Confusing Results

[moochy13]

so ive been pretty ill since xmas day, and havnt been doing any tank maintenance. i had also missed a water change before i was ill. i done it yesterday, but it was probably nearly 2 weeks since the last one, just after i finished an ich treatment.

so before i changed the water yesterday and trimmed dead leaves etc, i tested the water, and lo and behold, it came out exactly as it is after i change the water. in fact every time i test the water, i always get the same results. i was changing 25L every other day (130L tank), then twice a week, now once in the last 2 weeks, and theres been no difference in water quality between the different water change frequency's. im using a new api kit 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 20-40 nitrate (i may have got my 'trite' and 'trate' mixed there). in fact even my tap water is basically the same results.

so am i missing something, or could i never change my water again. putting fresh water in doesnt reduce any levels because its already the same as the tank, and even after 2 weeks i only had 40ppm of nitrate (or trite), which i know is the limit, but also not the end of the world, and also the same level as i get after every other day changes, and from the tap water.

 

[KittyKat]

You aren't missing anything and those reading are as I would have expected it.

Water quality is not based *only* on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate: there are many, many more factors which contribute to it. While those three are almost always the same in a planted and well stocked tank (regardless if you do water changes every day or once per year), it is the other factors which are affected by water changes.. for example, trace minerals which fish and plants require for good health. There are also things in the water which need removal, for example phosphates.

Yes, it is ok to miss maintenance once in a while (unless you are very overstocked, don't keep any plants, etc), but no maintenance will only lead to trouble in the long term.

 

[anon02]

I`m with Kat, there are substances present in water which we dont test for that are undesirable in higher concentrations, water changes along with gravel and media cleaning help keep these substances in check