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NoDeltaH2O · 03-01-2005, 12:22 AM

Thanks MrParker. It's good to have a friend. I think it all comes down to the fact that I do NOT want to change water, and haven't for quite some time. I can understand that that concept is a bit scary for some people, as water changes are just accepted as part of fish keeping. Someone very early in this thread directed me to check out Diane Walstad's site. She has a very nice forum at:
http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x
She seems to also have a method for not doing water changes for long periods of time, although her method is one with soil substrate, rooted plants, slow growth, low light, and no added CO2. She calls this "El Natural", and people have nice results, and a lot less hassle I think that the "high-tech" aquarists have. I might actually give it a try on a 10gallon I have in the den which has a synodontis angelicus and a gourami. My rivertank is an experiment, just that. Having said that, it is the best looking tank in my living room (I have 3 there), and people who are NOT fish people stare at it and talk about it with admiration and wonder. I guess it will take my Hillstream loaches (which like high oxygen, fast moving, clean water) to successfully breed before folks can relax and say to themselves, "well done, good and faithful servant".

Peace, Love, & Soul
D

PS: Diane thinks I don't need to change my water either:
http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.c...4/m/3561049511

she said,
"I took a quick look at one picture of your tank. It looks great! I' sure that the fish are happy living in this "aquatic rainforest".

With heavy plant growth like this, you may not need to change water at all. Remember that plants passively take up elements like chloride from the water, even though plants don't need chloride. Thus, the fear hobbyists have that salts will inevitably build up if they don't do frequent water changes may not apply in your case. However, keep those plants pruned so that you get continuos growth and removal of salts.

Let plant growth and fish apetite guide your water changes. If plants stop growing or fish stop eating, then consider doing a water change.

There's no need to do robotic water changes.

Diana Walstad"

03-01-2005, 12:22 AM	#29 (permalink)
NoDeltaH2O Super Fish Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland Posts: 1,868	Thanks MrParker. It's good to have a friend. I think it all comes down to the fact that I do NOT want to change water, and haven't for quite some time. I can understand that that concept is a bit scary for some people, as water changes are just accepted as part of fish keeping. Someone very early in this thread directed me to check out Diane Walstad's site. She has a very nice forum at: http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x She seems to also have a method for not doing water changes for long periods of time, although her method is one with soil substrate, rooted plants, slow growth, low light, and no added CO2. She calls this "El Natural", and people have nice results, and a lot less hassle I think that the "high-tech" aquarists have. I might actually give it a try on a 10gallon I have in the den which has a synodontis angelicus and a gourami. My rivertank is an experiment, just that. Having said that, it is the best looking tank in my living room (I have 3 there), and people who are NOT fish people stare at it and talk about it with admiration and wonder. I guess it will take my Hillstream loaches (which like high oxygen, fast moving, clean water) to successfully breed before folks can relax and say to themselves, "well done, good and faithful servant". Peace, Love, & Soul D PS: Diane thinks I don't need to change my water either: http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.c...4/m/3561049511 she said, "I took a quick look at one picture of your tank. It looks great! I' sure that the fish are happy living in this "aquatic rainforest". With heavy plant growth like this, you may not need to change water at all. Remember that plants passively take up elements like chloride from the water, even though plants don't need chloride. Thus, the fear hobbyists have that salts will inevitably build up if they don't do frequent water changes may not apply in your case. However, keep those plants pruned so that you get continuos growth and removal of salts. Let plant growth and fish apetite guide your water changes. If plants stop growing or fish stop eating, then consider doing a water change. There's no need to do robotic water changes. Diana Walstad" __________________ Love, Peace, & Soul,... Delta________I am the Chosen One_I bring balance to the forum Hillstream Loach Planted River Tank ~4.5wpg ODNO DIY CO2 ________"A Proud Member of the Anti-Ballistic Comment Treaty" PS: my school web account got closed down after graduation, so none of my pictures in old threads are accessible until I move them all elsewhere, sorry.