water changes

[hooliganATV]

I normally do 30-50% a week on all my tanks, but a couple of time over the last two weeks my mrs has had me visiting houses etc and i had to do smaller changes to save time. all my levels are ok and the fish are fine but one thing i have noticed is my plants are doing better. I have even missed giving ferts to the tank but still my plants are growing like mad.

so question is do you do less water changes in planted tanks? all my tanks are lightly stocked.

 

[tlindsey]

Your plants are doing better because you are leaving more nutrients in the aquarium with smaller wc's imo.

 

[hooliganATV]

so is it worth doing this rather than doing my normal schedule??

 

[tlindsey]

I have plants in a couple of my aquariums, but have always done smaller wc's, and I don't use ferts at all. Btw wouldn't consider any of the aquariums as real planted tanks have anubius,java fern, and java moss in them.

so is it worth doing this rather than doing my normal schedule??

Personally for me I would say yes, but still keep the fish in mind some of us have to do bigger wc's due to having larger bioloads.

 

[tlindsey]

I read your thread again and noticed I missed the part about your tanks being lightly stock my apologies, you should be fine. Check your nitrate levels if you decide to change your schedule.

 

[convict360]

Good thread, this is something im also considering just now; due to having 2 small fish in a tank with lots of anubias, where I used to always do 30% changes.

Might cut it down, follow your example.

 

[hooliganATV]

i may doing some testing and see how it goes, now my plants are in full growth mode, i may rather than change the amount change the time frame, so every 10days rather than every 7

 

[tlindsey]

i may doing some testing and see how it goes, now my plants are in full growth mode, i may rather than change the amount change the time frame, so every 10days rather than every 7

That sounds great keep us posted

 

[BrookKeeper]

I have a pretty heavily planted 37 gallon tank with 3 angel fish, I hardly ever do water changes on that tank (every few months), I only change 5 gallons when I do, and my nitrates stay < 15 mg/l.

 

[tlindsey]

I have a pretty heavily planted 37 gallon tank with 3 angel fish, I hardly ever do water changes on that tank (every few months), I only change 5 gallons when I do, and my nitrates stay < 15 mg/l.

Brookkeeper do you use ferts in that aquarium?