how often should I change water
- Thread starter glengoby
- Start date
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by GlenGoby
got a 46 gal. bowfrnt how often should I change water, I have done 2 20 percent changes in the last 3 months, is this good or bad.
I do 10% changes weekly on my 46 bow. You need to keep up with the changes. If you cant do it weekly then bi-weekly changes of 20% is good.
got a 46 gal. bowfrnt how often should I change water, I have done 2 20 percent changes in the last 3 months, is this good or bad.
I do 10% changes weekly on my 46 bow. You need to keep up with the changes. If you cant do it weekly then bi-weekly changes of 20% is good.
drew2005
Active Member
Originally Posted by GlenGoby
so then I am not keeping up where I should be and I am probaly hurting the tank then.
IMO i wouldnt wait to do changes for that long. But for some people it works. I do 10% weekly for my own piece of mind. I know the tank is maintained. Its clean. Trace elements get replenished. My coral and fish are very happy with what i do. Havent had a single death in over a year other than snails falling victim to hermit crabs.
so then I am not keeping up where I should be and I am probaly hurting the tank then.
IMO i wouldnt wait to do changes for that long. But for some people it works. I do 10% weekly for my own piece of mind. I know the tank is maintained. Its clean. Trace elements get replenished. My coral and fish are very happy with what i do. Havent had a single death in over a year other than snails falling victim to hermit crabs.
puffer32
Active Member
Originally Posted by crackers
I would think that if all your test are coming out fine, then why would you need to replace water at all other than to refil due to evaporation... am I wrong by thinking this?
IMO yes, you are wrong not to do water changes. Even if everything isa good, water changes make it better! I change out 20 or 30 gal out of my 150 biweekly so things remain good. Especially if you have corals, changes put back lost essential elements. Do you test for calc and ask? If you don't, and have corals, you would be doing them a favor by at least monthly water changes.
I would think that if all your test are coming out fine, then why would you need to replace water at all other than to refil due to evaporation... am I wrong by thinking this?
IMO yes, you are wrong not to do water changes. Even if everything isa good, water changes make it better! I change out 20 or 30 gal out of my 150 biweekly so things remain good. Especially if you have corals, changes put back lost essential elements. Do you test for calc and ask? If you don't, and have corals, you would be doing them a favor by at least monthly water changes.
120reefer
Member
If your bioload is at a minimum like Drew, doing 20% a month is OK. We mainly think of doing water changes to keep the parameters in order, but we also do it to replenish valuable trace elements in the tank that your livestock will use up over time. Obviously, with a thinner livestock, they don't use as much and you might be able to get away with it. For most tanks, 10% every week, or like mentioned before... 20% biweekly is good. I mainly just do about 10-15% a week just to ensure all my livestock is happy, for the past couple of years.... it seems to have worked out great
crackers
Member
Thanks, I will start the pactice of 10% a week. Right now I just have about 50lbs of LR w/ LS in a 46 bow front. Cleaning crew and one angel fish. All test are good cycle is done (i think nitrates are 25 and tires and amo = 0) however I have been unable to raise the calc over 380 since inceprtion of the tank 1 month ago, perhaps the water changes will lower the trates and raise the calc before I get some corals?