I have a 55 gal f/w planted tank with a mix of angels and tetras. There are also a bunch of snails that came in with the plants. The filtration is a Eheim Pro 3 canister and a Turbo-Twist UV. Normally, I would do 25% water changes every other week and put some Flourish and Flourish Excel in a few times a week.

I've been out of town quite a bit for work and neglecting the tank. I haven't done a partial water change in at least 2 months and have added no supplements. Since then, the tank has almost gotten better. The plants have gotten taller and filled in and the fish are just fine. Water is clear and test results are fine. Algae was a little thick in the beginning but almost all gone naturally now.

Is this "neglect" bad at all? The tank seems to be doing better on its own. Has it just naturally balanced out between the fish and the plants? I assume the algae has reduced because without new water coming in, there are no new phosphates coming in either.

Would appreciate your thoughts!

sounds to me like your maintenance is fine.

You just discovered that using the plants to do the heavy lifting require less human intervention.

I think you broke the code.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

You have phosphates in your tap?

With the exception of my vacation a few weeks ago where I lost power, every time I come home from being gone the plants have all grown like crazy and all the fish are fine. If you aren't dosing ferts, running CO2, or have a fairly high light on your tank, not sure how you can be anything but balanced. New water, as long as it is not nutrient rich, does not cause imbalance. For me, some of it is having not seen my tanks for a while...different when you see it everyday.

imho most people do have phosphates at some level in the tap water.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

I do!

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

I have no detectable levels...for a test kit anyway. I know some do.

It's my humble belief that a large chunk of the people involved in the hobby take a great deal of satisfaction micro-managing their tanks. A proper load of fish/plants/substrate/water and just stand back and let nature take it's course... Enjoy the fish and plants and chill... Bill in Va.

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

I've never tested the tap for phosphates, but in very general terms, I think a lot of the "stuff" that naturally comes in with tap water contributes to algae growth.