Zero Water Change System

[overstockednewb]

Hey guys,

I'm not really in the forum scene but I was trying to find some more info/feed back about this new filtration system I saw over a clients house. It's called the zero water change system. The guy didn't know anything about it, it was his sons... but he said he had the fish tank for 4 months as a birthday gift.. i asked if he changed the water but my client said he wasn't sure but he could imagine considering his son barely changes his shirt lol.

Any ways I asked some of my local stores in the area if they had it but none of them seemed to have any information on it.

The site is Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System

This is the product I'm talking about.
Zero Water Change System, Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System

What do you guys think.

Sincerely,

The cable guy.*thumbsups

 

[Pure]

It looks like the system grows the nitrifiying bacteria that removes nitrate.

From what I understand those particular bacteria are extremely hard to maintain.

Even if it does work. The fish will use up electrolytes and other trace elements in the water that will need to be replace. Also as the water evaporates the dissolved solids stay behind making the water harder and harder with each water top of. If you don't change the water this becomes a very serious problem over time.

Bottom line is no matter what you do you will always need to change the water in your tank.

 

[Orion]

Exactly what Pure said.

Keeping up bacteria colonies are only part of keeping a tank up. And a water change involves a lot more than only removing waste.

 

[overstockednewb]

It looks like the system grows the nitrifiying bacteria that removes nitrate.

From what I understand those particular bacteria are extremely hard to maintain.

Even if it does work. The fish will use up electrolytes and other trace elements in the water that will need to be replace. Also as the water evaporates the dissolved solids stay behind making the water harder and harder with each water top of. If you don't change the water this becomes a very serious problem over time.

Bottom line is no matter what you do you will always need to change the water in your tank.

Bio Magic (Nitrogen cycle booster) - Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System they have this stuff to replenish the water though...

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't hardness in water the resistance to a change in pH? How is changing water different? Interesting though.

I don't think this would be a bad filtration system to have in a tank, it looks like it could probably work better than just a regular power filter... I know you guys on here probably change your water regularly, but what about those guys like me that change aquarium water every three months.

I'm trying to understand this stuff.

Zero Water Change Technology - Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System

 

[Pure]

Trace can also be replaced with a few other products on the market. What that doesn't change is the TDS (total dissolved solids)

TDS helps with the KH or carbonate hardness. This helps buffer the PH keeping it from dropping due to waste build up. But what you need to know is most tap water that hasn't been run through an RO filter has TDS in it. As water evaporates these dissolved solids are left behind. When you top the water off you are adding the dissolved solids in the new water to what was already in he tank. Over time this is going to increase your TDS/KH/PH.

Think of it like this. You have a bowl, in this bowl you put 1 cup of water and in that cup of water there was half a cup of dirt. When the water evaporates out of the bowl you replace it with another cup of water half full of dirt. Over time you will end up with a bowl of dirt.

Water changes remove the old TDS and replace it with the new helping to slow this down. Even then without using RO water once in a wile, over a long time the TDS of a tank will still increase.

 

[Pure]

I know you guys on here probably change your water regularly, but what about those guys like me that change aquarium water every three months.

Weekly water changes =s long lived fish

Tri monthly water changes =s short lived fish

If you don't care how long your fish live then don't do the required water changes.

 

[Surprise_Clown_Loach]

If you do your water topping off with RO water, you wouldn't be adding any TDS, or at least very very little. If additivies can be added to replenish the water..

What other concerns are there?

 

[Pure]

Removal of organic waste. If you let it sit in there, over time as it breaks down it becomes an acid ..effectivly dropping your PH until it crashes.

There are vacuums made to run off of a battery or an airline that removes waste without pulling the water. But seriously if you really wanna go to that much trouble you might as well do a water change. I find the vacuum only good to be used as a tool for waste removal between water changes. It's great for cleaning bare bottomed tanks.

 

[Surprise_Clown_Loach]

Are you refering to decomposition within the tank? (hehe, my tank is a compost pile! :O )

Doesn't organic waste also produce ammonia?

So even if the tank can handle the increased ammonia, you still have to deal with a compost pile that will bring your PH down?

Thanks for your time to explain this stuff to me.

 

[Rayneuki]

Intresting system. It could help though couldn't it? Not to eliminate water changes, but to aid in the nitrogen cycle?

Perhaps even when making a new tank. Set this up from an old tank into it, and let it start the nitrogen cycle. I'm probably wrong though...

Didn't know that I was also removing other stuff when I did my water change! No wonder my AQ water is harder than my Tap

 

[Pure]

Read this article. Old Tank Syndrome

It's on old tank syndrome but that is exactly what this all pertains to.

