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 Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 5:12 pm
i've decided to make a post on how i take care of my 55 gallon tank only because it is very different from the norm. it is a freshwater tank but my knowledge of saltwater has lead me to take care of it differently.
do not flame me or tell i am wrong or making mistakes. i am doing this based on MUCH research into saltwater fish tanks and their heavy reliance on the most important filtration of all....biological...so far this is the BEST and most healthy freshwater tank i have ever had.
livestock
14 female betta
1 male betta
2 pearl grouami (pair)
3 honey gourami
2 killifish (pair)
filter
just a power filter for a 55 gallon tank
all fake plants
ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are all at 0
crystal clear water no smell
i have not done a water change in MONTHS
why? water changes are to remove something or add something. i do not have anything to remove or add. my biological filter is so stable that poo and uneaten food is quickly taken care of. it has no chance to add any measurable amount of ammonia i havent changed my filter cartridges in forever as well....the carbon does not function anymore as chemical filtration BUT the bacteria sitting in the filter is obviously doing a great job.
i am doing this because saltwater tanks dont need anything BUT biological filtration. some saltwater tanks dont even have anything that can be considered a typical filter. they just have power heads which only supply water flow and the biological filtration comes in the form of rock and sand. but in a saltwater tank you do water changes to ADD minerals back to the water.
i figured if i could duplicate one of these successful saltwater tanks in freshwater i could have a healthy freshwater fish tank (and so far i have been VERY successful) i have never seen a sick fish in a properly set up saltwater tank and in my tank i havent had a single sick fish ever since i changed the way i work things.
i am not saying EVERYONE should do this or even if anyone else should try this. i just know that my way is very different because its a saltwater look at a freshwater tank and thought i might share it with you guys.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:40 pm
That sounds interesting, when I get my next tank I might try that it sounds promising
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 8:39 am
OH big important thing
if you do not understand the concept of a bioload or cant help yourself around buying big fish OR not paying attention to a fish maximum size (you will but a 13 inch fish while its a 2 inch baby) then this set up is NOT NOT NOT for you : O this relies heavily on a biological filter and if you are not careful to keep it balanced it will NOT work
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:47 pm
Hmmm, actually, I think this is just the way it works with large tanks.
In my old pond we kept a 10 some goldfish and various barbs.
The filtration was just a large pot with rocks. And every once in a while we would add water that had evaporated.
With my old goldfish tank, 20 gallons and 3 fish, I never preformed a full water change. Just replaced evaporated water again. Never had to use any chemicals and very infrequently changed the carbon.
The think that messes up the bio filter most is overstocking, over feeding, still water and plants. I adore black water tanks, but if you want to take out the filter, you need a lot more water changes, and have that water extensively treated before.
At least, that's what I believe.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 7:29 pm
Happy Skittles Lizzy OH big important thing
if you do not understand the concept of a bioload or cant help yourself around buying big fish OR not paying attention to a fish maximum size (you will but a 13 inch fish while its a 2 inch baby) then this set up is NOT NOT NOT for you : O this relies heavily on a biological filter and if you are not careful to keep it balanced it will NOT work yeh i buy fish around how big they can get, cuz ive ran into that problem before lol and My 40 galleon has a bio wheel its amazing i recommend them to everyone!!!
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:24 am
true size matters but bioload is the second most important thing
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:11 am
Horror Inc. Art Contest - Open to All
Bio filtering doesn't take care of the hormones and things that get released into the water. If you allow them to build up then over time your fish will get stunted and/or suffer from health problems. If you put a protein skimmer on your 55g, then everything will work out the way you want it to.
Also, as for the filter cartridges, technically you shouldn't be changing them anyway. The filter companies only say to change them every month because they want to make money. Your filter has a good amount of bene bac, so why anyone would change it frequently is beyond me. I haven't changed mine in over a year. It should be rinsed every once in a while so it doesn't get clogged though.
I agree completely that people should not copy you until they have significant experience. It takes years of properly caring for your aquariums to get to the level where you know what you're doing and can experiment like that without causing harm to your fish.
Horror Inc.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:37 am
protein skimmers dont work on freshwater
i already tried. the water isnt dense enough and so cannot produce the pressure and bubbles needed for skimming anything into the skimmer cup.
as for hormones. my fish are growing fine. i knew about the hormones and tried no water changes anyway. i've seen noticeable growth in my fish even after just a few weeks.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:12 pm
Horror Inc. Art Contest - Open to All
It all depends on the size of the fish, how many etc. I figured you knew about the hormones, but I said it just to make sure. After a while of no changes they may prove to be a problem. Maybe every couple of months you should do at least one big water change just to be sure. Whether or not you do, just keep monitoring them and making sure they're growing well and don't have health problems.
Good to know that protein skimmers don't work in freshwater. Who knows, maybe they make a product that does the same thing but can be used in freshwater. That would make your system perfect for experienced fish keepers who have too many tanks to change water all the time.
Horror Inc.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:40 pm
thats what i have been doing for months.
i always make sure they are all healthy and so far looking better than ever.
OH
my killifish have been spawning in the tank and the pearl gouramis...i wish i had like a 20 gallon or so to put them in....they are VERY ready to spawn.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:46 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:43 pm
the pearls make bubble nests like betta do so the filter and other water movement would make it impossible to build a nest in the current tank D:
i spawn my bubble nesters filterless so they dont have problems.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:06 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:33 am
Happy Skittles Lizzy the pearls make bubble nests like betta do so the filter and other water movement would make it impossible to build a nest in the current tank D:
i spawn my bubble nesters filterless so they dont have problems. Sorry to interupt. Bubble nests? I would like to see those if you do transfer them (: I think it is interesting what you are doing. I wouldn't do it myself for a long time. I'm not as expirienced sweatdrop
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:02 pm
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Reply
