The Hypocrite thread mbu

[RD.]

I'm quite familiar with the technology used in commercial aquaculture, and the various reasons why & how that technology is used, thanks.

Automated water changes are just that. A way for us to make things more simple. Without knowing what the actual bioload of the fish is, we don't know if we are wasting water or under utilizing it.

I believe I just said that auto water change systems are utilized to simplify the process. Did I not? Weekly testing will soon tell you if you are wasting water, or under utilizing it. This isn't exactly rocket science.

The point I was trying to make was that if you are doing daily water changes simply because the filtration system can't keep up, then the system is inadequate. Having push button technology doesn't justify us having inadequate housing for our pets.

I understood the point that you were attempting to make all along, and I agree with that point. But the fact that someone utilizes modern technology, including an automated water change system, doesn't necessarily equate to them doing so in order to make up for inadequate housing. That's the point I'm making. When I was breeding fish I gave my fry/juvie tanks a massive water change every single day, and the reason for that had nothing to do with inadequate filtration. If I was wasting water, my fish certainly weren't complaining.

I know a lot of people running pretty hefty sized systems, and none of them use a garden hose to drain or fill their tanks - every last one of them utilize an automated water change system.

In my world I don't see any negatives in supplying large amounts of fresh water to a system on a regular, even daily basis.

Perhaps some people have a cheap source for water, are filthy rich, or work out of town for weeks/months at a time. Who cares? I'm quite certain that if fish could talk, they would say a great big thank you every time someone flushed their toilet.

 

[MyGiants]

I think its not hard to tell if a fish is uncomfortable in a tank. They usually pace the glass constantly, constantly trying to get out. I had to move my MBU to a 100g temporarily when he was 15" from my 300g. Here you can see he does not looked stressed to me. He acted the same way in my 300.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWD8APUbHz0
My 300 is heavily stocked. I only do monthly water changes. You could say I should do more you can say it will get stunted but its grown nearly 9" in seven months to nearly 20" now. I've tested my nitrates and its never been higher the 10ppm with just monthly water changes.

 

[J-P]

LOL!! I am so jealous. I can't believe those numbers. In my lightly socked 500 I had a real hard time keeping the nitrates under 40

 

[RD.]

I'm not trying to be a wise ass, but you might want to consider buying a new nitrate test kit.

Unless you're only feeding them once a month too.

 

[MyGiants]

I know some people tap water already have 20-40ppm to begin with. You don't have to believe it I could careless. I invite anyone to come over and bring your own test kit and test my water. Its never gets higher then 10ppm.

 

[MyGiants]

I can't explain it I must have some denitrification going on in my sump. I have never cleaned out my sump since the tanks been running. I have probably what looks like 4" of gunk or mulm sitting on the bottom of my sump below my bioballs. I don't just have bioballs there is layers of thick filter mat stacked on top them. I also run 4 big canister filters. Oh also I have millions of small snails in my sump too from live plant clippings I used to feed my fish.

 

[MyGiants]

As far as what I add to my water I put about 1/2 cup of Baking soda every couple weeks or when ever it falls below 7ph. I like to keep my ph above 7. I add 5-6 cups of marine salt every third or fourth water change. I only do 50-60% water changes every month but not on schedule I may go 5-6 weeks.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I'm quite certain that if fish could talk, they would say a great big thank you every time someone flushed their toilet.

Gotta love that!

 

[RD.]

There's a lot more to high quality water parameters than simply testing for nitrates. Phosphates, pheromones, and various dissolved organic compounds can build up in a tank over time. Minerals & trace elements also become depleted over time, so it's not just what's being added to the bio load, it's what's being lost to the environment as well. The fact that you have to add baking soda every couple of weeks to stabilize your pH is due to the acidic compounds that are building up between your water changes.


I think that I've said about all there is for me to say on this subject, best of luck with your fish everyone.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Probably one of the wost things you can do to stress out a fish is constant pH shock with fluctuating that parameter up & down like that. Very important to have a steady pH for your fish.