Cycling and Water Changes

jdhiu99 · 07-14-2006, 09:22 PM

Browsing through the forum I've noticed a good deal of discussion on these two topics. Now this is by no means my first aquarium (Had a 10G @ age 8-18, then a 30G in college, and just had to sell my 100G I had for 2 years when I left the mainland), but I've never done deliberate scheduled water changes and I've never had a problem. Now having said that, every few months when the gravel got looking icky I'd bust out the gravel vacuum and thoroughly clean it and in the process take out about 1/6th-1/8th of the total water volume. Also I've never had any problems with cycling, or "new tank syndrome". My father taught me when establishing a new tank to use Biozyme. Now this is by no means a plug for their product, but by adding it to the water when first setting up, and then closely monitoring the pH, ammonia, nitrates, etc for the first two weeks I've never had a fullblown fallout from "new tank syndrome" (KNOCK ON WOOD). Sure I've had cloudy water for the first month or so, and I've had to use ammonia removing products, etc. but what I'm driving at here is have I simply been lucky all this time? Or are you all so meticulous in caring for your aquarium that you go the extra mile?

Jay · 07-15-2006, 08:12 AM

IMO all of the above. A little luck, lots of chemical and product use to achieve the same end, the elimination of Ammonia and Nitrite. I have never used the product you mentioned so I cannot comment on it. I am aware of other products that claim to speed up the cycling process. I usually come away unimpressed, if you are forced to use an ammonia removing product then you have not established your bio filter (the two essential colonies of Bacteria), which is necessary for an ongoing healthy tank. I would not call that meticulous or going the extra mile.

I would call it sound husbandry and mastery of the fundamentals.

Same with water changes, can you get away without doing it regularly, sure.
Do you know what happens when you don’t? Most beginners have only a vague idea, and this response would get very long if we get into Total Dissolved Solids,Nitrate build up, Essential Electrolytes, Osmotic Pressure etc. Regular routine water changes are part of the mastery of fundamentals, when the fundamentals are sound, then decisions based on those fundamentals can be made based on desired outcome.

Example: I have several heavily planted tanks with fish that get water changes about 3 times a year. I have others that get a 50% water change every week.

Jay

Jay · 07-15-2006, 08:36 AM

Attached is a very basic explanation of Tank Cycling, let me know if it is helpful

Jay

jdhiu99 · 07-15-2006, 01:39 PM

Very helpful. Thanks again Jay!

Fish Head · 07-17-2006, 05:59 AM

I have a noobish question...

When changing water in a tank, should the water be treated before placing back in the tank and should it be heated to match the temperature in the tank?

Jay · 07-17-2006, 07:26 AM

Quote:

When changing water in a tank, should the water be treated before placing back in the tank and should it be heated to match the temperature in the tank?

I change 60 - 70% of the water in my heavily planted 75 weekly. That's a lot of water to schlep (technical term

) around. I use a pump and tap water basin with a hose to the tank. I add enough conditioning product (I use Seachem Prime) to the tank while refilling it. If I am changing say 45 gallons, I add enough Prime to the tank to deal with the 45 gallons I will add.

IMO and IME you have some wiggle room with temp. I keep the same tank at 79F. I monitor the temp of the water going in during a change and it varies in temp from 75-80F. Remember fish in the wild swim through water pockets and levels of varying temp without harm.

Jay

kelkat · 07-17-2006, 08:25 AM

Thanks for the article - it was extremely helpful. I still don't fully understand when to do water changes, but I'm getting a better feel for this whole tank experience. I think getting a tank (or two) might be a great science experiment for my kids.

Fish Head · 07-17-2006, 08:04 PM

Thanks Jay, of all the literature I have, none seem to answer that question for me.

fishboy · 07-17-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelkat

Thanks for the article - it was extremely helpful. I still don't fully understand when to do water changes, but I'm getting a better feel for this whole tank experience. I think getting a tank (or two) might be a great science experiment for my kids.

Yes but remember it is a life as well! experiements are one thing, but these are pets and need the utmost care

Reading this forum long enough, you'l get the hang of it

kelkat · 07-18-2006, 08:56 AM

Oh, I didn't mean experiment - I should have said lesson. We've raised baby possums and squirrels as science lessons in the past. We research their behaviors, eating habits, living conditions, etc. then we release them to the wild when they are old enough to live on their own. I've recently just moved three possums to an outdoor cage.

As a homeschool mom, I'm always looking for ways to keep the kids engaged, but to encourage them to dig a little deeper on their own. I don't want them to just know something. I want them to want to know and to know where and how to find the answer.