deejeff442
Active Member
i havnt done a water change in probably 10 weeks .i have been so busy with work and building a house. well so far i lost my blonde naso,nice big monti, 2 torch corals and an acorn. yep water changes are a must.
water changes, or the lack thereof
- Thread starter reefkprz
- Start date
slice
Active Member
I've been all over the place with W/C frequency, but the growth, color and general appearance of my coral is markedly improved with regular changes. I just finished this weeks 10% change for 3 weeks in a row and I am very happy with what I see.
I didn't notice as much response when I used to use IO, but I swear by AquaVitro Salinity.
I didn't notice as much response when I used to use IO, but I swear by AquaVitro Salinity.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Back when I was being a good boy, I would do 5g WC's on the 37 horse tank every week. I'm going back to that schedule. Tank always looked its best when I was actively working in it.
reefkprz
Active Member
in my experience 30% waterchanges are about the magic number for maintaining elements and reducing pollutants. at 30% the curve straightens out and oyu can maintain just below normal levels, less than that and you get a slow decline, or increase depending on if your talking maintaining or decreasing elements or pollutants.
its also another reason I like my 50% waterchanges to get a good reset on my elements or a serious decrease. since some things are removed by no other means like chlorides and sulphates. (well in theory you could use a dialysis machine to derease suphates and chlorides but seriously who runs a dialysis machine on their tank)
I also like the thought of removing organic by products that are slowly buildign up that you dont test for. you dont have a test kit for terpenoid compounds, or for metabolic compounds.....
its also another reason I like my 50% waterchanges to get a good reset on my elements or a serious decrease. since some things are removed by no other means like chlorides and sulphates. (well in theory you could use a dialysis machine to derease suphates and chlorides but seriously who runs a dialysis machine on their tank)
I also like the thought of removing organic by products that are slowly buildign up that you dont test for. you dont have a test kit for terpenoid compounds, or for metabolic compounds.....
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
It's a closed system in which you do not add anything or take anything away from the water - Elements get used and re-used. Organisms take in those elements and once the organism dies, that element is then returned back into the water column. If you use something like a calcium reactor, then you are adding not only calcium and alkalinity and magnesium, but also many trace elements already found in natural sea water. If the purpose of a water change is to replace elements that have been used up, why are there so many successful lazy man tanks out there?
All kinds of other filtration remove other chemicals and leftovers that exist in the water column - protein skimmers remove sooo many things. Mechanical filtration also can remove a good bit of slime. Carbon filtration can remove all kinds of toxins from the water column.
MY purpose for doing water changes isn't to replace elements, but to remove large amounts of waste from a system. IE lightly gravel vac'ing a sandbed, blowing rocks out deeply with a powerhead and siphoning as much out as possible, removing detritus from the sump, etc. etc. The things that any amount of filtration does not take care of.
So, whether it takes me 5g for 50g to get that done, at doesn't matter to me, as long as a significant amount of waste is removed via the water change.
All kinds of other filtration remove other chemicals and leftovers that exist in the water column - protein skimmers remove sooo many things. Mechanical filtration also can remove a good bit of slime. Carbon filtration can remove all kinds of toxins from the water column.
MY purpose for doing water changes isn't to replace elements, but to remove large amounts of waste from a system. IE lightly gravel vac'ing a sandbed, blowing rocks out deeply with a powerhead and siphoning as much out as possible, removing detritus from the sump, etc. etc. The things that any amount of filtration does not take care of.
So, whether it takes me 5g for 50g to get that done, at doesn't matter to me, as long as a significant amount of waste is removed via the water change.
reefkprz
Active Member
now the used and re used theory kind of excites me, or gets me thinking rather. all my tanks I grow frag remove, and add organisms at a rather crazy rate, which is why none of my tanks ever look like those show tanks. I frag and remove corals constantly, and few of my corals once my tank gets going die to return whatever they have consumed to the closed system. I think a lot gets locked away into the corals growth that cant get returned without them dying, hence the need for so many do dose calcium and alkalinity and magnesium. then there is the "oither" untestables. I think eventually the lazy amns tanks will hit a critical "low" in something, or a critical HIgh in something else and experience problems. amnd eventually wind up with waterchanges because they cant figure out anyother way to remedy the situation. of course I could be wrong which is the point of this thread.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485487
now the used and re used theory kind of excites me, or gets me thinking rather. all my tanks I grow frag remove, and add organisms at a rather crazy rate, which is why none of my tanks ever look like those show tanks. I frag and remove corals constantly, and few of my corals once my tank gets going die to return whatever they have consumed to the closed system. I think a lot gets locked away into the corals growth that cant get returned without them dying, hence the need for so many do dose calcium and alkalinity and magnesium. then there is the "oither" untestables. I think eventually the lazy amns tanks will hit a critical "low" in something, or a critical HIgh in something else and experience problems. amnd eventually wind up with waterchanges because they cant figure out anyother way to remedy the situation. of course I could be wrong which is the point of this thread.
