consequences of no water change in outdoor fgt for a year

[millenium]

I only let rain water top up water level. However, I do wash a top filter foam weekly and clean off the algae off the tank weekly. The theory is the controlled algae growth will remove nitrate.

I was wrong. After 6-9 months, all ten angel fishes died one after another. After I bought 4 new barb, and all died after I put in tank I became suspicious. I use a ph pen to test the water which registered 3.2. No wonder my fishes died.

I collected some rain water yesterday and test the ph, the pen show 4.4.

[900801]

It depends, like one of my outdoor fgt the overhead filter is mostly stocked with coral chip to prevent the ph from crashing. Have not done wc for more than 6 months already just top up with rain water or tap water if the water gets too Low. Live stock are snails, ghost shrimp, soon hock, plecos and guppies.

[vadriewyn]

Rain water is quite volatile in its nature. Highly dependant on weather conditions (dust particles, etc).. It's also usually acidic IMHO. So the low pH isn't unexpected, especially since there's nothing to buffer it with. TDS would probably be lower than usual as well, leading to extremely soft water.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[millenium]

Originally Posted by 900801

It depends, like one of my outdoor fgt the overhead filter is mostly stocked with coral chip to prevent the ph from crashing. Have not done wc for more than 6 months already just top up with rain water or tap water if the water gets too Low. Live stock are snails, ghost shrimp, soon hock, plecos and guppies.

Originally Posted by vadriewyn

Rain water is quite volatile in its nature. Highly dependant on weather conditions (dust particles, etc).. It's also usually acidic IMHO. So the low pH isn't unexpected, especially since there's nothing to buffer it with. TDS would probably be lower than usual as well, leading to extremely soft water.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

I am going to redo all the water and add coral chip.

[DragonFireSG]

Water change is important. Bio filter doesn't deal with dissolved organics and other chems coming in from rain water. Haze time we get acid rain.

[millenium]

Originally Posted by DragonFireSG

Water change is important. Bio filter doesn't deal with dissolved organics and other chems coming in from rain water. Haze time we get acid rain.

Yesterday I checked the ph of the rain water I collected. The ph is 6.9. A few days ago I checked the ph was 7.2. Then I checked the ph in the filter box water before I use it to water plants, 3.0, so I think it is due to no water change plus acid rain.

[ThomasLim]

Originally Posted by millenium

Yesterday I checked the ph of the rain water I collected. The ph is 6.9. A few days ago I checked the ph was 7.2. Then I checked the ph in the filter box water before I use it to water plants, 3.0, so I think it is due to no water change plus acid rain.

Bro, with that low pH in yr filter, I dont think yr Bb will survive... Better be careful ehen u do wc, dont pH shock yr fish. I am lazy to monitor and dose the baking soda daily, thus I put in a lot of coral shells and coral chips. Good luck!

[ThomasLim]

Oyster shells... Paisei...

[millenium]

Originally Posted by ThomasLim

Bro, with that low pH in yr filter, I dont think yr Bb will survive... Better be careful ehen u do wc, dont pH shock yr fish. I am lazy to monitor and dose the baking soda daily, thus I put in a lot of coral shells and coral chips. Good luck!

Yes bro. Intend to add coral chips when I restart the tank. By the way do u think the uv light I using kill most of the bb in water? If so is there a negative effect that I should stop using it?

[ThomasLim]

Originally Posted by millenium

Yes bro. Intend to add coral chips when I restart the tank. By the way do u think the uv light I using kill most of the bb in water? If so is there a negative effect that I should stop using it?

U put the uv light in yr filter together with your filter media? I put my uv lighting at the last chamber, only with the pumps.