Water Is Perfect -- Water Changes Necessary?

[ShinySideUp]

In my small tank (120 litre Juwel Lido) I have 18 black phantom tetra's. It is well-planted and the plants are flourishing.

Before my last water change (yesterday) I checked the stats and pH = 6 (good for the tetra's), ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, and nitrates are 10ppm.

I changed about 20% of the water as I do weekly but -- do I need to? Since the water quality is perfect can I (should I) move to fortnightly water changes?

 

[coldcazzie]

There are other biological processes that occur in our tanks, not just the nitrogen cycle, things that we can't test for or identify. Other biological products build up to levels that are potentially unhealthy for our fish.

With that in mind, you might be able to change to fortnightly water changes, but I personally would be reluctant to move them any further apart than that, and you should watch your fish closely to determine how they feel about having the same water for two weeks rather than one. After all, it's their home - they are the ones you should be asking. I realise you can't actually ask them, but you can get an idea of how they are by watching them, a lot, for any odd behaviour.

Basically, if you choose to do fortnightly instead of weekly, proceed with care.

 

[soybean]

The plants will benefit from water changes too, not just the fish.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Ok, fine thanks. I suppose I would prefer to do weekly changes just for peace of mind anyway but it's better to get other opinions. I'll be sticking to my weeklies, afterall it's working well so far.

Cheers

Martin

 

[MBOU]

Without water changes, your phosphates and silicates will start to build up... then you do a small water change and then they build up even higher... you'll end up with a devil of an algae problem thats a pain to get rid of!

 

[jimmy_veal]

Thanks MBOU, now i realise why i have algae spots on the inside of my tank which are hard to scrape off. I have a 180litre and do water changes every 3-4 weeks of 10-15%. I will start to do them more often from now on.
Hopefully this will bring the algae spotting under control!?

 

[Aqua Tom]

Thanks MBOU, now i realise why i have algae spots on the inside of my tank which are hard to scrape off. I have a 180litre and do water changes every 3-4 weeks of 10-15%. I will start to do them more often from now on.
Hopefully this will bring the algae spotting under control!?

Wow, thats not a lot of WC's at all'
I have a 180 litre and do a 50-60% water change every single weekend.


Tom