I can't help but comment. I don't care how well you treat your tank... someday, someway for some reason...something is going to go wrong. Your odds of that bad thing happening are equal to the lazy mans tank. Heaters burst, pumps fail, lights blow, tanks leak...the tank crash gremlins are always lurking. I read about a beautiful reef in a public aquarium that had something start eating the corals....for years it had been established, but they had to dismantle it to find the eater...turned out to be an 8 foot bobbit worm.
We could argue all day about adding supplements Vs doing water changes. To say eventually a water change will have to be done, is still less work than a water change every week or month.
There are some things that are a must, such as matching the SG and making sure there is enough oxygen exchange. However, the water change is a grey area of what works best with each persons tank and personality. The purpose of a hobby is to give us something we enjoy doing. Some of us like to shop for fish and critters, some like to really get into the technical aspects, some just like to enjoy watching the fish swim around....LOL..and then there are those who like to always have their hands in the tank doing something, from water changes to rearranging the rocks or fragging the corals.
Some of us want that perfect tank, and looking beautiful, while others are happy if everything is still alive each morning.
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485487
now the used and re used theory kind of excites me, or gets me thinking rather. all my tanks I grow frag remove, and add organisms at a rather crazy rate, which is why none of my tanks ever look like those show tanks. I frag and remove corals constantly, and few of my corals once my tank gets going die to return whatever they have consumed to the closed system. I think a lot gets locked away into the corals growth that cant get returned without them dying, hence the need for so many do dose calcium and alkalinity and magnesium. then there is the "oither" untestables. I think eventually the lazy amns tanks will hit a critical "low" in something, or a critical HIgh in something else and experience problems. amnd eventually wind up with waterchanges because they cant figure out anyother way to remedy the situation. of course I could be wrong which is the point of this thread.
I can't help but comment. I don't care how well you treat your tank... someday, someway for some reason...something is going to go wrong. Your odds of that bad thing happening are equal to the lazy mans tank. Heaters burst, pumps fail, lights blow, tanks leak...the tank crash gremlins are always lurking. I read about a beautiful reef in a public aquarium that had something start eating the corals....for years it had been established, but they had to dismantle it to find the eater...turned out to be an 8 foot bobbit worm.
We could argue all day about adding supplements Vs doing water changes. To say eventually a water change will have to be done, is still less work than a water change every week or month.
There are some things that are a must, such as matching the SG and making sure there is enough oxygen exchange. However, the water change is a grey area of what works best with each persons tank and personality. The purpose of a hobby is to give us something we enjoy doing. Some of us like to shop for fish and critters, some like to really get into the technical aspects, some just like to enjoy watching the fish swim around....LOL..and then there are those who like to always have their hands in the tank doing something, from water changes to rearranging the rocks or fragging the corals.
Some of us want that perfect tank, and looking beautiful, while others are happy if everything is still alive each morning.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm one of those people who like the equipment, chemistry and technical aspects of the hobby. The livestock is awesome, and that is the whole purpose of keeping a saltwater aquarium, however, I like to tweak my chemistry and learn what I can in order to not only keep my pets alive and surviving - but growing and thriving.
Tank Gremlins - hah, I love it. Yeah, always seems that there is going to be something that goes haywire with the tank that needs attention. But, it's just part of the hobby, like anything else. There will always be equipment failures, chemistry crashes, livestock deaths and all matter in between, no matter how many or how few water changes we do to keep the critters alive.
I think that a lot of people misunderstand what the purpose is of a water change in today's modern reef keeping. There are soo many pieces of equipment out there that filter the water of almost all toxins, chemicals, dissolved and particulate organic matter, nitrates and phosphates that exist in the aquarium can be filtered out. There are pieces of equipment that add trace elements and major elements back into the water column in proper amounts. There are monitors and controllers which keep the pH and temperature stable and all other pieces of equipment in check. The only thing for me that is missing - is actually getting the solid wastes that build up in the tank through proper water changes. "Proper" for me means that not only do you remove old water and add new water, but you also have to siphon out all the detritus, debris, solid wastes, top 1" of sandbed, and any other decaying organic matter in the system to keep it in check.
