Started 3rd Tank

[doresy]

ok, so I take it all back.....not a good start trying to be funny. Serious from now on

 

[pica_nuttalli]

ok, i have to ask. what's your stock list?

as you well know, most of your maintenance approach is "wrong" but most common community fish are pretty sturdy. there are plenty of fish that can survive almost anything you throw at them; mollies and common plecos are great examples of this. paradise fish used to be shipped from SE Asia to Victorian England in milk cans! however, i'd also like to point out that with a few exceptions, most fish should live to at least 5 years if not longer.

in addition to enabling us to keep more delicate fish, the recommended maintenance schedules/techniques also generally help tanks to look better. for example, the first things one should try when combating bad algae growth is decreasing the amount of food and increasing the amount of water changing.

of course, i'd also say that 50% of the people on here simply enjoy a more complicated approach requiring lots of effort its probably related to the feeling that other people have about their elderly car; it's just kind of fun to be forever tweaking that one last little thing.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

Can't say you're doing anything wrong. You aren't losing fish. Like you I don't have a heavy hand in my tanks (but I do have gear that lets me slide a little ). I recon what some people do today compared a decade or two ago would be considered "Scientific Grade" instead of "Art Of". Then people used to do back in the '60's and '70's would seem like (to most heavy handed keepers) "Alchemy". Keeping the highest regards of old tank water more precious than gold (imagine kneeling and bowing to it ). Times change and some things are true today as it was 50 years ago (and it still applies and works ). Then some things fall under mysticism like placing copper pennies in with new tanks. Like the old saying goes "if it ain't broke don't fix it" (or something like that ).

 

[LisaLQ]

It all depends on what fish you keep and in what size tank. I have to do weekly water changes, sometimes more often if they're particularly messy - because I have several plecs and a few juvenile cichlids. Even my FX5 can only do so much *lol*

Whereas my hubby's planted tank, which is well stocked, but heavily planted - only needs a water change once a fortnight, and even then only because he feels guilty knowing he's "supposed" to do it once a week! Nitrates are always very low.

So really, in some cases, yes - the sit back and do sod all approach will work, but in many others it wont - it depends on your tank, your filtration, your fish and your...erm...no that's it.

 

[doresy]

ok, i have to ask. what's your stock list?

as you well know, most of your maintenance approach is "wrong" but most common community fish are pretty sturdy. there are plenty of fish that can survive almost anything you throw at them; mollies and common plecos are great examples of this. paradise fish used to be shipped from SE Asia to Victorian England in milk cans! however, i'd also like to point out that with a few exceptions, most fish should live to at least 5 years if not longer.

in addition to enabling us to keep more delicate fish, the recommended maintenance schedules/techniques also generally help tanks to look better. for example, the first things one should try when combating bad algae growth is decreasing the amount of food and increasing the amount of water changing.

of course, i'd also say that 50% of the people on here simply enjoy a more complicated approach requiring lots of effort its probably related to the feeling that other people have about their elderly car; it's just kind of fun to be forever tweaking that one last little thing.

Hi, yey just a bit of fun. I inherated my first load of fish so age is unknown. Ok so my fish "stock" is only your basic platy, neons, foxes, corydoras, harliquines so no ground breakers. Missed the car thing as I like new Audi's with no tweaking required. May try taking more interest in the mechanics of T F keeping if my methods start to fail

 

[SG-1]

I personally dont thin a once a month 50% water change is good at all. Too much water to displace at once, could send your fish into shock, also once a month is not enough! I do 25-30% water changes once a week.

 

[doresy]

I personally dont thin a once a month 50% water change is good at all. Too much water to displace at once, could send your fish into shock, also once a month is not enough! I do 25-30% water changes once a week.

I agree. 50% water change is not a good idea, that is why I do a 30% as stated in my post My AquaOne 850 has a massive trickle filter that i have customised to my own spec at low cost, also I never over-feed