Water change ?????to do or not to do

[geoj]

Originally Posted by New2Salt1
http:///forum/post/3180942
I also want to touch on the logic of the post.
You claim that we don't know what trace element levels are enough/too little/too much. But in the same breath you say some trace elements will become "chronically low" so the only way to raise these trace elements is dose the tank?

huh???
Please understand I agree that we don't know as much about trace elements as we do major elements - Im simply questioning the LOGIC of your argument. I mean, if what you say is true and we don't know what is "enough," then how could we possibly define a trace element reading as being "chronically low?"
If you are going to assume that the salt company has it close enough.

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by GeoJ
http:///forum/post/3180953
Each element is different
With calcium and alkalinity...it is not by dilution with 20% new water that calcium goes up after a water change...it is through chemistry.

This will be my last response because there will obviously be no practical discussion happening here. I will just say it's a shame when people are unable to take science and use it in practical applications. To say "it's not the water change, it's chemistry" shows a severe inability to translate science in to something people can use.
When corals use up calcium in my tank, and I add a fresh mix of water that has a HIGHER CALCIUM CONCENTRATION than that of my tank, THE CALCIUM GOES UP!!! Through regular water changes, it's like magic! I get a calc reading of 400-420, an alk reading of 8-9, and my PH is 8.3-8.4.
So yes, this IS CHEMISTRY. And yes, this happy balance is achieved by changing my frikkin water 10-20%.
PS - Calcium is not a trace element so unless you were just conveniently ignoring the benefits of water changes on major elements, your contribution was very misguiding and weak. Poor Racing Tiger read your post and thought his water changes were potentially lowering things like Calcium, which is obviously not true. The truth is, your "claims" are so convoluted that nothing useful can be gained by reading them. I mean seriously, what is to be learned by saying, "Well, some things go up and some things go down, some things get used up and some don't...blah blah blah."
It seems to me you read a study and took nothing from it.

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by GeoJ
http:///forum/post/3180955
Some trace elements are used and then given back to the water remaining at a constant level. Others are rapidly taken up and are not given back. Some are slowly used up. So some of the trace elements must be boosted the salt mix can’t do it there is not enough of these in the mix. You would have to do a 100% water change.
If you are going to assume that the salt company has it close enough.

Assume the salt company has WHAT CLOSE ENOUGH???
Wasn't it you who said there is no "correct" level for trace elements?
Im sorry, I cant continue to post when the responses are sentence fragments that lead to nowheresville...

 

[racingtiger03]

Originally Posted by New2Salt1
http:///forum/post/3180960
Poor Racing Tiger read your post and thought his water changes were potentially lowering things like Calcium, which is obviously not true.
I think you missed the boat on this one. He said nothing of the major elements in water. As I even mentioned I had been reading up on the balance of certain major elements. He was speaking only on the TRACE elements in the salt mixes and how doing ONLY small water changes would leave them still constantly falling over time. The major elements that are abundent are fine to be replaced by small water changes depending on your salt mix. A perfect example is my oceanic salt, even with 10-20% water changes every week I still have to boost DKH and PH once every two months or so. According to that all I need to do is boost DKH more often, and perhaps calcium depending on how it reads over time, but I could possibly go up to a month or more without changing my water. (nitrates and phosphates have been staying low to non-existent). Similiar to that the statement of "if the salt company has it right" is referring to the amount of trace elements put into the salt initially. By that he means perhaps you may have to boost trace elements from the beginning if your particular brand of salt does not have the correct balance of them. My reasoning behind my constant changes was only based on trace elements, which he was stating is not a valid reason for doing small water changes more often. Perhaps you should re-read his post a little closer as well as mine.

 

[asharp13]

This is absurd hahaha, do water changes they're good for you and the tank. Plus it gives u an excuse to stare at ur tank for a while...and remember never dose what u don't test for

 

[geoj]

Originally Posted by asharp13
http:///forum/post/3181262
This is absurd hahaha, do water changes they're good for you and the tank. Plus it gives u an excuse to stare at ur tank for a while...and remember never dose what u don't test for