missing by not doing W/C on this tank.

For Practice of course... (like we need it)

The only major reason to do water changes in a planted tank is to add more trace elements. If you are dosing nitrate, phosphate, potassium, micro and macro nutrients then you won't have many problems. My 135 hasn't had a wc in over 2 months.

Wyldfya said it all.

Question... Have you verified your test kit? (lfs / friend's kit). I seem to question mine when everything is gooding too good...

Dr Joe

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