water change debate
- Thread starter primetizzle
- Start date
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by Sly
http:///forum/post/2781279
Like I said, I hardly ever do water changes... Depends on your tank's needs and the filtration. For filtration on my 72 I have:
http:///forum/post/2781279
Like I said, I hardly ever do water changes... Depends on your tank's needs and the filtration. For filtration on my 72 I have:
- Mangroves
- Chaetomorpha
- 80lbs. Live Rock
- DSB in refugium
- Algae Turf Scrubber
- Ozone
- MSX 160 Skimmer
UltraViolet Sterilizer
Auto-topoff RO/DI water
Wet/Dry
Lots of water circulation
Substantial clean up crew
Low bio-load
only use homemade food
privatejoker
Member
Originally Posted by 1knight164
http:///forum/post/2779709
Ten percent a week. Keep in mind that water changes are done to replace trace elements as well. Waiting a month may leave your tank depleted.
+1
If you have SPS and LPS you need to replace the trace elements. If you have a fish only then everyother week should be fine. I do 10% every week.
http:///forum/post/2779709
Ten percent a week. Keep in mind that water changes are done to replace trace elements as well. Waiting a month may leave your tank depleted.
+1
If you have SPS and LPS you need to replace the trace elements. If you have a fish only then everyother week should be fine. I do 10% every week.
notsonoob
Member
You can also buy those suppliments to replenish your tank of elements.
I was even considering recyling my salt water as well. All you would really need is a fuge full of cheato, trace elements, and maybe a bit of salt to replenish salinity.
I thought it may be better than just dumping it down my driveway, but I might just hold off on that if I can do without water changes.
I was even considering recyling my salt water as well. All you would really need is a fuge full of cheato, trace elements, and maybe a bit of salt to replenish salinity.
I thought it may be better than just dumping it down my driveway, but I might just hold off on that if I can do without water changes.
primetizzle
Member
ok let me ask you guys this. do you pull apart your plumbing and clean out the build up inside all the water lines?
rotarymagic
Active Member
Originally Posted by primetizzle
http:///forum/post/2782896
ok let me ask you guys this. do you pull apart your plumbing and clean out the build up inside all the water lines?
The build up only goes so far, typically featherdusters and tunicates won't overgrow plumbing and algae doesn't do well in darkness... I'd only really clean where detritus is going to accumulate, i.e. in the protein skimmer, sump floor, pumps, chiller unit.
http:///forum/post/2782896
ok let me ask you guys this. do you pull apart your plumbing and clean out the build up inside all the water lines?
The build up only goes so far, typically featherdusters and tunicates won't overgrow plumbing and algae doesn't do well in darkness... I'd only really clean where detritus is going to accumulate, i.e. in the protein skimmer, sump floor, pumps, chiller unit.
stdreb27
Active Member
I don't clean out my hard plumbing, but the hair algae in my clear pipes gets cleaned out every once in a while. it isn't necessarily a bad thing to have, because that stuff absorbs nutrients in the water, but it will eventually block the flow for the pump, in which case it is bad.
1knight164
Member
I clean out pumps to keep motor running smooth and intakes clean as well as the skimmer and chiller, but never in the same week. I alternate cleaning to reduce chances of throwing tank off balance, but that's a personal choice. I don't clean my hard lines.
nwdyr
Active Member
WOW allot of diff stuff!....ok I don't have a skimmer , sorry just don't believe in them (boy will I hear it 4 that!
) the cheap ones don't do anything and the good ones do too much. anyway because I don't have one I do a 10-20% w/c per week. then I add trace elements every 2 weeks. Like some people said above there is no "right" answer ,it what works for you based on what you keep and what your readings are. Good luck you will find whats right for you! There is allot of good info here from allot of really smart reefers! you came to the right place
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I hardly ever do water changes on my personal tanks. In most of my personal tanks I have very few fish, maybe 2 or three that I really really enjoy. For example - In my tanks I have:
1. RO Unit Auto top off
2. Refugiums with chaeto and deep sandbeds
3. Large protein skimmers that are working properly.
4. Regular monitoring of calcium and alkalinity.
I do admit that I occasionally do a 1 to 5 gallon water change every now and then - depending on what my salinity levels are, I occasionally top off with saltwater.
Then again, most people without deep sandbeds, fuges, good working protein skimmers etc. should do more frequent water changes to control waste problems.
Besides, it is good to do water changes because it replenishes trace elements and balances calcium and alkalinity levels.
1. RO Unit Auto top off
2. Refugiums with chaeto and deep sandbeds
3. Large protein skimmers that are working properly.
4. Regular monitoring of calcium and alkalinity.
I do admit that I occasionally do a 1 to 5 gallon water change every now and then - depending on what my salinity levels are, I occasionally top off with saltwater.
Then again, most people without deep sandbeds, fuges, good working protein skimmers etc. should do more frequent water changes to control waste problems.
Besides, it is good to do water changes because it replenishes trace elements and balances calcium and alkalinity levels.
