10days w/o a pwc...too risky?

**mizzoutank** · 04-15-2013, 01:12 AM

Update for no reason...

50% pwc yesterday
50% pwc today

added in 4 more bunches of the elodea (anarchis) to help with nitrates

feeding only twice while i'm gone.

should be set!

**Limming** · 04-15-2013, 01:50 AM

That should keep the water quality up sounds like you're set!

**Goes to 11!** · 04-15-2013, 02:16 AM

Originally Posted by Cliff

The biggest concern that I would have in your situation is nitrate build-up over that lenght of time.

If they will be fed less than normal while your gone, and you normally do not have higher levels of nitrate, you should be fine

This was exactly my thought process also MIzzou, What do your TrAtes usually get up to just before a WC?

**mizzoutank** · 04-15-2013, 02:36 AM

I'll be honest, it's been a while since I tested the params...after a while-it's established and nothing changes too much. :/ (unless I add new fish, then I test)

But when it was planted pretty decently, i was running maybe 10-15ppm at the end of the week.

it hasn't been planted for a month, so maybe they get up a little higher. so thats why i threw in like 20stalks of that anarchis to be safe and use later when move the tank again, b/c of cliff's valid point of the trates.

**Goes to 11!** · 04-15-2013, 02:41 AM

I know the feeling wrt testing lol

Sounds like you have heaps of headroom as far as parameters go, I don't think I would be stressing about it if I were you.

Do a BIG WC right before you go and one right when you get back and life goes on

**mizzoutank** · 04-15-2013, 02:55 AM

haha, glad i'm not the only one.

Thanks for that!

Life better go on-I have a GBR and big cardinal tetra school waiting to be put on display.

**Goes to 11!** · 04-15-2013, 03:02 AM

Yeah the QT would be a larger concern of the two for me actually due its smaller volume and stock.. Still not in the 'brown trouser' category but literally less margin to work with you know.

**Limming** · 04-15-2013, 03:04 AM

Might not hurt to throw some plants into the QT to keep trates down.

**mizzoutank** · 04-15-2013, 03:12 AM

Valid point-but with no light besides what gets through the blinds-it won't "survive enough" to absorb nitrates :/ I thought the plants would start to die causing more issues w/ rotting leaves and such. (or at least that was my mindset) good thinking tho limming.

It still is a big concern of mine-my comfort lies in that there's a 40gal sponge filter on that smaller tank to help.

I was super tempted to add them in to the main, but its only been 12 days in the QT. so a bigger risk for them in the main w/ potential disease.

sigh, can't do much about it :/ (i leave in 6hrs. haha)

**Limming** · 04-15-2013, 04:30 AM

Good idea not to put the plants in. I think you'll just have to risk the nitrate build up should be ok though with only a few feedings and a large filter.