I'm just waiting for the black helicopter so we can visit
@Rocky998 if he switches to water changes every other week. Of course you can go to every other week! I do sometimes when I'm working, or travelIing.
Stress versus stimulation.
I think water changes are stimulating. If you take a tetra, stress is the arrival of a foot long Crenicichla in their habitat. It probably happens daily, at least. They are tough little creatures who have the capacity to survive things we can't imagine. They live in Jurassic Park.
So we need a measurement technique. For me as a fish breeder, I think fish live to breed and carry on. We may not want fry, but they do. It may take a perfectly set up tank to get them to breed, and that's rarely a community tank. But breeding is their motivator in life.
So what liberates them to breed? Fresh water. The day after a water change, they are more vibrant, more active and much more inclined to lay eggs. I watch as the week goes on, and in a crowded tank, they slow down and lock back into a groove. Change the water again, and they are doing courtship dances.
If I want fry, a water change is the essential tool. You could, I suppose, argue that fear of death leads to breeding, but I see nothing traumatic. You can see fear in a colourful fish. They control their colours. And after a water change, they show off. They swim into the hose current when I'm filling. As long as I stay weekly and don't allow major changes in the water quality, I'd argue they are stimulated by water changes. I like opening the window to allow fresh air in, and a good walk in the country on a day when the temperature changes is good for me. Seal me in a cell and I'll stay alive for years though.
And so, we all disagree. A water change is an enormously stimulating, positive thing in my books.
@jaylach , an aquarist whose voice I respect, thinks it's stressful. Obviously, we're going to proceed according to how we see it, and never convince each other. You can put aside the chemistry numbers and watch the fish, and I see them enjoying a water change.
I'm on record as not having owned test kits for 25 years or so. I watch the behaviour and colour of my fish, and they tell me if I need to increase water changes. I work off growth rates, egg production, egg hatching, etc. To me, everything points to daily water changes being ideal, as in a moving stream in a rainforest. Since I have a life, and metered water, I compromise by doing weekly water changes. I do the opposite to
@jaylach to accomplish the same goal - fish that are acting as naturally as possible in an artificial environment.
I wonder who is right?