 

[overstockednewb]

Intresting system. It could help though couldn't it? Not to eliminate water changes, but to aid in the nitrogen cycle?

Perhaps even when making a new tank. Set this up from an old tank into it, and let it start the nitrogen cycle. I'm probably wrong though...

Didn't know that I was also removing other stuff when I did my water change! No wonder my AQ water is harder than my Tap

It says to have the tank running for a week to start the nitrogen cycle before adding fish.

Getting started with the Zero Water Change System - Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System

Pure speaking old tank syndrome, I had a thought, this filter system asks that you add their Bio Magic Bio Magic (Nitrogen cycle booster) - Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System to start the system for the first week and to add this when adding new fish. Do you suppose this would be something good for any newbie to get and add into their tank to prevent fish from dieing when being added to an old tank? When I say old i mean like a month or two..

 

[Rayneuki]

No, that stuff is just to start the Nitrogen cycle. The best way to keep fish from dieing is to aclimate them... Drip acclimation being the best

 

[overstockednewb]

what if you put the no water change thing aside wouldn't the eco magic towers add a hell of a lot filtration?

The filters’ water flow compartment is divided into four asymmetrical columns, each containing large quantities ofaerobic,anoxic, andanaerobic cultivation media. Theaerobic media is a mass of sponge-filled bio balls, the dense centers of which provide an ideal environment for the cultivation ofaerobic,autotrophic, andheterotrophbacteria – as stated, these are the beneficialbacteria responsible for mineralization andnitrification. Theanoxic/anaerobic media is a grouping of porous, cylinder-shaped mineral composites, each featuring a hard center allowing for the propagation of facultativeanaerobic as well as strictlyanaerobicbacteria.

Zero Water Change Technology - Hi-Q USA Zero Water Change Aquarium System

I may just get those... but now I'm even thinking of starting a planted tank, I think trimming the plants could be rather relaxing.

 

[Pure]

Yes they would. It looks like they would be as efficient if not more so than canister filters.

As they have become a sponsor I will keep an open mind, but I really want to see some test results from a tank that has been up n running for over 6 months without a water change. Test results should include TDS, PH, and nitrate.

I just have a real hard time with the whole no water change thing. For the fish this would be like you being locked in a room without a toilet and no cleaning supplies or clean clothes.

 

[TAL]

These things are 100 bux.

Who wants me to try it in my 38?

ETA there is a dealer just a few towns away from me.

 

[Rayneuki]

It's up to you Tal. I'd like to know how it works myself... I doubt it eliminates WC's completely, but dang would it be a great filtration system. I'm thinking of trying out one of these things once I finish my DIY aquarium. Only problem is, wouldn't sand gunk it?

 

[TAL]

I am on the phone with the dealer nowq and they have it running htere
she is getting their chart on the system since iuts been set up

scuse the typing...holding the phone

 

[TAL]

OK I spoke to a couple of dealers....both with the system running for about a month... here what they said.

Dealer 1: Running system for a month and a half. INstalled complete system according to company directions (towers, grates, and filter system) Ammonia and nitrites at zero. Tank is 40 gals with goldfish in it. Nitrates are running about 25. She says, "so far so good but I doubt it eliminates all WC's because nitrates arnt they only reason to do a water change"

Dealer 2: Running for a month with goldfish in his back room. Doubtful the system could come close to eliminating WC's. He is not running the company filter system...just the towers and his own standard HOB filter. Didnt have a regular sheet running on water readings - wants to let it run for a while and then test or see if fish go in stress. He is going to get me a good deal on it if I run it and give him more feedback on how it works for a client.

Dealer two says it reminds him of mostly old technology and UGF but the reverse flow, he says, may make it work - but again - he doesnt believbe in no WC's. He likes the system in general but not how it is being marketed.


Thats all I have for you now. I washed my gravel and am ready to put it in, but I am seriously considering buying the towers and bottom grates - run them with the 350b bio wheel filter I ordered and see if it can reduce my water changes - I would be thrilled with bi monthly changes vs. every week.

Your thoughts?

 

[Rayneuki]

I seriously think it wouldn't reduce waterchanges. You waterchange to reduce the chemicals (Dechlorinator) heavy metals in your water, and other nasties like disolved solids that won't come out from the bacteria. My thing with it is that the system isn't going to replace the way a natural pond works... You have to take into consideration, a box of water like a fish tank would become stagnant in the wild (no extra water added in).

But, it sounds like a great cycling aid and filtering system.

Hey Tal, if you talk to those guys again ask them if sand would gunk it for me, kay? I'd like to know.