Water Changes

taz_12777

taz_12777

Member
Hi, First I want to say that you people are great. I have learned so much from every one:D
I have a 36 gal bow front w about 2 inches of LS and about 18 lbs of LR . I have a Skilter 250 filter and a Aqua Clear 301 powerhead. And all my water test are normal range. My question is how much and how ofton should I do water changes. I am now doing 3 gallons a week w/ deionized water. Is this enough, to much, to little. Thanks
 
sly

sly

Active Member
I would recommend as few water changes as possible so that you do not disturb your tank. Water changes stress the fish. Do regular water tests and watch for a rise in ammonia, nitrite and especially nitrate. If your ammonia levels are high and won't come down, you probably have either not enough filtering, or too many fish, take your pick. If your Nitrite levels are too high, same thing.
One of the hardest things to remove from the aquarium is nitrate. Unless you have a system that is designed to remove nitrates, it will just accumulate because it is the last step in the nitrogen cycle.
Monitor your nitrate levels, when they get to a level that's higher than you want, then do a water change. This effectively removes the nitrate, cleaning the system and preparing it for the next rise in nitrate.
So in other words, let your nitrate levels be the judge of when you need to do a water change.
I personally don't do water changes, but I have a system that removes nitrates. I may change out some water once every year or so without any problems.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I don't know if I agree with the last post whole heartedly, but water changes are needed.... If you look at some of the really amazing tanks out there, NO WHERE and I MEAN NO WHERE do they ever state they don't do water changes or very infrequently.... I think that is just waiting for disaster in my book. Either Sly has one bad ass skimmer and filtration setup or something....
Water changes are essential into keeping a healthy aquarium... How do you think the good nutrients are added to the tank???? They all can't and don't come from additives... They are replaced by are water changes.... How do we reduce the buildup in our tanks, that the skimmers and filtration don't process???? WATER CHANGES!!!!
Take my advice and at least attempt to do water changes every 2 weeks at least... Some will say more and some will say 1 a month, but I bet you won't find a handfull that will say they don't do water changes or aren't that important....
 
sly

sly

Active Member
I have a balanced system and no I don't do water changes. I've had this tank running for 4 years and have only done 2 water changes. Once when I moved, once when the refugium started leaking. I have no algae and all my parameters are always perfect...
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I'm not doubting what your saying I'm stating is your out of the "norm" when it comes to water changes!!!! I don't think that is sound advice in this forum!!!!! Water changes are important... How do you add what is taken or depleted from the water???
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Opinions very on the frequency and the amount of water changes. Some say weekly, some say Bi-weekly and others say monthly... usually up to 20% per-month. Find a system that is easiest for you and stick with that. The most important thing IMO is just making sure they get done... one way or another.
This was a post from a previous thread on water changes... I would suggest doing a search on this topic and you will get good information!!!!
 
sly

sly

Active Member
I have an 8 mangrove refugium, a Kent TE in sump skimmer with Sander ozone unit. Bioball wet/dry filter, crushed coral substrate (only an inch deep), maxijet powerheads to keep substrate clean, 75 lbs of live rock, and 2 mechanical pre filters that I rinse out every few weeks.
My nitrates, ammonia, nitrites and phosphates are all undetectable. My pH never shifts from 8.3. My SG stays at 1.023 at 81 degrees. Calc and Alk read "normal" (test doesn't show a number). I sometimes dose Iron for the macros and Iodine for the inverts. To keep my Alk up, I sometimes add Seachem reef builder alk suppliment, although the bottle I have, I've had for over a year because I don't dose very often since the Alk doesn't vary much.
Here's what I do for maintenance... Once every week I take the magnet and clean the haze off the glass and once every 3 months or so I stir the CC substrate with my finger to loosen up any debris for the filter to catch. I then rinse out my foam pre-filters and that's it. I keep the tank topped off with DI water.
I have no algae and the livestock is very healthy. Sometimes I add a little garlic extreme to their food.
 