... As a side note...
Has anyone ever licked a little bit of their new salt water? It really does taste like salt + water. So, has anyone ever started a siphon and gotten a little tank water in their mouth? It tastes like saltwater, except it has a kick to it - quite a bit differently than regular newly mixed saltwater. So, I admit - there is some small amount of benefit of just removing old water and replacing it with new - the point is to siphon out as much of the gunk/crud in the system as possible while also siphoning out the water, at least that is the purpose of a water change for me.
Tank Gremlins - hah, I love it. Yeah, always seems that there is going to be something that goes haywire with the tank that needs attention. But, it's just part of the hobby, like anything else. There will always be equipment failures, chemistry crashes, livestock deaths and all matter in between, no matter how many or how few water changes we do to keep the critters alive.
I think that a lot of people misunderstand what the purpose is of a water change in today's modern reef keeping. There are soo many pieces of equipment out there that filter the water of almost all toxins, chemicals, dissolved and particulate organic matter, nitrates and phosphates that exist in the aquarium can be filtered out. There are pieces of equipment that add trace elements and major elements back into the water column in proper amounts. There are monitors and controllers which keep the pH and temperature stable and all other pieces of equipment in check. The only thing for me that is missing - is actually getting the solid wastes that build up in the tank through proper water changes. "Proper" for me means that not only do you remove old water and add new water, but you also have to siphon out all the detritus, debris, solid wastes, top 1" of sandbed, and any other decaying organic matter in the system to keep it in check.
... As a side note...
Has anyone ever licked a little bit of their new salt water? It really does taste like salt + water. So, has anyone ever started a siphon and gotten a little tank water in their mouth? It tastes like saltwater, except it has a kick to it - quite a bit differently than regular newly mixed saltwater. So, I admit - there is some small amount of benefit of just removing old water and replacing it with new - the point is to siphon out as much of the gunk/crud in the system as possible while also siphoning out the water, at least that is the purpose of a water change for me.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485516
... As a side note...
Has anyone ever licked a little bit of their new salt water? It really does taste like salt + water. So, has anyone ever started a siphon and gotten a little tank water in their mouth? It tastes like saltwater, except it has a kick to it - quite a bit differently than regular newly mixed saltwater. So, I admit - there is some small amount of benefit of just removing old water and replacing it with new - the point is to siphon out as much of the gunk/crud in the system as possible while also siphoning out the water, at least that is the purpose of a water change for me.
LOL...In an effort to fix a faulty gizmo, I have swallowed my share of nasty tank water (fresh and salt) I was always too busy spitting and washing my mouth out with Listerine in a hope of staving off some horrible infection from it that I never thought of what it tastes like.
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485516
... As a side note...
Has anyone ever licked a little bit of their new salt water? It really does taste like salt + water. So, has anyone ever started a siphon and gotten a little tank water in their mouth? It tastes like saltwater, except it has a kick to it - quite a bit differently than regular newly mixed saltwater. So, I admit - there is some small amount of benefit of just removing old water and replacing it with new - the point is to siphon out as much of the gunk/crud in the system as possible while also siphoning out the water, at least that is the purpose of a water change for me.
LOL...In an effort to fix a faulty gizmo, I have swallowed my share of nasty tank water (fresh and salt) I was always too busy spitting and washing my mouth out with Listerine in a hope of staving off some horrible infection from it that I never thought of what it tastes like.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Lol. Eh. I guess thats what makes me a biologist. Observations. I think i will do well as a biology teacher. 
deejeff442
Active Member
after probably 3 months and losing a fish and 3 corals i am mixing water for my 250 ,well its about a 220 now since the water leak lol.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
reference:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/369985/beaslbobs-water-change-analysis
I have ran fw and marine systems since the late'70's in 1/2 dozen cities in the US for up to 9 years (but more like 4-6 years) at any one city. During that time I have never done a scheduled (on purpose) water change. (accidently dumped 30% of the floor once but that wasn't scheduled).
Water change will limit but not prevent tank changes. For instance, if you do a 1/5 water change the tank will build up to whatever is in the replacement water plus 5 times the change between water changes. 1/3 three times, 1/10 times, 1/100 100 times and so on. So water changes will not eliminate nitrates or phosphates or maintain calcium, alk, magnesium.
To me what in important is to balance out the tank conditions and stabilize operations so that water changes are not only unnecessary but the only possible effect would be to degrade the system.
