Is Your Tank "hard Work"?

[Ludwig Venter]

The most common reply I get when talking fish to non aquarists is "No ways!!!... to much hard work".

Now maybe I'm missing something, but even when I had all 40 of my tanks up and running.... I had a set routine, but it was never really to much work or "hard" work???

What's your take on this?.... do you work hard at maintaining your tank(s)??

 

[star4]

I have a routine with my tanks, I do water changes every day (except Friday), all the filters are cleaned regularly, glass is cleaned, gravel cleaned. With having a strict routine its easy to maintain them and does not take long, I spend about 2 hours a week maintaining my 400l tank, nothing compared to the hours watching it. For me the maintenance is the best bit, interacting with the fish.

Its funny, I have been selling some fry recently and am amazed by some peoples comments of "how do you keep so many tanks so clean?" lol

 

[james_fish]

Not at all hard work.

As you'll know a mature tank needs very little maintenence. My 60 Litre now is fully mature, and all it needs is a 25% water change everyweek and give the filter sponge a nice clean in tank water. Maybe a algae clean every 4 weeks. Gravel Clean every 4 weeks for me.
Not exactly what I'd call very hard work. But hey, if thats work? I enjoy my work!

Obvously a different story with cycling tank, especially fish-in. As extra water changes and maybe algae cleans are required.
But even then, it's not exactly solid is it?

Oh well, I suppose it might seem hard work for the non-aquarist.

James

 

[SchottayB]

It's not hard work, it's just wether or not that person can be botherd to maintaine the tank(s) to wether they call it "hard work" or not imo.

 

[walkers101]

hard work? lol sorry but ive done much harder things in my time

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

It's not hard work; for how long it takes to do proper maintenance (provided you keep it up) isn't difficult.

My boyfriend before he got fish said that fish were a "low maintenence" pet.

 

[chrisbassist]

A fish in cycle is hard work. But regular maintenance isn't.

 

[bubble87]

no its not hardwork at all.

i enjoy everything about the hobby

 

[james_fish]

Catching a Filament barb is what i'd call hard work.

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

My 190litre tank rarely needs any maintenance at all.

A weekly go-around with the magnetic algea scraper, water changes are a doddle with the right equipment and methods.
I have an 80 litre plastic tub, I siphon water out into that up to a level. I can then use that water to clean any filter media I decide to do.
Once that is done, i lift it to the sink, and empty it out. I can then re-fill with tapwater and water from the kettle to get the temperature matched, as well as then treat the water accurately.
I then lift the tub on top of the tank, and siphon it all back into the tank! The longest part is just waiting for the siphon to do it's stuff..


My 8 litre tank at work needs a bit more work on it. Due to evaporation (it is open topped) it needs Bi-weekly water changes of around a litre. The plants in that need chopping weekly, and the glass needs weekly scraping. I have to add small amounts of a CO2 additive, and a drop of plant food.
However, such small water changes are done with airline tubing, and a 2 litre water bottle. New water comes from the drinking water filter machine

 

[Shred]

I do water changes every day (except Friday)

Every day?! Why?

 

[ian]

a 10% water change every 2-3 weeks, let the plants do the work, glass wipe every week.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I do water changes every day (except Friday)

Every day?! Why?

I'd imagine Star4 has more than one tank, so does someone day, and some another day

 

[minxfishy]

I do water changes every day (except Friday)

Every day?! Why?

Because she has ALOT of tanks, many with fry in and a little schedule pinned to her kitchen cupboard Ive seen all her tanks and they are kept very clean.

 

[star4]

Sorry for confusing post I should have said I have 10 tanks, and today is my day off (except for the fry tanks).

I would be lost without my list on my kitchen cupboard.