Water Changes

[zuulan]

I know I'm should do weekly water changes but now that I've install 2 filters with over twice the flow rates & filter media than before, why can't the water changes regularity be extended?

 

[Westwood]

As it is still the same volume of water. By adding an extra filter, you are only extending the bio load and flow your tank is capable of. Your tank will still be producing the same amount of nitrates in the same amount of water, that still need removing, something a second filter will not do.

Hope that helps
Westwood

 

[phishyphil]

As it is still the same volume of water. By adding an extra filter, you are only extending the bio load and flow your tank is capable of. Your tank will still be producing the same amount of nitrates in the same amount of water, that still need removing, something a second filter will not do.

Hope that helps
Westwood

+1 for this, the waste you will be picking up will also increase so the chances of cloggin up your filter is still present.

 

[fluttermoth]

There's also the fact that plants and, to a lesser extent fish, deplete the water of trace minerals which need replenishing.

 

[mike455555]

i hardly ever do water changes ... my waters normally good though... i dont know why the filters working the plants are growing.. but yet i have 0 ammonia and nitrites so i dont see a point in changing the water if theres no pollutants in it?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

i hardly ever do water changes ... my waters normally good though... i dont know why the filters working the plants are growing.. but yet i have 0 ammonia and nitrites so i dont see a point in changing the water if theres no pollutants in it?

1. Nirates will build up (whats your ppm?)
2. Fish give out hormones which stay in the water and can stop them growing
3. Fresh water will have minerals in it that will help the eco system that has been depleted over time

These are but a few

 

[mike455555]

fair enough ... im not saying i never change it but like once every 2 months or so ...

 

[BigbruiserAl]

8 weeks owch your Nirates will be high, perfectly should be weekly, good practice fortnighly, lazy monthly but every 2 months i dont have one for get yer finger out

 

[mike455555]

i had my water tested today at my LFS nirates was 0.25ppm ... highest its been in ages (iv got alot of plant mass in the tank) so they suck up some of them

 

[Tizer]

you should update your signature pic then, coz thats not a lot of plants, oh and perhaps make it smaller?

 

[mike455555]

no iv just rescaped it (hence the rise) i know i need to change the water more now =]

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Sorry mate thats a faulty test no way will you get 0.25 reading with a no water change for 2 months even with tank full plants. you are correct in saying plants will absorb some but not as much as people think even in a hi tec tank. I would invest in a sailferts kit so you mantain your tank correcly. In 2 weeks my 350l can hit 20ppm no probelm and i have double the plants. just looking out for the fish

 

[zuulan]

Thanks for all the replies. I will stick with weekly changes or at a stretch fortnightly if I'm too busy to do all tanks every week.

 

[raptorrex]

I know I'm should do weekly water changes but now that I've install 2 filters with over twice the flow rates & filter media than before, why can't the water changes regularity be extended?

first off, i state i read only the OP's post.

filters produce the waste you remove with water changes. so, if anything, you will need to up the water changes.
it really is as simple as that.