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Stupid question about water changes...


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#1 Guest_WattaMelon_*

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 04:32 PM

This is really for my husband because I've seen this first hand and I believe what I read from guys that have been in this hobby for a long time- but my husband is always, ALWAYS a skeptic when it comes to just about all advice he gets. My husband says that water changes can't do anything and that it's all in my head. There's a 150 gallon tank in our livingroom that he primarily works with and doesn't like it when I touch it. He has some young banded sunfish, bluespots, dace etc in there that haven't grown a whole lot since we've gotten them. This last month or so while he's at work, I've been sneaking partial water changes on it- 20% once a week. Today he came to me and said, "WOW, these fish are suddenly growing like crazy!" and I said, "Yep!"

So, I know how to do water changes. I know that it's good for fish, I know that it helps them grow better, can induce breeding etc. It's just good all around.

We test weekly on our tanks. We have plants, well established filters, algae scrubbers, we use rain-collected and aged water for changes. Our water parameters don't change, even after water changes. I do changes in the fishroom, the goldfish tank in my daughter's room etc. The goldfish we've had for a little while, and they've grown a TON...a lot faster than I expected they would. Everything in the fishroom thrives very well. We have some new arrivals recently that are in the fishroom and I'm trying to convince my husband that they need these water changes, becuase he's trying to grow them up to be large enough to put into his 150.

He wants a better explanation than I can give him...something he can make sense of in his head, given what he already knows.

Can anyone help?

*phew*

Thank you!

#2 Guest_sonix215_*

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 04:42 PM

This is really for my husband because I've seen this first hand and I believe what I read from guys that have been in this hobby for a long time- but my husband is always, ALWAYS a skeptic when it comes to just about all advice he gets. My husband says that water changes can't do anything and that it's all in my head. There's a 150 gallon tank in our livingroom that he primarily works with and doesn't like it when I touch it. He has some young banded sunfish, bluespots, dace etc in there that haven't grown a whole lot since we've gotten them. This last month or so while he's at work, I've been sneaking partial water changes on it- 20% once a week. Today he came to me and said, "WOW, these fish are suddenly growing like crazy!" and I said, "Yep!"

So, I know how to do water changes. I know that it's good for fish, I know that it helps them grow better, can induce breeding etc. It's just good all around.

We test weekly on our tanks. We have plants, well established filters, algae scrubbers, we use rain-collected and aged water for changes. Our water parameters don't change, even after water changes. I do changes in the fishroom, the goldfish tank in my daughter's room etc. The goldfish we've had for a little while, and they've grown a TON...a lot faster than I expected they would. Everything in the fishroom thrives very well. We have some new arrivals recently that are in the fishroom and I'm trying to convince my husband that they need these water changes, becuase he's trying to grow them up to be large enough to put into his 150.

He wants a better explanation than I can give him...something he can make sense of in his head, given what he already knows.

Can anyone help?

*phew*

Thank you!


Well for the most part. The water changes not only help keep the gravel clean but also replenish vaporized water in the tank. Without doing water changes theres plenty that can go wrong. For one..to much waste (left over food, fish waste.) produce high amounts of ammonia if not discarded of. its better for the fish. keeps the tank clean and healthy. i know this isnt a very good explanation but thats what it does. ill let someone else step in with a more detailed way of explaning.

#3 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 06:10 PM

The single most crucial function of water changes is to remove nitrates. Most filters don't effectively remove nitrate, and so the stuff accumulates in the tank. It is far less toxic than its precursors ammonia or nitrite but still causes stress at higher concentrations.

A possible secondary function is to remove pheremones and other organics molecules given off by the fish, in effect "airing out" the tank. The presence of high concentrations of these chemicals may affect the feeding, growth, and overall health of fish. At least, that's the speculation I've come across. I haven't read anything concrete on the subject.

#4 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 06:19 PM

There are a number of benefits:

- as mentioned in the previous post, it's the most convenient way to get in there with a siphon and vacuum excess organic material from the substrate. This is the main thing for most people, but with a well-planted tank it's probably largely irrelevant.

- new water replenishes micronutrients. There are a number of things like zinc, potassium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium and lots more that are required by fish and/or plants that are only present in minute quantities in the water and can become depleted over a relatively short period of time (because of the high density of animals in a fish tank compared to a natural environment). Calcium in particular has been rigorously proven to be taken up better from the water through the gills than from food. If you're seeing sudden changes in growth rate in your fish after beginning water changes, it's probably either calcium deficiency or accumulated allelochemicals.

- many organisms, including fish, secrete compounds called allelochemicals for the purpose of inhibiting competing organisms. This serves many functions, but the most relevant in the case of an aquarium is that chemicals are secreted by some species that inhibit their own growth. This serves as a check on overpopulation in small environments such as an isolated pool of a drying creek where a single spawn might be beyond the carrying capacity if all individuals reached normal size. This is one reason people say goldfish only grow to fit the size of their container (the other being that they die before they outgrow it). Again because the fish are already so much more crowded in a tank than they would be normally, the effect of these chemicals is more pronounced, and if you don't change water they will accumulate to extreme concentrations.

- you proved it. Just tell him you've been sneaking water changes.

#5 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 06:26 PM

You're mostly right, gz, but only plants release allelochemicals. The pheromones released by fishes usually break down in a matter of days.

#6 Guest_Gene2308_*

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Posted 08 October 2009 - 07:40 PM

new water replenishes micronutrients. There are a number of things like zinc, potassium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium and lots more that are required by fish and/or plants that are only present in minute quantities in the water and can become depleted over a relatively short period of time (because of the high density of animals in a fish tank compared to a natural environment)


Nice! Most of the time this is forgotten and is extremely important.

Allelochemicals? Is that why nothing grows near Black Walnut? ;)

#7 Guest_lozgod_*

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 02:25 AM

I have a pretty high plant load to fish load with no supplemented CO2. From what I understand new water has carbonates which plants can use like CO2. My plants are growing comparably to a high tech set up and I am contributing it to my daily water changes for now. Once this insanely ridiculous cloudiness clears up I will cut back to once a month water changes. Then I will know if that was the true reason for my success with the pants so far.

#8 Guest_gzeiger_*

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Posted 09 October 2009 - 08:49 AM

Generally new water only has carbonates because it's been well aerated. You'd do as well on that score to add an airstone.

#9 Guest_WattaMelon_*

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Posted 11 October 2009 - 07:13 PM

Thank you very much for the replies.

My husband knows about the water changes, and he's appreciative even though he doesn't want to admit it.

I've done a lot of reading, and your replies help confirm a lot of what I've read.

Thanks again!



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