Plants doing too good of a filtration job in f8 tank ???

my name is mike · Post by **my name is mike** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:22 pm

I planted my main Fig 8 tank a few months ago and my need for water changes has dramatically dropped off. The longest ive gone without a change has been 3 weeks and even then, nitrates were only at 5 ppm.

My question is, am i doing harm to my puffer by not keeping up weekly water changes, even if nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are in acceptable levels. Are there other nutrients that i may be denying him of?

My original goal of less changes has come true, and now that it has, im scared. Ha!

Boxermom · Post by **Boxermom** » Tue May 22, 2007 5:40 pm

IMO, yes, you still need to do water changes even if your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are under control. There are more things in the water that need to be removed/diluted that we can't measure for in home aquaria. I wouldn't recommend going more than a week between changes in a puffer tank.

my name is mike · Post by **my name is mike** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:16 pm

thanks, ill go back to my weekly regimen

manutius · Post by **manutius** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:23 am

Yeah I would keep to weekely changes

UberDave · Post by **UberDave** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:10 am

Out of curiosity, what types of plants do you have in there?

my name is mike · Post by **my name is mike** » Tue May 29, 2007 12:24 pm

java fern, java moss, cambomba (sp?), crypt ciliata, hornwort and moss balls ---

i had water sprite for a while, but i dont think i acclimated it slow enough and it rotted away

the hornwort grows like a weed. i suspect that's what sucks up all the nitrates

Post by **Myaj** » Tue May 29, 2007 1:38 pm

Yes, everything you have is a slow grower other the hornwort and cambomba.

Keep up those water changes, nitrates are just there as a guideline and when the plants are using them up, you have no idea how high other levels are building up to.

my name is mike · Post by **my name is mike** » Tue May 29, 2007 2:19 pm

gottcha-- thanks for the advice

just out of curosity, what other stuff builds up ???

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue May 29, 2007 2:27 pm

Most importantly, hormones the fish release into the water, the buildup of which will put inhibit their proper growth, but proteins, fats, and even cellulose from the plants as well. It's a shame protein skimmers don't work in FW, or the proper plants combined with one would seriously reduce water changes, like LR and a skimmer do in SW.

my name is mike · Post by **my name is mike** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:44 pm

that makes a lot of sense -- thanks

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Plants doing too good of a filtration job in f8 tank ???

Plants doing too good of a filtration job in f8 tank ???