I do that by establishing plant life (macros or FW plants) right from the start. adding fish slowly. Feeding lightly. And in marine system dosing the diy two part.
If you want to maintain an "open" system and change 100% of the water daily then you could mainntain parameters. But at any change schedule useful to aquariumists, the water changes (by themselves) will not maintain anything. IMHO other methods will be required to maintain a balanced stable environment.
But that's just me
and my .02
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/369985/beaslbobs-water-change-analysis
I have ran fw and marine systems since the late'70's in 1/2 dozen cities in the US for up to 9 years (but more like 4-6 years) at any one city. During that time I have never done a scheduled (on purpose) water change. (accidently dumped 30% of the floor once but that wasn't scheduled).
Water change will limit but not prevent tank changes. For instance, if you do a 1/5 water change the tank will build up to whatever is in the replacement water plus 5 times the change between water changes. 1/3 three times, 1/10 times, 1/100 100 times and so on. So water changes will not eliminate nitrates or phosphates or maintain calcium, alk, magnesium.
To me what in important is to balance out the tank conditions and stabilize operations so that water changes are not only unnecessary but the only possible effect would be to degrade the system.
I do that by establishing plant life (macros or FW plants) right from the start. adding fish slowly. Feeding lightly. And in marine system dosing the diy two part.
If you want to maintain an "open" system and change 100% of the water daily then you could mainntain parameters. But at any change schedule useful to aquariumists, the water changes (by themselves) will not maintain anything. IMHO other methods will be required to maintain a balanced stable environment.
But that's just me
and my .02
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Another side benefit of water changes, IMO, is observation. You're more likely to notice something amiss when your hands are in the tank, blowing off a coral, siphoning a sandbed, etc. Sure, we're all pretty cognizant people, but there's just that little bit more attention that's being paid when you're in "maintenance mode." Plus you're seeing parts of the tank -- filters, return pump, refugium habits -- that you don't normally look at when you're sitting back in the chair, adult beverage in hand.
Here's an ugly admission. I hadn't done a WC on the horse tank in, what? Two months? I just recently did one, and of course tested my levels pre and post. Other than Nitrates being around 40, then down to 30-ish after the change, nothing on my test kits looked truly amiss. According to Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Salinity, etc, my water was "fine." Even the Nitrate was in marginally acceptable levels.
Yet the horses acted sluggish to me. Not lethargic or "sick" acting, just...slower. Less active.
When I did the water change (10g in a 32g real-water system, or 31%), the horses perked up within an hour or two of the fresh addition of new saltwater. Motoring all over the place. Checking out the tank more. I'd say their activity level went from a 5 to an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.
I'm not sure WHY this reaction was observed. Maybe the addition of the water was like a "breath of fresh air." Imagine sitting in an office all day, every day, where the air is recycled through a purifier constantly, O2 somehow being replenished and CO2 being scrubbed, but....no fresh air. Nothing from outside. I imagine that would get stale pretty darned fast. I imagine it would smell bad within a week or so. Imagine the difference if a person, cooped up like that, finally managed to wedge open a door and get some outside breeze in the room. With that comparison in mind, do you think the same might be said about constantly-recycled water? Could a water change be likened to that fresh breeze in a stale office? As Seth pointed out (and rightly, I've noticed it too), old tank water can sometimes taste a little "funky." Not BAD, per se, but not particularly great.
I don't know. I'm hypothesizing. Otherwise known as talking outta my posterior. But it IS something to think of.
Here's an ugly admission. I hadn't done a WC on the horse tank in, what? Two months? I just recently did one, and of course tested my levels pre and post. Other than Nitrates being around 40, then down to 30-ish after the change, nothing on my test kits looked truly amiss. According to Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, Salinity, etc, my water was "fine." Even the Nitrate was in marginally acceptable levels.
Yet the horses acted sluggish to me. Not lethargic or "sick" acting, just...slower. Less active.
When I did the water change (10g in a 32g real-water system, or 31%), the horses perked up within an hour or two of the fresh addition of new saltwater. Motoring all over the place. Checking out the tank more. I'd say their activity level went from a 5 to an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.
