Water evaperation

showstoppr88

New Member
Does replacing 5 gallons of evaperated water per week count as a water change? I have a 125 and always have good water readings. Not sure if the nitrates evap with the water or what?
 

mrdc

Active Member
Nope. The crud that is in the water that you want to replace with a water change is still in there.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
not o mention, the other part of a water change is to replenish nutrients.
 

monsinour

Active Member
Small percentage weekly, 5 to 10%, and then once a month larger, 15% to 25%. Thats the range from all the sites and books I have read.
 

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparty059 http:///forum/thread/380076/water-evaperation#post_3307536
How often do you have to do a water change? Would once a month work fine?
I do about 15% every other week in all my tanks....except the 10G...LOL....I change 10-15% weekly....cause I make water one week for the 29G and the 54G...and the next week forthe 225G...so I steal 1.5gs for the little tank
 
S

smartorl

Guest
It is important to top off with fresh water daily, water evaporates, salt does not, so through evaporation your SG will raise. Topping off daily avoids alot of swings in your SG and provides stability.
 
I recommend weekly water changes, I try to change 10% but if in a rush, have only changed 5%. If you are doing weekly changes, you don't need to do a larger monthly change. I think most likely the books are offering you an either/or, either 10% weekly or a 25% monthly. I suggest weekly, also for stabilty.
 
The only time I would do more frequent or larger changes would be if I had something going on with the tank. For examply recently, I took in a dying nem to try and save it and instead it died. I was changing 5% each day for several days to stay on top of the spikes caused by the death. When my water stabilized, I went back to normal weekly changes.
 

sparty059

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdc http:///forum/thread/380076/water-evaperation#post_3307591
Or go lazy like me and never do one.
If you have a REALLY good clean up crew can't you get away with once a month water changes? And also doesn't it depend on the stock of your tank? If I have only 5 fish to start out in a 125g can't I go anywhere from 1-2 months without really having to do a big water change on it?
 

levinjac

Active Member
You dont need to do it weekly you can do it monthly its just a bigger water change but just as effective
 

mrdc

Active Member
I only have 5 fish in a 120 and mostly coral. I don't overfeed and I monitor my parameters all the time. I do have a heavy clean up crew also. I won't advise people not to do water changes but this is what I am doing. Some folks may say it will crash one day but that has already happened to me once when I was doing bo-weekly water changes. Go figure.
 

sparty059

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdc http:///forum/thread/380076/water-evaperation#post_3307598
I only have 5 fish in a 120 and mostly coral. I don't overfeed and I monitor my parameters all the time. I do have a heavy clean up crew also. I won't advise people not to do water changes but this is what I am doing. Some folks may say it will crash one day but that has already happened to me once when I was doing bo-weekly water changes. Go figure.
That sounds even better.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I do 10% a week.
makes it super easy becuase you don't have to move large amounts of water. it takes less than 10 minutes a week, done deal. not only that but when you do small frequent water changes you don't even have to heat the water. if you have a 100g tank and you take out 10 gallons and add back in 10 gallons of 60 degree water my heater doesnt even come on. less electricity by not having to eha tthe water. allthough the powerhead runs longer that I use for saltwater circulation in the tub.
 
If you can't handle 10 - 20 mins of maintenance a week you might look for another hobby
 

sparty059

Active Member
Well mine is a 125 gallon, and my RO/DI is a 75GPD... so I'll be getting about 3 gallons per hour and if I do 10% every week I'll be looking at a 4 hour's a week for making water... that is... unless I do what meowzer does and just have spare water on the side... which might be the better idea, so I'll probably start working towards doing that and just keeping an extra bucket in the basement and lugging 13 gallons up the stairs once a week
 

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparty059 http:///forum/thread/380076/water-evaperation#post_3307698
Well mine is a 125 gallon, and my RO/DI is a 75GPD... so I'll be getting about 3 gallons per hour and if I do 10% every week I'll be looking at a 4 hour's a week for making water... that is... unless I do what meowzer does and just have spare water on the side... which might be the better idea, so I'll probably start working towards doing that and just keeping an extra bucket in the basement and lugging 13 gallons up the stairs once a week
IMO...You should always have some spare water on the side for daily top offs...
 
Top