Water changes, water changes and more water changes....

[Melody]

Now that I'm working outside the home as well as inside, I notice the time the tanks take to maintain. My Son helps, but he still can't do a thorough cleaning job. Everytime I do waterchanges, I swear I'll feed less but I'm afraid that the time has come to enforce that. I'm going out today and buying several more feeding rings for starters. The food always gets into the mosses and it take forever to get it all out. A lot ends up in my filter too.

I have snails to feed so a lot has to hit the bottom. I'm revamping that plan so it doesn't result in so many leftovers and overfed fish. I refuse to change their diet so they produce less waste, as in less vegie fiber, etc. I figure if they need it, they need it, whether its convenient for me or not. I like clean foods if it means they have less fillers, but not if it means they have less vegie content and so much protein that it takes forever to work it through a long digestive system.

So the other part of the plan is making the food I do put in as practical as possible, without denying the creatures what they need. Since the fish can only utilize so much nutrition taken in at one feeding and the rest is wasted, I'm going to start using more nibble foods. Vegies that can be in the tank all day for them to nibble away at and the snails can also get into them.

What vegies have you found to be the most stable and long-lasting in your tank? The leafy ones come to mind, although I have to soften them for the Brig's to eat. A good, firm Zuc lasts quite awhile. The plan is to leave them in the tank all day and remove them at night. Something like softened peas, for example, aren't something I want sitting in my tank all day, and it would be too easy to miss leftovers.

I await your experiences and profound wisdom :notworthy: .

[_BaDgUy_]

Well, as I'm a bit apart from the rest of the group of tropical fish keepers, I feed my fish in this manner : whatever whenever, and the quatity does not really matter!!

I do try to feed sparingly, but if I put too much, well, they won't die from it!

I've got clumps of Java moss in every tank, some some food stays stuck in there.

I might go a few days without feeding them sometimes!!

It works for me, but it will probably not work for many people!! Might be the quality of the food I put in that helps alot, since I've been using the same for years and years!! I've seldom had any problems, apart from my gold Ancistrus tank where the water clouds over all the time!

As for a good food for the fish to nibble on for a while, raw zucchini works for me. I can leave it in the tank for 4-5 days without any problems of it going bad.


PLEASE, do not follow this method if you are starting out with tropical fish!!!

[Melody]

Yes that's a good point and thanks for saying it - an experienced eye is needed when we play with the rules.

I don't skip feedings because Livebearers are always breeding & need their nutrition. Its like conditioning 'eggers', but constant. They still have to produce eggs & fertilize them, so I feel that constant, proper nutrition is a must. If I was travelling or something, I wouldn't worry about it.

Overfeeding can kill them, its just more indirect than most believe, in that it fouls the environment. As long as the maintenance is kept up, filtration is supreme and plants are growing, we can overfeed to a certain degree without mishap. We don't want the fish to get to a point where they look fat as that is unhealthy for them too, but I've yet to see that. As you say, the quality of food can help you there. Some foods will also polute more than others, such as those high in protein, oily seafood, etc.

Thanks for your comments!

[_BaDgUy_]

I'm looking through the ingredients of the foods I use, and I'm pretty sure the secret to my success is in there!

No fillers, no artificial ingredients!

And I give them 6-8 different varieties every week of flakes/pellets, plus the live brine shrimp, walter worms, CBW, and frozen plankton and bloodworms!

[Melody]

I'm big on variety too, and the proof has certainly been in the fish. Nice selection!

What are Walter Worms? lol

[_BaDgUy_]

Walter worms are pretty much the same as micro worm, but harder to kill off, and slightly smaller.

They will survive a culture gone bad for weeks, and will "live" in water for 2-3 days easy!

[traco1]

I'm looking through the ingredients of the foods I use, and I'm pretty sure the secret to my success is in there!

No fillers, no artificial ingredients!

And I give them 6-8 different varieties every week of flakes/pellets, plus the live brine shrimp, walter worms, CBW, and frozen plankton and bloodworms!

I have to bite and you don't have to answer, but what flake food do you use?

[_BaDgUy_]

I've been using Ken's Fish flake foods for years, but we've finally found the manufacturer, and now have our own brands of flake foods and dried foods!

[blainep]

For my fish, I have one morning per week that is dedicated to water changes.

I spend quite a bit more time than that with my fish. But Monday morning is reserved for the fish, indefinitely.

[Melody]

At this rate my entire weekend is theirs, and that's getting a little old....lol. I'm getting it all done this weekend because temps are going to be outrageously high by Tuesday and I don't want to do it then. I'll chuck some ice cubes in the tanks if they're lucky.

[Pamelajo]

Mel I use the ends of romaine hearts with bottom still attached in my plant eater tanks. Seems to love the water. No softening. For the all the tanks brocoli stem cut length wise in half and cooked a bit lasts too. Celery leaves also stay very nice if uncooked, not sure about cooked.

[Melody]

I would never have thought of leaving the bottom attached - no sinking issues then. Thanks!

