Still losing fish.

[MitchM]

...

Even if there is matured filtration on the tank it still needs to have water changes, just sayin
...

"Needs" implies based on fact. Just sayin
Feel free to provide the facts.
.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

"Needs" implies based on fact. Just sayin
Feel free to provide the facts.
.

Okay Mitch bear with me here..... I feel like you are asking me to provide information that is asking for a black or white type answer. Fish keeping is not necessarily a black or white thing. There are many variables and ways to get the same end result.

The first thing that comes to mind which makes it necessary to do water changes is rising nitrate levels. With fancy goldfish (although I'm sure it's not just that type of fish) anything over 40 ppm (long term) seems to cause the fish to have health issues and even issues with growth.

The second thing that comes to mind is that if the tank goes too long without a water change the ph can crash.

I know you are doing the NPT thing but not all tanks are set up the same way you have yours and they do require some maintenance which includes water changes.

 

[MitchM]

This is where we differ. I think fish keeping IS black and white.
The decisions we make are based on the knowledge we have at the time of the decision.
After all these years, (40+ years with freshwater systems in my case) I'm still learning new things all the time. It's definitely one of the aspects that I enjoy about it.

What I hope is achieved by all this discussion (in various threads) is that we all learn how to maintain healthier environments for the animals in our care.

What I am looking for is at what point do we step in and make physical changes to the aquatic ecosystems we keep and, when do we leave them alone.
Most importantly, WHY do we need to intervene? If we can determine why we need to intervene, then maybe we can make physical changes to the system so we won't have to intervene again.
The goal is to have an aquatic ecosystem that needs no intervention at all.

Sorry, Marie, I didn't mean for my previous post to be a trick question.

- (and I think I can do an interesting update to my soil substrate pond thread this weekend)

.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Concerning Nitrate levels......this from Dr. Eric Johnson, one of the pioneers in Koi health.

"Nitrates should be reduced to levels below 80 ppm for best results. Nitrate levels OVER 300 ppm are definitely a problem."

I can not begin to picture a pond with Nitrate levels of 80 ppm.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

It's okay Mitch, People being different is what makes life interesting

I do agree that we are all still learning no matter how long we have been doing something. Can't image anyone knowing everything.

And I'm also on board with wanting to provide the best care that I can for all my pets wether they are furry, finned or feathered.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

Concerning Nitrate levels......this from Dr. Eric Johnson, one of the pioneers in Koi health.

"Nitrates should be reduced to levels below 80 ppm for best results. Nitrate levels OVER 300 ppm are definitely a problem."

I can not begin to picture a pond with Nitrate levels of 80 ppm.

I'm talking about tanks not ponds. I am going to have to get my Fancy goldfish book by Dr Johnson out and look up the info on nitrates. I'm really surprised by the number you listed as it is pretty high. Most all fancy goldfish keepers try to keep nitrate levels below 40.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

I'm really surprised by the number you listed as it is pretty high.

Straight from Doc Johnson.

http://www.erikjohnson.com/sponsor/2006KHD13psampler.pdf