Why is everyone so worried about water conditions so much?

Question

I have raised fish for 30 years. If you will get a good under gravel system with power heads and a piggy back filter optional you will have very little problems. Do a 25% water change and add salt once a month and most importantly do not over feed. That is where the biggest problem starts. For about $125.00 you can get a diatom system to cycle and clean the tank and it puts the water back in the tank after going through the filter sand. I do this about every 2 months . I break down my tanks about every 2 years. If you will set your heaters to 82 degrees most diseases can not live in that tempature. Also the bigger the tank the easier it is to take care of.

Answer 1

You are right, with proper water changess and filtration, you don't have to worry about water conditions hardy at all. I don't break down tanks as often as you do, in fact, I only do that if I'm changing the fish and they need a radically different environment than the previous fish, but otherwise I completely agree.

People worry about it so much because many shops push it.... check the pH, check the ammonia etc once a week... the fish must have a certain pH buy this, buy that, buy more. new aquarium keepers have it rammed down them and then spit it back to others.

MM

Answer 2

I agree with most of what you say,however, there are good reasons to do thing differently. For one,25% water changes once a week are insufficient if the bioload is any higher than a medium amount. If the bioload is higher the frequency of water changes should increase. The species of fish also makes a big difference in the requirements, Discus breeders do 50% (or more) water changes daily. Fish that live in high pH environments, e.g.,African Rift Lake Cichlids, will die in high pH water if the ammonia levels are allowed to creep up. Another reason to maintain water conditions that match the native water of your fish is an ethical one,it's likely to be cruel to maintain fish in water that is not close to the water in which the species evolved. One more item, a diatom filter will not affect the cycle of a tank,it only removes smaller particles than other types of filter.
The real way to keep fish easily is to determine what your water parameters are and keep fish that will thrive in that water.
I have kept, bred, collected, studied and maintained fish for nearly 50 years, and currently have fish that are in their teen years.

Answer 3

Why do people take thier Mercedes to the car was every week? Is mud on the doors and hood going to break down the engine? If you care about something enough, then you go that extra mile in making sure everything is ok. Why do people send thier children to private schools? Do you REALLY think they get a better education then those of public schools? I don't think so. Sure they like to say that, but you take those children as a national whole, thier iq's and test scores from those of public schools...they all even out basically. This again goes back to what I'm talking about. It just a matter of care and how much attention you'll lavish on them.

It doesn't make me a better fish carer then you if I test more often and keep a closer eye out, but I don't see that I'm doing any harm either by checking up on my water quality. I vaccume out and change my water in the tank(s) weekly and I feel bad if I even go a couple days late. Some of my fish are rather expensive. I lost my Asian Arowana to disease a couple months ago, and MM and I spent hours on messanger taking care of it. I thank him for that. That fish was about $200.00 adding in the shipping. My silver Arowana's are a little cheaper but how many, if you looked at all the fish in stores, are you going to find that even would go over $20.00 a fish? Probably less then 10% of fish you see for sale are considered high dollar items for those stores. So much like the Mercedes owners, I just like to know that everything in the water is doing fine.

I just got my 180 gallon set up Monday, and I have to say it's an awesome sight, and was twice as difficult in matter of work involved to get going then my 75 gallon set up. I have to stand on a chair to reach the back end bottom of the tank to plant plants and decorations, and I'm like 6' 1. I had to put plywood underneath it so it wouldn't collapse the roof and land in the downstairs persons living room. I had to get cannister filters instead of the usual aquaclear 110's I used on my 75. Much more work involved, but now my Arowana will have the perfect enviroment to become adults in and I have lower level cichilds that are dazzeling in color. More pleasure to look oh yeah, but easier? I don't agree with that.

JV

Answer 4

People worry so much about their water conditions because they don't have such an extensive setup like you do. Most people have small, 30 gallons and under tanks, without an under gravel system.

Your worried about water conditions too, that is why you do so much maintenance on the tanks.

Answer 5

Most people don't keep up with the tank maintenence like they should and the water gets fouled. Water is the single most important factor in keeping fishes. The water is right the fish are happy and healthy and almost never get sick.

Answer 6

Obsessing about a hobby is an easy way to take your mind off stress.

You can't be upset about working late tonight, your Green Spotted Pufferfish is looking lathargic and the water salinity might be too low.

Answer 7

People a worried because their fish might not thrive in their tank that is why they want to macke sure that they keep it in the good range.

Answer 8

now i would agree for most tanks, having a test kit available is helpful though, but weekly ammonia, i test maybe monthly on my reef. ususlly its fine though. i test daily for salinity, only because of evap. weekly nitrate, alk, and calcium. again this is reef, in my sons freshwater i test nitrate once a month, nothing else. your basic community really doesnt need alot, but a specialized tank does require weekly or at least monthly testing. that my opinion at least, but yeah a weekly ammonia test, come on now

Answer 9

well its simple.if the water isnt just right thell die