Does anyone know how to maintain a fish tank without chemicals?

Question

I have a goldfish tank. I do not think that chemicals are good for living things and I would rather not use them in my tank. I have a few fish, a pleco and like 5 snails. I keep the light on so that the algae will grow to help keep the PH levels down, but it doesn't overgrow because of all of the algae eating creatures. I was also told to try plants which would do the same as a healthy amount of algae. I got a plant and within 2 days the fish ate everything except for the weight that keeps it grounded in the water. So, I was just wondering if anyone knew the best way to "naturally" maintain my tank. Also, I don't like to clean the tank at all, so anything that would require less cleaning and more self maintenence. I really want to have a self cleaning tank, so I want to know the right creatures and plants etc. to ensure that while keeping the water clean.

Answer 1

It is not possible to naturally maintain your tank. In the wild you have 1 fish per hundreds of gallons. So unless you got a 100 gallon tank and 1 fish. It's simply not possible to have a self sustaining eco system. You don't need to use chemicals, but you will need to change the water regularly, and have a filter. Otherwise ammonia, or nitrate will build up in your tank to lethal level. In nature this taken care of by plants, but there is generally an order of magnitude more plant that fish.

Answer 2

The size of the tank makes a difference, and I am assuming it is a small tank. Always leave the light off at night. Keep the tank away from sun light. There is no way of getting around cleaning it at least once a month or more, because there will always be some algae growth on tank, gravel and plants.

Answer 3

There is some really good literature out there on this topic. But generally speaking you really don't need chemicals of any sort to maintain an aquarium--if you do it carefully and correctly.

You can allow your water to decholorinate itself by setting it out overnight--no chems needed. And you can get low tech-friendly plants that are extremely hardy and not eaten by fish--such as many of the anubias species, coffeefolia or barteri for instance. Don't bury their roots, though.

You might get occassional blooms of brown algae (diatoms) or eventually some green algae will show up. I'd recommend one of those floating algae scraping magnets and perhaps some otocinclus, SAE's or other efficient fish like that.

I'd also recommend a powerfilter and running an air line after the lights go out.

You dont' need to spend a ton of money to have a beautiful planted tank. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Well having a self maintained tank is slightly impossible, but to help you with the idea of not putting chemicals in your tank just use course sea salt and the fish eat it as well, to get your fish not to eat your plants get them some treats like blood worm and tubefix blocks, you might have to get a hell of a lot of plants, and with you keeping the light on all the time you might have to get some more algae eaters.

Answer 5

You have to clean the tank! Or at least clean the filter every month. And you need to turn the light off at least at night, so the fish can have a break. They don't live in nature with light all the time. There is no such thing as a self-cleaning tank!! Even with algae eaters.

Answer 6

What I think you want to do is create a small ecosystem, so keep the number of fish small. Controlling the light will control part of the algae but the algae is beneficial as it removes nitrates (from the wastes of the fish) and promotes growth of your fish. Goldfish eat plant matter so most true aquatic plants are injured or eaten by their browsing...use plastic plants....small water changes are important to prevent acidic build-up...10% is easy and keeps the fish healthy. Remember that goldfish are beggars...they learn that when you come near the tank...it is food time...resist the temptation to overfeed.

Answer 7

There is no self cleaning aquarium. All tanks will need partial water changes at least twice a month, and good filtration on them.
The gravel gets caked with old food and debris, and it needs a vacuum device that cleans that off. Snails, and other cleaners will do minimal clean up, but most of it needs to be maintained by you.
A 25% water change every 2 weeks should keep your fish healthy.

Answer 8

It sounds like you're on the right track. Snails and glass catfish or any other bottom feeder.

It may not be totally possible to go without chemicals, especially if you are starting off with chlorinated city water. But once you've got that issue handled, you should be able to continue with the regimen you're on. It sounds OK.

Answer 9

Goldfish and plecostomus are vegetarians and will always eat up your plants. You can use bottled (not distilled) drinking water instead of tap water. You use the chemicals to remove chlorine or chloramine (chlorine + Ammonia) which is added to sterilize tap water and will also kill your fish, so in this instance the chemicals keep your fish alive. :-)

Answer 10

My husband has a 75 gallon and we had problems untill he bought a U.V. Sterilizer. It is awesome! you can use it for fresh water, salt water or brackish. A little pricey but well worth the money if you want to actually keep your fish!