* Inabón Yunes wrote, On 11/10/2006 9:12 PM:
maybe the need is caused by her LFS...

Maybe it's because I enjoy doing it.
If I depended on the LFS, I would definitely have more problems...
I stare at the tank all the time. Sometimes I like to DO some
housekeeping in there. And new water so clearly makes the critters happy. They
zip around, shake their booty and check things out.

"bo0ger1" .@. wrote in message
m...

At what point do you "see the need"? What are your requirements?

I look at the tank every day. I know what it should look like. If it
doesn't look right and I can't fix it by cleaning the glass, I change some water.

If you
are taking water measurements for nitrate, ammonia, or nitrite and these
specs are qualifiers for your "need" to do a water change, than you have
other problems.

I'm not.
I have a test kit, but I very seldom use it because I don't need to. I
look at the tank every day, and if it looks less than tip-top I change some
water. I've been keeping fish for years and after awhile you can tell by
looking. knock on wood
Granted, I have a couple small tanks, deep sand, lots of rocks, low
bio-load, no sumps, no skimmers. If I were running a large system, I'd have a
lot more equipment and I'd test at least once a month. Heck, maybe even twice.
I just got a job, maybe I'll even add a refugium so my mangroves don't
have to grow in the tanks. What fun!

Your "need" to do a water change is masking a problem.
I have a feeling that your "need" to do a water change is purely
ritualistic.

Could be. Maybe it's that nesting urge. Meanwhile it maakes me AND my
fish happy and prevents any major water quality problems from appearing, so I
don't consider it a waste of time.
I would definitely never recommend against regular water changes in a
forum frequented by newbies looking for help who might take it as gospel and
don't have the experience to take good care of their own tanks withOUT said
changes. If you can afford this hobby at all, aquarium salt is not going to
break the bank.

Cindy