I'm not sure WHY this reaction was observed. Maybe the addition of the water was like a "breath of fresh air." Imagine sitting in an office all day, every day, where the air is recycled through a purifier constantly, O2 somehow being replenished and CO2 being scrubbed, but....no fresh air. Nothing from outside. I imagine that would get stale pretty darned fast. I imagine it would smell bad within a week or so. Imagine the difference if a person, cooped up like that, finally managed to wedge open a door and get some outside breeze in the room. With that comparison in mind, do you think the same might be said about constantly-recycled water? Could a water change be likened to that fresh breeze in a stale office? As Seth pointed out (and rightly, I've noticed it too), old tank water can sometimes taste a little "funky." Not BAD, per se, but not particularly great.
I don't know. I'm hypothesizing. Otherwise known as talking outta my posterior. But it IS something to think of.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I dont know, really. Im sure if i did do more water changes, things probably would look better in my tank right now. I probably need to do one soon. I see a lot of detritus build up and some algae starting to grow. I only got like two snails left in my system. Lol.
Im just coasting with my current 20g. I dont have any corals in it, so i havent been doing water changes. My 110g though will be another story.
If you never do water changes, you have to find a way to add trace elements used up by the creatures. Then figure out how to maintain sparkling water through filtration. On top of that, you need a way of keeping waste from completely clogging the sandbed. Its absolutely possible to do it this way. However, i am really concerned in any case,- water changes or not - with the genetic biodiversity of the bacteria and other detrivores that live in the system. Over time, one bacterium or creature dominates over the other and you do have to add some sand or water or something from another tank occasionally.
Im just coasting with my current 20g. I dont have any corals in it, so i havent been doing water changes. My 110g though will be another story.
If you never do water changes, you have to find a way to add trace elements used up by the creatures. Then figure out how to maintain sparkling water through filtration. On top of that, you need a way of keeping waste from completely clogging the sandbed. Its absolutely possible to do it this way. However, i am really concerned in any case,- water changes or not - with the genetic biodiversity of the bacteria and other detrivores that live in the system. Over time, one bacterium or creature dominates over the other and you do have to add some sand or water or something from another tank occasionally.
yannifish
Active Member
This thread has inspired me to do a water change.
I have noticed the same thing as nova. Whenever I do a water change my livestock becomes more active, and spend more time swimming and exploring and less time hiding.
However, what beaslbob said is true too. With ever water change the percentage of waste removed is equal to the percentage of water change. Yes the amount of remaining waste is diluted, but impossible to remove without a 100% water change. So unless 100% water changes are being performed, waste levels will slowly increase (not taking into account the biological processes taking place in the tank). So, it seems to me from a waste removal stand point water changes simply slow, not stop, waste accumulation. So does this mean that without 100% water changes a tank is eventually doomed to high waste levels? Obviously in a well maintained tank equipment failure or some other unforeseen issue will cause the demise of a tank before high waste levels, but is it even theoretically possible to keep a tank indefinitely without periodically replacing all of the water?
I have noticed the same thing as nova. Whenever I do a water change my livestock becomes more active, and spend more time swimming and exploring and less time hiding.
However, what beaslbob said is true too. With ever water change the percentage of waste removed is equal to the percentage of water change. Yes the amount of remaining waste is diluted, but impossible to remove without a 100% water change. So unless 100% water changes are being performed, waste levels will slowly increase (not taking into account the biological processes taking place in the tank). So, it seems to me from a waste removal stand point water changes simply slow, not stop, waste accumulation. So does this mean that without 100% water changes a tank is eventually doomed to high waste levels? Obviously in a well maintained tank equipment failure or some other unforeseen issue will cause the demise of a tank before high waste levels, but is it even theoretically possible to keep a tank indefinitely without periodically replacing all of the water?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by yannifish http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485640
This thread has inspired me to do a water change.
I have noticed the same thing as nova. Whenever I do a water change my livestock becomes more active, and spend more time swimming and exploring and less time hiding.
However, what beaslbob said is true too. With ever water change the percentage of waste removed is equal to the percentage of water change. Yes the amount of remaining waste is diluted, but impossible to remove without a 100% water change. So unless 100% water changes are being performed, waste levels will slowly increase (not taking into account the biological processes taking place in the tank). So, it seems to me from a waste removal stand point water changes simply slow, not stop, waste accumulation. So does this mean that without 100% water changes a tank is eventually doomed to high waste levels? Obviously in a well maintained tank equipment failure or some other unforeseen issue will cause the demise of a tank before high waste levels, but is it even theoretically possible to keep a tank indefinitely without periodically replacing all of the water?
An aquarium PROPERLY done, is a self contained ecosystem.
