How often do you do a h2o change? (honestly)

S

sinner's girl

Guest
I can't remember the last time we did a water change, i guess we're lucky or have a low maintance tank?, i did test last night and everything was perfect. as soon as i get to wal-mart to buy water we will clean the tank and add water.
just wondering...as i see most people seem to say they do it often...and that's most likly the only reason i feel the need to do one...(other then the fact that the tank needs water...)
 
jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Active Member
I very rarely do an actual water change. My mimic tang only goes to the bathroom in one corner of the tank, so after a few days, I get a little pile of fish waste that needs to be cleaned up. So I syphon it out, and replace the water once a week. I probably syphon out about .5 gallons of water each time I do it, and I do it about twice a week. So between that and replacing evaporated water, I add 5g new water every 7-10 days.
Not sure if you consider that a water change, but that's what I do.
 
kris

kris

Member
Usually do 30-40 every month. Having a low maintenance tank however was important when i planned it though cause I knew I wouldn't have time to mess with my tank much. Thinks like not overstocking and not overfeeding and good filtration and less sensitive fish make for a pretty low-maint. tank. Truth be told I let my tank go (not purposely of course) 13 weeks with nothing but water top-offs and had no problems except the trates went to 30. well and it sure looked like **** but the fish didn't care. Almost makes me want to test just how long i could really push it--without it falling apart. I don't think I'll test it, and I hope no one else does either. The only way you'd know for sure is to wake up to a tank of dead fish and go ---oh! I guess thats thats how far I can put off water changes, just -1day.
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I havn't done one in well over a year now.But the combination of having a lightly stocked tank,,,Lots of rock and sand(both live),,complex filteration,,MONSTER Skimmer,,,large water volume(over 150gallons),,Refugium,,and dosing with coral vite to replace trace elements,all contribute to a well balanced system...
 
S

sinner's girl

Guest
anthem ~ perfect would be I guess zero for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. which is all I've tested for. I tested the salinty(sp) before adding water earlier and it was a little high, (but we haven't been topping off water so that's expected).
I added 3gl of water, will add the other 3gl later (didn't want too big a change in temp or salintiy (sp). we didn't take any water out, Sinner didn't want to since all test were zero.
Kris~ even though we don't do much mantance we don't have any algea problems or anything. once we had an algea problem...the timer broke...light were on for 48hrs or more...
 
striker

striker

Member
Once a month I empty 10% into a bucket wait a few minutes and pour it back in. I don't know if that counts though. My lfs said it was ok. <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" /> <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" /> <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I truly hope you are kidding.If not that has got to be the all time worse LFS advise I have ever heard.......
 
naturelover

naturelover

Member
48 gal FOWLR had only 2 water changes in an year Both times the water and filteration media, LR were used for the new setups. 29gal FO is been running almost 9 months without water change. 75gal Reef is going on 4th month without water change. But topoffs done every week with 5gal water in 75gal, every 2-3 weeks 5gal for 48gal and 29gal.
 
striker

striker

Member
Just kidding!! My lfs is pretty bad but I think they would be out of business if they handed out advise like that. I do 10% a month change with distilled water.
 
chainsaw5vent

chainsaw5vent

Member
about 15 gal since tank inception.(10/01) top of w/ r/o water as needed 3-5 gallons every 4-5 days. 4 fish, 4 snails, 2 hermits, 3 starfish in 125 reef.
 
livingwater

livingwater

Member
in my 150 i did one every 2 months about (30%). and the water was not pefect. in my 280 i do once a month but on about 20%. and my water is alot beter and i dont run the skimmer all the time .............only when the lights are on.
and i feed alot becasue i have pretty nice size fish and alot of them. i am at my max in fish capacity. i will have to get rid of some in about a year or 2 because they will grow.
as far as water...............i think it best to stick to once a month at least. with my 55 about 2 years ago i did it every 2 weeks. and that water was perfect. then again i had smaller fish and only feed once a day.
 
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