Just a question

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by DvSKiN
Hmm, I kinda confused, and plz dont take this the wrong way, I'm not flaming you. I just dont understand how you are getting away w/o doing water changes on you FW tank. Either you feed very lightly or you dont have a whole lot of fish in the tank. Cuz, as far as I'm concerned, I didnt know that there was a bacteria in FW that eats NO3. I thought water changes were the only way in FW to get rid of NO3. Now, I could be wrong, and I'll be the first to admit it if I am, just curious though.
Dave:
I am working for the arsenal now. Actually in harvest just north of madison. Also my Ex is in northfork.
agreed.
Robert Beasley
DVS
Dmil15's post agrees with my experience with freshwater tanks. Nitrates no not increase linearly but level off after awhile. Plus relatively high levels do not harm fish. Plants use nitrates and therefore limit the nitrate growth. I currently have a 10g planted fw, open top, sand bottom. The only maintenance I do is to feed the fish and replace the water that evaporates. The result is that I now have 30 or so fancy guppies plus 3 platties. Most have grown up in the tank and the last time a added a fish was six months ago.

 

[dmill15]

DVS- I am a very open minded person and I never take an opinion the wrong way. That is why I ask for them. I have about 7 diffrent kinds of small tetras in a 10 gal fw. I feed once daily. But to help keep the params in check I keep live plants. This seems to do an excellent job. Even though I never check the params. If it ain't broke dont fix it right! The fish I have in that tank have been there for 2 1/2 years. All still happy.
Dave

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by dmill15
DVS- I am a very open minded person and I never take an opinion the wrong way. That is why I ask for them. I have about 7 diffrent kinds of small tetras in a 10 gal fw. I feed once daily. But to help keep the params in check I keep live plants. This seems to do an excellent job. Even though I never check the params. If it ain't broke dont fix it right! The fish I have in that tank have been there for 2 1/2 years. All still happy.
Dave
dave:
Awwww now the light comes on. Both of us have planted balanced FW tanks. Gee imangine that, no water changes, no monitoring parameters, no additives--- the tank just takes care of itself.
you know what? I set up 20g long to culture some macro algae for my new 55g. When I did a baby mollie (1/8" long) got into that tank. The tank was open top, no filter no airstone, no power head. And guess what. A month later the tank was clear as glass, no foul odor and the mollie grew to almost 2". I didn't even add food for the mollie. Nitrates went down to 0.0. Dah just like in FW. Gee could be balanced aquariums work in saltwater also LOL. So I put in a power head and two weeks later the mollie was gone (probably got sucked in).
Thanks for sharing. I am now attempting to get enough macro algae in my 55g to get the nitrates down there also.
Robert J. Beasley
P. s. I also used plane old lowes or home depot play sand LOL

 

[dmill15]

Robert where in huntsville are you? I am from there but in the Nvay that is why I'm in WA now.
I look at my tanks like most things...If it doesn't need fixing DON'T because you are more likely to break them trying to "fix" them.
Dave