water changes

[keaser06]

thanks a bunch that right there is exactly the type of answer i was looking for. my tank is planted if that makes any difference.. and my bio filtration is way more than what i actually need as i have a wet/dry built for a 75gal with about a 500gph turnover rate and an emperor 400 that according to the company has a 400gph turnover rate. so in theory i have 900gph turnover rate with quite a bit of bio.. i am going to continue with my weekly water changes.. thanks for the help guys

 

[TwistedPenguin]

You can have 47 filters with a 3000 per hr turnover and it's not going to lower your nitrates. And nitrates are the main reason for water changes. Filtration is only for ammonia & nitrites. Nothing to do with nitrates (unless you don't clean it often enough but that's another thread).

 

[jcardona1]

^ yup. and given that its a planted tank, youll want to keep some nitrates in there as its a major nutrient for plants (nitrogen). ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates are all forms of nitrogen. if a tank is very heavily planted, you may not even need bio filtration since the plants will consume all of this. and this is another reason you dont really need to "cycle" a planted tank

 

[keaser06]

thanks guys this thread is going right where i wanted it to.. im learning from every post.. keep em coming.. so my plants eat the nitrates, my bio eats the amonia and nitrites and water changes are good.. i am definately continuing water changes... i did about a 50% last week when i moved and this week im doing about a 15%.. actually tomorrow..

 

[Toby_H]

You may want to check your local water for phosphates...

I don't know much about plants but I know phosphates is used by plants and algae and I've heard it said that phosphates are more valuable to them than nitrates... though I suggest doubling checking that statement...

 

[jcardona1]

You may want to check your local water for phosphates...

I don't know much about plants but I know phosphates is used by plants and algae and I've heard it said that phosphates are more valuable to them than nitrates... though I suggest doubling checking that statement...

i wouldnt say its more valuable, as its a very important macro nutrient. the macro nutrients consist of light, carbon, phosphorus, potash, and nitrogen. all are equally essential to good plant growth. the one that is most scarce in a planted tank is potash (potassium).

 

[Full Metal Gundam]

When evaporation occurs, it causes the contaminants present in the water to concentrate. When you top off the tank, you merely redilute the contaminants, not remove them. So, topping off a tank is in no way synonymous with a water change. Most of us will perform wcs to keep the concentration of nitrates and phosphates in check. In this sense, nitrates and phosphates act as a barometer of general water quality. However, the nitrates and phosphates are by no means the only contaminants which are accumulating. An aquarium is a CLOSED biological system and as such, will accumulate every conceivable organic and inorganic biproduct associated with biological activity. For example, the bacteria within the biofilter are in a constant state of turnover. When they die, they disintegrate and discharge their internal contents into the water. Some of this material is recycled by other bacteria...but some is not. All living creatures will discharge a variety of organic acids into the environment. If you combine this with the CO2 being discharged by both the fish and the aerobic bacteria (CO2+H2O=carbonic acid), this closed system will often acidify very quickly. This means that routine wcs are also required to reestablish a working KH within the tank. The accumulation of soluble organic contaminants within an aquarium is not well documented because it is complex and variable. However, I can assure you that it is occurring and will have an injurious effect upon the health of your fish.

exactly!!