maintenance question

[steve535]

what is the longest you ever went between water changes? the longest time for me was about 3 1/2 weeks.

 

[moricollins]

over a month, cuz i was SUPER busy, but then i changed about 50% of the water, ,i felt guilty about it though.

 

[geKo]

about a month i think!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Month and a week prob.

 

[Gomer]

lets see...I think one time I went 10 days without a water change!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Davy]

LOL I think mine was about 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[rocketshrimp]

Now that i actually know stuff probaly 2 weeks.
Befor that when i knew nothing probaly a year

 

[AmazonTankz]

About 5-6weeks, I was away and all my mom new how to do besides feed the fish was to "top off" the tank from evaporated water. Boy were my tanks dirty when I got home.....

 

[AndyL]

I haven't changed the water in my discus tank since Sunday... Course I'm nursing a broken foot - otherwise they'd be daily.

Andy

 

[Gomer]

Andy, what polutant buildup is it in a discus tank that requires so many water changes?

 

[uncutbulldog]

10 days, Normally do it every 7 days because my fat ass pl*co has poop all over the tank by 7 days.

 

[AndyL]

Gomer: nitrates and phosphates and there is a belief that Discus do 'biological warfare' (the big guys excrete something that reduces the growth of others)

They're big fish that eat and poop a lot nitrates climb pretty quick given the chance.

Andy

 

[Gomer]

Before hijacking again....

My sister in law only changes her tank water every month or so and the fish are still alive....I can't get her to change it more often

Andy, suppose a highly planted tank that would soak up nitrates and phosphates...would that still need daily water changes?

 

[AndyL]

Gomer - It helps - but you'd need some seriously fast growing plants. Plus I'm not willing to trust the Discus with CO2 (at least not yet). Without CO2 chances are the tank would turn into one big green forest of algae

It is possible, to get away with less water changes, but not with young growing discus.

Andy

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Thats why i want 3"-4" discus to start with......gotta look at the money situation too.

I do water changes once every 3-4 weeks cause my Convict cichlids can live in horrible conditions......like rats.....live in horrible conditions and breed A LOT.

 

[wayne]

If you can't be bothered to do water changes then discus are just a nonstarter.
Andy - I think the story that discus actively secrete something to inhibit growth is a fairy story, however fish do react to dissolved organics in the water, and that's more than just nitrate and so on. I think the discus metabolism is designed for very good quality water

 

[steve535]

if i did water changes every day i would unplug my filters and add an air bubbler for circulation.that would save me about 8$ a month.