Zero water change kit

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Osmosis: Imagine a tank of water which also has a floating plastic bag containing ink. The ink will try to get out of the bag because water always wants to be the same everywhere. The bigger the differences of concentration between the inside and the outside of the bag, - the bigger your Osmotic Potential will be (also known as Osmotic Pressure or gradient). This is also influenced by temperature and molecule sizes. Even a plastic bag is not totally waterproof... over time ink molecules will escape and the plastic bag barrier is called a membrane. of course different materials will allow faster escape than others. So different materials have different membrane permeability.
This is a basic definition of osmosis.
Without the bag barrier (membrane), the water in the tank will still want to equalise but this is called diffusion. (imagine just pouring the ink into the tank instead).

Living tissue is the same except it can also selectively include or exclude which molecules. Since the barrier (membrane) can select which ions/molecules this is a semi-permeable membrane or selectively permeable membrane.
 
spiff;2097762; said:
From reading the product description, it seems pointless. Pointless because instead of changing the water every couple weeks, you're changing the media instead. And you still need to do water changes, though not as frequently. Sounds like a scam.

There are many situations where changing less water is NOT pointless.
Here are a couple of examples off the top of my head:

  • Marine tanks require expensive salts or real seawater collection.
  • Countries like Australia have droughts and/or severe water restrictions.
  • Countries like Thailand have undrinkable water supply.
  • Some fish keepers choose to manipulate water quality with Reverse Osmosis, collected rain/snow water, calcium reactors, etc
  • Quarantine or medical treatments
  • Environmentally conscious fish keepers
 
Hey I actually thought that "Zero Water Change" system was pretty kool :) Mainly because I am lazy ;) I have a 55 gal tank w/ a baby silver arowana and baby red tail cat + other fishes and I hate doing water changes. I'm sorry to say it but it sounds like an ordinary underground filter :( I think if you use that Bio Magic & Vita Magic w/ a 1 gallon distill water change every week or two would be the equivalent to that zero water change system. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we do water change because our fish used up the minerals and elements within the water so changing the water replenish the used up minerals and elements, that and water change helps clean all that poop ;) But hey what the heck do I know , I'm still a noob at fish keeping :) -honestly you're be ok for about months without a single water change if you don't over feed using that system- good luck buddy :0)
 
trynot2twice;2513950; said:
Hi my name is Angel, Does anyone know what the difference between this and the Complete Cycle Filter by Hi-q?
http://hiq-usa.com/complete_cycle_aquarium_filter_system.asp
Fishynewbie12 I sent you a pm with a question about this.

I did not get a PM from you... I don't know what the difference is. Looks to me like the company has changed the name. Mine is working fine. I changed my water once and that's only because I moved.
 
Could you post your water parameters?
 
ph:7 nitrite:0 nitrate:20, I set the thing up in August, but I
I'm a wee bit angry though... seems they dropped the price to $99.99(I got mine for $129.99)... but then again I think that's probably because of the holidays. I moved so I re-set-up the tank in mid September I'd say. Things have been going fine for me.

They actually have a review section on their site now http://hiq-usa.com/Home_Aquarium_Use.asp Seems a couple of fish forums are testing it out. How come no one here got one?!
 
so your running a zero water change filtration system that still produces nitrate. im confused as to how it is a zero water change system. if it still produces nitrates then they will need removed by water changes or plants using it up. and if the plants are a necessary part of this "magic" system then its not this specific filter system that is doing the work and you could have done it with any filter.
even with a heavily planted tank you could only stock very lightly to ensure a perfect mini eco-system. i think these systems are something around the gallons per guppy/neon rule.
 
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