[happy_pitbull]

I used to use zuchinni and cucumber all the time, peeled it and just shoved a spoon through it to sink it. Then I realized how much my filters were getting all clogged and slimy really fast. This stuff I find fouls the water quickly.

Then I switched to canned green beans... rinsed, and split open into two halves. I drop these in with my guppies and plecos, and they all love them and nibble at them! Keep some BN's in with your guppies, and feed them green beans, and dont worry about having to find the leftovers, as there should not be any !



Min

[Melody]

The snails love green beans too :smile:

[hp10BII]

Can't offer any more suggestions than the great tips you've received already about food.

Just to comment on water changes for the big tanks. I've started using a 3/4" inside diameter hose for water changes and that makes a huge difference! I used a utility pump with the standard hoses and that took about 20 minutes to drain 35 gallons. Water changes then were at a leisurely pace, I clean out the sponge filters, pre-filters, tank wipe-downs, filter media etc. Now it takes about 5 minutes and I'm flying all over the room trying to get things done. Anything to make water changes easier...

[Melody]

Does this mean you'll come over in your spare time and do waterchanges for me? I have an air conditioner, beer and I'm wearing very little at the moment...ROFL. However, I'm allergic to wives armed with brooms so make sure you get permission first.:wideeyed:

[_BaDgUy_]

Didn't think you were like that Melody!! Had one too many beers?? :)

[Melody]

Like what? Its 40 degrees - NOBODY is wearing much of anything :laugh: No drinking - gotta work tomorrow and the last thing I need is to be more dehydrated in this heat!

[_BaDgUy_]

40 degrees?? where??
I don't wear much anyways, no matter what the temperature is!!

[Melody]

I didn't think you were like that! lol Actually its only 30 degrees now :rolleyes: . Not supposed to cool down until Sunday.

[_BaDgUy_]

Only 20 here...

But hey... when you weigh 350 pounds, it's always hot!!!

[Melody]

I would think so :yes: . I'm sure when I get my girlish figure back I will be a lot cooler too.:smile:

[_BaDgUy_]

:laugh:
Actually, if I weighed 350, I would have hanged myself a loooong time ago!!

[Melody]

Well that's the great thing about the internet - everyone is beautiful for all of the right reasons. ::D:

[hp10BII]

Does this mean you'll come over in your spare time and do waterchanges for me? I have an air conditioner, beer and I'm wearing very little at the moment...ROFL. However, I'm allergic to wives armed with brooms so make sure you get permission first.:wideeyed:

[cough...cough] uhmmmm...pretty lethal combination you got there Mel. The last time I was distracted (and I don't distract easily) was when I went to do a 10% waterchange and came back to this:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r295/hp10BII/IMG_4885.jpg


Now where did I put that heart medication? :wideeyed:

[CACAdmin]

Does this mean you'll come over in your spare time and do waterchanges for me? I have an air conditioner, beer and I'm wearing very little at the moment...ROFL. However, I'm allergic to wives armed with brooms so make sure you get permission first.:wideeyed:

Air conditioner you say? I'll be right over. I spent the day driving a cooking hot bus, drinking a bottle of water an hour, soaking my head in cold water at every opportunity and still have a headache from the heat. I moved here from Montreal years ago to get away from these temperatures.

[Melody]

Worse than wearing new Victoria's and walking in front of a TV during the Grey Cup - all you get is "Would you MOVE?!" lol

I can just see it, me striking a pose and Mr. hp10BII would be saying "I am trying to do this without killing your fish Missy, so either put on a sweater or stay out of the room until I'm done." and Mr. CACAdmin would be in the other room saying "You're blocking the air conditioner! Can't you go help Mr. hp10BII or something?"

:laugh:

You people are hard on my ego, but I must agree that fish are more interesting...lol.

So today I didn't feed them at all, which I really don't like doing but in this heat its kinder I think. I'll feed them a bit this morning before I go to work. If they get too hungry, they go fry-hunting.:wideeyed: Once the temp's settle down, I'll be trying some of the more stable vegies. I think I may alternate even - go with the nibbler food one day and other food the next.

How about fresh seaweed? That's gotta be stable in water?

[CACAdmin]

Worse than wearing new Victoria's and walking in front of a TV during the Grey Cup - all you get is "Would you MOVE?!" lol

I can just see it, me striking a pose and Mr. hp10BII would be saying "I am trying to do this without killing your fish Missy, so either put on a sweater or stay out of the room until I'm done." and Mr. CACAdmin would be in the other room saying "You're blocking the air conditioner! Can't you go help Mr. hp10BII or something?"

:laugh:

You people are hard on my ego, but I must agree that fish are more interesting...lol.

ROFL...I just figured if Mr. hp10BII was going to be busy doing water changes, you'd more likely be hanging out by the air conditioner (with me). :;):

[ChrissyFishy]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: You guys are insanely hilarious!!!

[thegrandpoohbah]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: You guys are insanely hilarious!!!
Or are we hilariously insane!?!? :yes:

[_BaDgUy_]

Or are we hilariously insane!?!? :yes:

:err:
I think that would be more appropriate!!

[Melody]

ROFL I suppose we're a little of both, but its part of our charm. ::D: