Water Changes

[BigbruiserAl]

Just occured to me since my tank was set up 19 may (cycled) I have not need to do a water change(i did out of habbit) 350L and showing 0,0 5-10 Nitrates The tank is got a fair few plants in so assume they are helping. Now even assuming the API test is wrong 10 tests every 2 days brings me to the same results. So is there any problem doing water changes when need or set them every 3 weeks if stats permit? Am i losing out on anything by not chaning the water every 7-10days?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Tbh Al i am in the same boat... Larger volumes dont require such frequent water changes (dependant on stocking) so i think ull be fine, 350L is a large volume and it will somewhat dilute the toxins...

I havent done one since i setup, 2 weeks ago, i am gonna do 25% every 2 weeks from now on

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Hmm im sure WP or SBS will be in soon to give some advise

 

[StandbySetting]

If things are all fine and dandy water changes can be done every couple of months, my low tech tanks got water changes every 3-6 months as the plants were utlising any nutrients produced by the fish. Doing them every 3 weeks would be fine in my opinion, you could probably go longer, I haven't tested my tank for ages, my plants are a pretty good indicator of how things are doing and the toxicity of nitrate is not what it is generally stated, levels of up to 400PPM have been shown to be safe with the majority of species, but obviously lower is better, I've never trusted a nitrate test kit and never will, most of them are vastly inaccurate and not worth bothering with.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Great so as long as the nitrate is under 80ppm (My limit in my head) no need to do a change weeeee monthy water changes ftw

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Just remember though, there are other things in the water that build-up or are used up and the only way to remove/replenish them are water changes. We don't know EVERYTHING about what these different species need (neither plants nor fish). So, I think the habit of doing regular water changes more frequently than the testing we do would suggest is necessary is certainly never a bad thing. And who knows what you may notice about the tank or fish while you are spending your time fussing over it. I'd say completing water changes more often than necessary is a far better option than not doing them often enough.

 

[StandbySetting]

It is unlikely that levels will reach those concentrations anyway, as the tank matures nitrogen fixing bacteria will colonise around the roots of plants and in any substrate pockets, these will change nitrate into nitrogen, the three remaining oxygen atoms they use for respiration, so these bacteria will also reduce concentrations of nitrate as well as plants, the only problem I can see from not doing water changes is trace mineral depletion, but this would take more than 6-12 months to happen in most instances.