Water changes while parameters are good?

[Suda Nim]

Not that a weekly partial water change is onerous with a five-gallon tank (I use a gallon pitcher), but I'm wondering if it's necessary when readings are low.

I've got a fully cycled tank, live plants, and readings have been consistently 0-0-0 since the cycle settled down.

I get some mulm from the gravel vacuum, so it feels useful. But is it really necessary as long as nitrates are low?

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p.s. I love the word "mulm" - both because it's great that that gunk has a name, and "mulm" is fun to day. Mulm mulm mulm...

[ScottishFish]

In a larger body of water I would say you could stretch out your water changes if the readings were good. But being a 5gallon things build up really quick, so I would advise on keeping up the water changes. I personaly would lose sleep if my tanks weren't getting changed routinely

[Lady Hobbs]

I seldom every test my water. But I still do 50% weekly.

[Cliff]

Weekly water changes also help keep other things in balance that we normally do not test for, like hormones or electrolights (spelling) if I am remembering correctly

[Suda Nim]

I personaly would lose sleep if my tanks weren't getting changed routinely

This last weekend was the first time since I stocked the tank that I didn't come in over the weekend to check things. I read lots, and intellectually I know that my tank is stable, I did the water change Friday evening, and cold-blooded creatures don't need to eat as often as mammals do.

I still woke up this morning from a nightmare of coming into work to a tank so murky that I couldn't see into it and the fish couldn't see to get the food. So apparently my subconscious hasn't gotten the memo yet.

[Strider199]

Glad to see you have the same guilt index as most of us.

Keep the weekly water changes going Suda Nim.

[Trillianne]

Cliff has it imo.

Especially if you have a planted tank... think of all the minerals in the water that your plants are using up... fresh water = more minerals

[homemadepopcorn]

This last weekend was the first time since I stocked the tank that I didn't come in over the weekend to check things. I read lots, and intellectually I know that my tank is stable, I did the water change Friday evening, and cold-blooded creatures don't need to eat as often as mammals do.

I still woke up this morning from a nightmare of coming into work to a tank so murky that I couldn't see into it and the fish couldn't see to get the food. So apparently my subconscious hasn't gotten the memo yet.

Oh my... well then for your own health you best do it.

Water changes in a stable tank replenish a lot of different minerals and trace elements which get used up. You could get away with not doing a weekly change, but it would probably negatively impact the health of your tank in the long run.