Macros are the closest thing I've found in saltwater tanks to actually come close to a balanced system, where waste is taken up within the system. The macros must be harvested. When I was young and doing my fish tanks, that was the goal...to get that perfect balance. I have never accomlished it, but I have seen tanks that were darn close. It was still the goal.
With that thought in mind, we do enough life support to not be forced to do 100% water changes. Which is what I used to do once a year with my freshwater tanks, no matter how hard I tried. I have been doing saltwater tanks for a while now (at least 10 yrs) Aside form switching over to cold water seahorses, I have not done a 100% water change. I have had very little fish loss over the years. I only had a crash once when the heater exploded and shocked the tank, even then I removed the dead corals (no fish loss) and just kept going. Other than that, the corals, inverts and fish have all been super healthy.
The live rock, along with your filtration and the help of the CUC manages the system so a partial water change is all that is needed. In fact you mess with the balance when you do more than 30% water change (excluding emergencies)
Originally Posted by yannifish http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485640
This thread has inspired me to do a water change.
I have noticed the same thing as nova. Whenever I do a water change my livestock becomes more active, and spend more time swimming and exploring and less time hiding.
However, what beaslbob said is true too. With ever water change the percentage of waste removed is equal to the percentage of water change. Yes the amount of remaining waste is diluted, but impossible to remove without a 100% water change. So unless 100% water changes are being performed, waste levels will slowly increase (not taking into account the biological processes taking place in the tank). So, it seems to me from a waste removal stand point water changes simply slow, not stop, waste accumulation. So does this mean that without 100% water changes a tank is eventually doomed to high waste levels? Obviously in a well maintained tank equipment failure or some other unforeseen issue will cause the demise of a tank before high waste levels, but is it even theoretically possible to keep a tank indefinitely without periodically replacing all of the water?
An aquarium PROPERLY done, is a self contained ecosystem.
Macros are the closest thing I've found in saltwater tanks to actually come close to a balanced system, where waste is taken up within the system. The macros must be harvested. When I was young and doing my fish tanks, that was the goal...to get that perfect balance. I have never accomlished it, but I have seen tanks that were darn close. It was still the goal.
With that thought in mind, we do enough life support to not be forced to do 100% water changes. Which is what I used to do once a year with my freshwater tanks, no matter how hard I tried. I have been doing saltwater tanks for a while now (at least 10 yrs) Aside form switching over to cold water seahorses, I have not done a 100% water change. I have had very little fish loss over the years. I only had a crash once when the heater exploded and shocked the tank, even then I removed the dead corals (no fish loss) and just kept going. Other than that, the corals, inverts and fish have all been super healthy.
The live rock, along with your filtration and the help of the CUC manages the system so a partial water change is all that is needed. In fact you mess with the balance when you do more than 30% water change (excluding emergencies)
reefkprz
Active Member
I'm probably one of the few reefers out there that do 50% water changes, and occasional 100% reset changes. I always have in the past. the hardest part with my new set up is sheer size i dont have the mixing capacity for 100% water changes. something I have to figure out the logistics for at some point because I like to do them every 6 months.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485679
I'm probably one of the few reefers out there that do 50% water changes, and occasional 100% reset changes. I always have in the past. the hardest part with my new set up is sheer size i dont have the mixing capacity for 100% water changes. something I have to figure out the logistics for at some point because I like to do them every 6 months.
Then your tank is always a new system if you reset it. Just wondering, why do you do that?
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485679
I'm probably one of the few reefers out there that do 50% water changes, and occasional 100% reset changes. I always have in the past. the hardest part with my new set up is sheer size i dont have the mixing capacity for 100% water changes. something I have to figure out the logistics for at some point because I like to do them every 6 months.
Then your tank is always a new system if you reset it. Just wondering, why do you do that?
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485685
Then your tank is always a new system if you reset it. Just wondering, why do you do that?
Not really. Most of the bacteria is in the sand and rock...not the water. Changing out the water isn't going to ruin the biofilter. It *will* shock it, I'm sure.
On the other hand, I too think that "regular" 100% WC's are a bit drastic. Maybe once every couple of years, but every six months? Seems much, but whatever works for you, man.
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/392423/water-changes-or-the-lack-thereof/20#post_3485685
Then your tank is always a new system if you reset it. Just wondering, why do you do that?
Not really. Most of the bacteria is in the sand and rock...not the water. Changing out the water isn't going to ruin the biofilter. It *will* shock it, I'm sure.
On the other hand, I too think that "regular" 100% WC's are a bit drastic. Maybe once every couple of years, but every six months? Seems much, but whatever works for you, man.