Do You Perform Water Changes Even if...

[euphoria]

your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all zero? Or do you guys perform it only when you notice an increase in any of these?

 

[viper_930]

I do weekly water changes no matter what. Water changes export excess nutrients, but also add many elements that the corals extract from the water.

 

[diane4]

I second that 100%.

 

[beerkegman]

I do water changes every week.

 

[euphoria]

thanks guys.
Would water changes be more efficient at keeping the Calcium, alkalinity, magnesium and other trace element levels in check than if I kept dosing with additives? I buy my saltwater from the LFS and it's from catalina. So I was wondering if adding the natural sea water to the tank more frequently would better maintain those levels better?
And my other question, is there such thing as too much water change or too frequent water change? Water changes for me are pretty effortless due to the way I setup my system, and I can do them very frequently.

 

[clown52]

I change 7 gal a week on my 55. Once I get my 30 gal sump going I may up it to 12 each week.
I think that the water changes do help keep those levels where they need to be w/o adding as much yourself. IMO anything you can do in a more natural way is a better way.

 

[surfer 2]

I have a 75 and usually do a 7 gallon water change every two weeks and all is well,, I agree with the above statements, water changes help to keep tank ballanced and nutrients up without doseing.

 

[druluv]

Even though I think water changes are good, I don't believe it can keep your (CA, Mg, KH, and trace elements) levels up. This of course is dependent on the corals you have in your tanks. Tanks that have a lot of sps corals mainly struggle to keep these values up. Even with a ca reactor I still have problems with my Mg, though my KH and CA are normal levels.
We also have to take into consideration that our beloved protein skimmer also skims a lot of good stuff in the water. Mostly Trace Elements, and plantonic foods for corals. All of these things adhere to the tiny bubbles in the protein skimmer.
Some people don't like to do water changes because they are afriad of the high toxic metal count in fresh artificial salt water mixes. I know I'll be attack for this. But there have been studies on this. Some say that after many water changes that these metals can accumulate to toxic levels in your tank.

 

[euphoria]

Well I buy the catalina water and it's just natural sea water. So would a 10% water change every week be too much?

 

[wax32]

Nope.

 

[druluv]

Originally Posted by EUPHORIA
Well I buy the catalina water and it's just natural sea water. So would a 10% water change every week be too much?
you are pretty lucky to access to fresh sea water

 

[75bownut]

I actually oppose using the sea water , you dont know what chemicals may be in it and you may also introduce spores from undesirable types of algea etc... IMO

 

[jupoc911]

i used that sea water for a while. be prepared because the salinity is only around 31-32 ppt and the calcium is low.

 

[euphoria]

actually I've never had salinity problems. It's usually been on the high side. The SG is about 1.024.
As far as calcium, you might be right. But I hate mixing my own salt and water, so I guess my next purchase would be a Ca reactor

 

[murph145]

i used to use catalina water but i switched over to making my own not only is it like less than half the price but u can always make your water the same exact way each time.... the cataline water i was getting had a salinity of 1.022 i run my tank at 1.025-.026 so i would add some salt anyways then i was thinking what am i doing stupid lol ive got my ro/di system just make my own i do 2 seperate 5 gallon changes every week on my 100G mixed reef ....
i use aqua via ocean pure pro series synthetic salt its a bit cheaper than others but bost to have a higher element count than others
ive tested it and found at 1.025 zero phosphates, nitrates, amonia, nitrites
magnesium was 1410
calcium was 450
alk was 9
ph was 8.1
this was all after mixing after 24 hours
works good for me and my corals
i think a water change is very important even if ur water is clean like mine always is its just routine if u start to skip now u will slack and when a problem is evident its a lot harder to fix after the fact than if u just did your maintenance the first time!!!
id recommend a 10% every week water change u might start lookin into makin ur own water once u get use to it its so easy and effortless its nice to have it laying around to not have to run to the LFS

 

[euphoria]

thanks. Only reason I may switch to doing my own water would be cuz of my back problem LOL. I keep hurting my back carrying those 5 gallon containers through my driveway into my backyard.
I may look into a good RO/DI unit and do the math and see if it's worth in the long run.
Thanks again