water change 20% or 50%???

[imfsub12]

Ok we have done our fist 20% water change on march 22..
and will do another one on april 22...
Oh we have a 29 G tank..
Was talking to my GF and she though we had to do a 50% change???? at some point...
is this true..

 

[reefkprz]

you dont have to, but when I do water changes on my 2.5 I do a gallon sometimes 2. large water changes are good as long as the temp and SG are EXACTLY the same. they help replenish all the trace elements and seriously reduce any pollution. in small tanks this is very important because once something goes wrong with the small amount of water it goes wrong very fast and can be hard to catch before it does serious damage. no coral or fish has ever died from having pollution removed. only the shock of doing large water changes with off temp or salinity water.
I think you should consider doing water changes more often than once a month.

 

[imfsub12]

ok thanks...
so again all i really have to check for is temp and SG.. (unless i have to raise or lower the SG)
do i have to use my test kit on my new batch i make up????

 

[reefkprz]

I wouldnt signifigantly raise or lower your SG while doing a water change, you can do it slowly though small water changes but if you change it too much during a large one you can do serious damage to your tank inhabitants like inverts and stars.

 

[perfectdark]

I have the 29 gal bio and I do a 15% water change every 2 weeks. My water is purchased thru my LFS RO/DI premixed with salt. About 2 days before my changes I stick a heater in there to get the temp to about 78 or so. So far it has worked out well.

 

[imfsub12]

thanks reefkpr that good to know about the change in SG...
and thanks perfectdark.. as well.. but i do make my own water up here.. .what i do .. is i got a cheep heater.. and it think its stuck on MAX so my water is like 80 or so so i have to unplug it long before i add the water to my tank.. to cool it off...
i will eventual buy a new one as a back up..