lazy... or is there really a need, to do it weekly... water change schedule...

[Rusty_Shackleford]

If we get abducted by aliens and frozen in time, to be revived 50 years from now, I'll wager that if there's still a fish hobby, and people still discuss somewhere like that, part of the discussion will be about the need or not for water changes.

Some of us have already been probed.

 

[f_luxus]

f-luxus, What nitrate level do you allow in your tank before you intervene?

5mg/l

 

[gwand]

That is amazing. I need your recipe. All my tanks have substrate plants and aquaponic plants that line the rim of my tanks. In between weekly water changes my nitrate concentration is about 20-30 ppm. My tanks are lightly stocked.

 

[f_luxus]

the only debate should be about the frequency of water changes and that is different for every aquarium.

Exactly. I do it, whenever i notice some negative signs, like cyano bacteria spots, the wrong kind of detritus etc.

pathogens

Don't you think, that a bigger problem is to many fish in the wrong water parameters.
Stress lowers the immune system.

The most pathogens have exponential growing rates. Low pH and UVC technology (if needed) is far more effective imho.

As well, my beloved rainforest from the tap water does cause problems if it's neglected. It seems to cause problems after 2 or 3 weeks, with fish deaths.

Sounds like a instable tank for me.

 

[f_luxus]

nitrate concentration is about 20-30 ppm

Thats usually no problem.
What's your KH?

 

[gwand]

Thats usually no problem.
What's your KH?

KH ~125 ppm

 

[f_luxus]

KH ~125 ppm

Do you use CO2?

 

[gwand]

Do you use CO2?

No

 

[f_luxus]

No

If you have capacity for a experiment, you could use a paffrath bowl and bio CO2.
I glued a Chihiros Holder with silicone on a pet bowl and drilled a 6mm hole for 4/6mm hose

 

[f_luxus]

Thats a German Ram breeding Tank in the making. At the moment i let it like this for 4-6 weeks befor i fill up the tank. In this time i do not make any water changes. The low level helps the plants to root in the soil.
The most aquarium plants are more swamp plants then real aquatic plants.