sly

sly

Active Member
I know several people who do not do water changes. It DOES stress the fish. One guy has a full reef system that is almost completely full of inverts and coral. He doesn't do water changes either. You just have to set it up right. The more people mess with their tanks, the more likely they are to have problems.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Like I said before Tazz check out reef tank forum for thread on water changes and why not just ask some of the real experienced minds here on theories of water changes or check out different site and see what they have to say.... I guarantee you won't find more than a handfull that agree with the theory of no water changes!!!!!!!
Any pics of the correct way to setup filtration system Sly or pics of tank??? I'd like to see pics of the correct way myself....And I guess Bang Lagoon is a waste and not properly setup????
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
It's not that I'm trying to disagree with what he's saying, but he hasn't provided any proof other than say so... I know that what works for 1 might not work for another, but just the theory or concept of no water changes is unintelligent in my opinion.... Even people running top of the line equipment money can buy still do water changes.... From what I've read mangroves aren't the best or "quickest" means to removing impurities from water....
Like I said so us pictures or something to prove your point and to validate it.... The concensus is water changes are important and your telling us that all the leading minds in the hobby are full of crap???
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member

Originally posted by Sly
I know several people who do not do water changes. It DOES stress the fish. One guy has a full reef system that is almost completely full of inverts and coral. He doesn't do water changes either. You just have to set it up right. The more people mess with their tanks, the more likely they are to have problems.
You keep saying "You have to set it up right" Tell us how???? What are you doing with small water changes????? that is going to be so detrimental to the tank.... Your not just taking water adding salt and dumping it straight to the tank!!!!!!!! Tell us the correct setup way!!!!!
 
masala4080

masala4080

Member
Acrylic, I totaly aggree with you. Proof should be provided, not just staments.... Back to the topic.
If you have a sump / fuge you could do the water changes out of there. as to not put as much stress on your fish. IMHO, the 5 minutes of stress from a water change is worth it, to have great water quality, compared to the lifetime of stress they will have to face if water is not frequently changed.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
That's what I'm saying Masala your water change is done through the sump!!!!!!!!There is no equipment out there on the market period in anyones mind that is 100 effective at removing or replacing what is lost or used or added in a closed system.... There isn't a skimmer out there that is 100% effective, I don't think mangroves are 100% Cheato isn't 100% and then to say no water changes... Just supplements??? If there was a "bottle" that was the cure all for all the problems don't you think we would have heard of it by now??? and everyone would be using it and why would there always be upgrades to current products we are using??? "Proof is in the Pudding"
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Water changes are VERY useful... especially in a reef tank where water quality needs to be maintained.
I would disagree that water changes stress fish... yes newly mixed saltwater will, and if you do a LARGE water change it would be stressful but normal, routine, properly preformed water changes do not stress them out IMO.
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
I change 20% of my water once a month using a siphon to vaccuum the sandbed. There really is no need to do more frequent changes in my opinion (as long as your water parameters are on target). Trace elements are added back into the tank via water topoffs. I have to add 3-4 gallons a week to my 55 gallon tank.
As far as using water changes to get rid of algae, I'm not sure I completely agree with that. Algae requires many things to grow and water changes only reduce one of those things (nitrates). Algae also needs carbon dioxide (from poor water circulation), phosphate, etc.
Tips for eliminating algae:
-Install a good protein skimmer. Using a wet/dry filter or carbon power filter will trap detritous, but the water continues to flow over the media, thus allowing the detritous to break down and re-enter the aquarium water.
-Check carbon dioxide. Algae needs it to grow. With good water flow this won't be a problem. A good test is get 1/2 a gallon of tank water and aerate it vigorously for 24 hours. Test the ph of the 1/2 gallon and the ph of the tank. If the ph in the 1/2 gallon is higher than the tank by 0.2 or more, then you need more water movement in your tank.
-Clean the filter system regularily. Also do weekly-monthly siponing of the substrate. You can use a turkey baster to dislodge detritous stuck in your liverock.
-Add herbivores. Many species of marine life feed on algae. Some of these are: tangs, anglefish, some blennies, rabbitfishes, sea urchins, hermit crabs, and many kinds of snails.
-Don't use baserock. Microalgae very easily outcompetes macroalgae on base rock, and can spread.
-Use phosphate (phos-guard) absorbing media in the filter and change it regularily.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
I agree with everything except this...
water changes only reduce one of those things (nitrates). Algae also needs carbon dioxide (from poor water circulation), phosphate, etc.
because water changes will reduce more than just nitrates. It reduces all of the things that aid in algae growth... including phosphates and even CO2 if the water change water is properly aerated.
Good info though!!
 
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