And we'd have nothing to complain about!
Unpopular Opinions (fish related)
- Thread starter CassCats
- Start date
Like plecos?
(My little BNP is less than 5” long and he still puts out a LOT of waste)
Yep.Like plecos?
(My little BNP is less than 5” long and he still puts out a LOT of waste)
(Bioload is such a discreet term, isn't it?
)
ok my unpopular opinion = African and South American cichlids are just boring and besides the coloured have no other interesting personalities or features
don't get me wrong I can appreciate a nice cichlid tank but I would never have one just bores me after a while
so sorry to any cichlid keepers just not my thing
don't get me wrong I can appreciate a nice cichlid tank but I would never have one just bores me after a while
so sorry to any cichlid keepers just not my thing
I am surprised that nobody picked up on an opinion expressed ages ago about water changes being made too frequently.
I agree that in an established, well maintained tank, water changes of about 10% a week are enough.
In a well planted tank plants will absorb nitrate and a mature filter will also likely contain anaerobic conditions that afford some nitrate reduction. My planted tank always had a nitrate level of 10ppm whereas my tap water was 30ppm, so water changes weren't diluting nitrate levels, they were increasing them. Clearly the plants and the filter could handle the total load.
For reasons I can't recall I increased water changes to 25% a week, and after a few weeks I had an algae problem. Nitrate was now at 30ppm, same as the tap water, so I realised that at 25% I was now adding more nitrate than the tank could handle so the levels had risen. I reduced changes back down to 10% and gradually levels have fallen back to 10-15ppm.
I know it's not just nitrate that we seek to reduce, and adding fresh water also replaces depleted minerals, however, 10% + what goes in via ferts and fish food coupled with an effecient filter seems to be sufficient.
Every tank will be different but 'large' water changes may not be necessary and can actually be detrimental in my view.
I agree that in an established, well maintained tank, water changes of about 10% a week are enough.
In a well planted tank plants will absorb nitrate and a mature filter will also likely contain anaerobic conditions that afford some nitrate reduction. My planted tank always had a nitrate level of 10ppm whereas my tap water was 30ppm, so water changes weren't diluting nitrate levels, they were increasing them. Clearly the plants and the filter could handle the total load.
For reasons I can't recall I increased water changes to 25% a week, and after a few weeks I had an algae problem. Nitrate was now at 30ppm, same as the tap water, so I realised that at 25% I was now adding more nitrate than the tank could handle so the levels had risen. I reduced changes back down to 10% and gradually levels have fallen back to 10-15ppm.
I know it's not just nitrate that we seek to reduce, and adding fresh water also replaces depleted minerals, however, 10% + what goes in via ferts and fish food coupled with an effecient filter seems to be sufficient.
Every tank will be different but 'large' water changes may not be necessary and can actually be detrimental in my view.
ClownLurch
Fish Gatherer
It’d be good for English football if one of the so called big six were relegated. IE Arsenal atm........oh sorry I thought this was the popular opinions thread. Apologies.
ClownLurch
Fish Gatherer
They WERE the victims in my ill advised 90s tank. Mind they used to buzz around the male Paradise Fish showing him no respect in his hood. Two of em won’t do that again and the others will be advising their kids as to their future conduct. I didn’t realise he could move that fast.
Even the Clown Loaches used to keep a distance from him. He ignored the Zebras and seemed best mates with the WCMMs.
WCMMs are a delight - one of my favourites, along with glowlights.
WhistlingBadger
Professional Cat Herder
Retired Moderator ⚒️
Tank of the Month 🏆
Fish of the Month 🌟
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2011
- Messages
- 7,065
- Reaction score
- 13,236
- Location
- Where the deer and the antelope play
Interesting. I've thought about doing a tank with a breeding pair of paradise fish and white clouds. Cool that yours get along so well. Perhaps because they live together in nature? (I don't know why that would make any difference but it's a nice thought)
Thank you, at long last someone who is talking my language. I have only ever done 25% water changes and it has worked for me. I think it is not a good idea to be doing large water changes unless you have a controlled water source ( like a breeding or quarantine facility ).
Yay! Finally! I’m not the only one here with this opinion!
2 more Unpopular opinion;
100% daily water changes is okay for betta (as I did it everyday)
Syphoning sand and gravel are oddly satisfying
100% daily water changes is okay for betta (as I did it everyday)
Syphoning sand and gravel are oddly satisfying
Irishman05
New Member
The **** are the conditions you're keeping them in, they're normally so chill. I'd say something is stressing them out for the to be eviscerating each other
Irishman05
New Member
he is fabulous
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
372 -
243 -
199 -
195 -
176 -
174 -
171 -
159 -
145 -
101 -
101 -
100 -
97 -
89 -
74