I Stopped Doing Water Changes

I have been an off and on aquarist for 40 years. When I have the time for this hobby, I get into it hot and heavy. I'm retired now. I'm lazy. I take short cuts cuz I have a LOT of different hobbies now and I love them all.

Before this latest African cichlid tank, I had South American cichlids. I was always working a lot back then. So I didn't do everything I was "supposed" to do. I began doing water changes maybe 6 times a year, but my water was never terrible. My fish always did very well after the tank became established.

Fast forward to now. I restarted my 75 gallon aquarium after my huge Oscar finally passed away. It was 12 years at least, maybe more. I sold all other huge cichlids to a local aquarium shop. But kept my Oscar. Now I started an African cichlid tank with 2 Clown Loaches and 2 Blueberry Botias.
I lost a few at the start from nitrite poisoning. I checked everything except my nitrites and they were all perfect. I fertilized using peat at the very beginning underneath my gravel substrate. I even used some fertilizer sticks I was attempting to start a thick live plant aquarium as well. That failed. Everything died slowly except for one species that I can't remember now.

Anyway, after having the 16 cichlids left and the bottom feeders, I totally stopped doing water changes. Why do them when your water is nearly perfect? My 6 month old cichlids are making babies like crazy! (with a neutral pH) Since I also have the loaches, I have to compromise on the pH. I feed them a LOT 2-3 times daily with Cichlid Flakes, Freeze Dried Blood Worms, and Brine Shrimp. I have plenty of caves and hideouts with cracks and crevices for the babies. I have double the filtration as recommender with 2 outside filters.
I keep my LED aquarium light at 50% for 12 hours a day. I keep my temp at near 80 degrees. I also have a submersible pump with the housing wrapped with fine filter medium. I use this for added under water flow in the back length of the take. I rinse all my filter medium out once a month and add about 2 gallons of tap water that evaporates around the same time.
My nitrates and ammonia are almost non-existent. I use crushed coral and peat moss in filter bags that I buffer alternately to keep the pH near neutral. BUT NO MORE WATER CHANGES FOR ME! I hate doing them! -Joe R

 

I have to do what works for me. I simply share that with others. They have the option to call it rubbish or not. I have the option to continue on in my successful way.

Of course you do. We all have to do what works for us. There truly is no one size fits all in this hobby. We are here to share both successes and failures. Sadly you are slapping us in the face each time we even try to interact with you. In that case we both lose. I will say no more.

 

Of course you do. We all have to do what works for us. There truly is no one size fits all in this hobby. We are here to share both successes and failures. Sadly you are slapping us in the face each time we even try to interact with you. In that case we both lose. I will say no more.

When respect is given, respect is returned. It's the nature of relationships.

Welcome JR! I do understand your tank . I’ve been there years ago. I see the yellow water. It is amazing how fish adapt! Even more so that they’re breeding. All good and you will probably be fine going as your going. Adding new fish won’t work but keeping what you have should. This tank has already gone through old tank syndrome. Hence the 6.0 -6.5 ph.
You would probably lose fish if you started changing water. The fact that your plants have died off is a sign of old tank syndrome. If it’s not because of the shaking of the nitrate bottles than I’d bet you have anaerobic bacteria growing well in your substrate. That’s what’s eating the nitrate.
Yes it can be done as your demonstrating. For me it’s just the yellow water that turns me off. Good luck with your tank . Stay away from discus .

Here's another "bad photo" as one of your counterparts have called them. I do apologize that I'm not using top-of-the-line equipment for your viewing pleasure.

 

I have to do what works for me. I simply share that with others. They have the option to call it rubbish or not. I have the option to continue on in my successful way.

That's great! You are sooo right. We all have different ways of doing things. We have to continue the path that works for us.

With that said, we believe this thread has run it's course. It is our hope that everyone has learned a bit from each other.