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2783114
Besides, it is good to do water changes because it replenishes trace elements and balances calcium and alkalinity levels.
And it buffers your PH levels.
http:///forum/post/2783114
Besides, it is good to do water changes because it replenishes trace elements and balances calcium and alkalinity levels.
And it buffers your PH levels.
matt b
Active Member
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2783114
I hardly ever do water changes on my personal tanks. In most of my personal tanks I have very few fish, maybe 2 or three that I really really enjoy. For example - In my tanks I have:
1. RO Unit Auto top off
2. Refugiums with chaeto and deep sandbeds
3. Large protein skimmers that are working properly.
4. Regular monitoring of calcium and alkalinity.
I do admit that I occasionally do a 1 to 5 gallon water change every now and then - depending on what my salinity levels are, I occasionally top off with saltwater.
Then again, most people without deep sandbeds, fuges, good working protein skimmers etc. should do more frequent water changes to control waste problems.
Besides, it is good to do water changes because it replenishes trace elements and balances calcium and alkalinity levels.
Large skimmer, Alot of coral, and Few water changes is a bad idea IMO.
http:///forum/post/2783114
I hardly ever do water changes on my personal tanks. In most of my personal tanks I have very few fish, maybe 2 or three that I really really enjoy. For example - In my tanks I have:
1. RO Unit Auto top off
2. Refugiums with chaeto and deep sandbeds
3. Large protein skimmers that are working properly.
4. Regular monitoring of calcium and alkalinity.
I do admit that I occasionally do a 1 to 5 gallon water change every now and then - depending on what my salinity levels are, I occasionally top off with saltwater.
Then again, most people without deep sandbeds, fuges, good working protein skimmers etc. should do more frequent water changes to control waste problems.
Besides, it is good to do water changes because it replenishes trace elements and balances calcium and alkalinity levels.
Large skimmer, Alot of coral, and Few water changes is a bad idea IMO.
sly
Active Member
Originally Posted by MaTT B
http:///forum/post/2783132
Large skimmer, Alot of coral, and Few water changes is a bad idea IMO.
Why?
http:///forum/post/2783132
Large skimmer, Alot of coral, and Few water changes is a bad idea IMO.
Why?
matt b
Active Member
Originally Posted by Sly
http:///forum/post/2783163
Why?
Skimmers take out trace elements, corals take out trace elements, water changes put trace elements back in the water. And you do not want to dose alot and not do water changes. esspessially if you are dosing something like super dkh and turbo calcium.
http:///forum/post/2783163
Why?
Skimmers take out trace elements, corals take out trace elements, water changes put trace elements back in the water. And you do not want to dose alot and not do water changes. esspessially if you are dosing something like super dkh and turbo calcium.
stdreb27
Active Member
Originally Posted by MaTT B
http:///forum/post/2783170
Skimmers take out trace elements, corals take out trace elements, water changes put trace elements back in the water. And you do not want to dose alot and not do water changes. esspessially if you are dosing something like super dkh and turbo calcium.
I don't think so, organics yes, but I don't think it can remove disolved trace elements like CA. I may be wrong however.
http:///forum/post/2783170
Skimmers take out trace elements, corals take out trace elements, water changes put trace elements back in the water. And you do not want to dose alot and not do water changes. esspessially if you are dosing something like super dkh and turbo calcium.
I don't think so, organics yes, but I don't think it can remove disolved trace elements like CA. I may be wrong however.
matt b
Active Member
Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2783182
I don't think so, organics yes, but I don't think it can remove disolved trace elements like CA. I may be wrong however.
Not things like CA. but it takes out things that corals benefit from. You CAN over skim in a reef. I just think if you are going to spend money on mag, cal, buffer, huge skimmer, and all the other things that are in salt that you cannot dose why not just do a water change? Dont get me wrong I am for skimmers. But NO skimmer can replace a water change.
http:///forum/post/2783182
I don't think so, organics yes, but I don't think it can remove disolved trace elements like CA. I may be wrong however.
Not things like CA. but it takes out things that corals benefit from. You CAN over skim in a reef. I just think if you are going to spend money on mag, cal, buffer, huge skimmer, and all the other things that are in salt that you cannot dose why not just do a water change? Dont get me wrong I am for skimmers. But NO skimmer can replace a water change.
notsonoob
Member
Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2783011
I don't clean out my hard plumbing, but the hair algae in my clear pipes gets cleaned out every once in a while. it isn't necessarily a bad thing to have, because that stuff absorbs nutrients in the water, but it will eventually block the flow for the pump, in which case it is bad.
Right. Rule of thumb. Much better having it there than in the display. I have an additional algea scrubber in my overflow.
http:///forum/post/2783011
I don't clean out my hard plumbing, but the hair algae in my clear pipes gets cleaned out every once in a while. it isn't necessarily a bad thing to have, because that stuff absorbs nutrients in the water, but it will eventually block the flow for the pump, in which case it is bad.
Right. Rule of thumb. Much better having it there than in the display. I have an additional algea scrubber in my overflow.
