When should I do a water change?

[kyarnkid]

My tank is 2 months old and I have yet to do a water change. I have had 2 damsels for almost 2 weeks and I have one True Perc for about a week as well as 10 snails and 10 blue legs for the same amount of time. All are alive and are eating well, with no signs of disease.
My water levels are good. My ammonia level is going down(I had an increase, I stated them in different posts) and is at .5, but I think that is due to me adding the Clown about 4 days ago.
My Nitrites are at 0 and My Nitrates(according to my Quick Dip tests)are safe(the Quick Dip shows white being 0 and it goes up using shades of pink and eventually turning to red). My Nitrates are between white and the next level of pink. The test reads a brown color.It shows that it is safe though on the tests. Also my PH has stabalized to 8.2.
My question is, Do I just do a water change when my Nitrites and Nitrates increase? Do I not do a water change unless they go up?
Also I have a protien skimmer that I do not run. Should I turn it on?
I heard that it helps in lower Nitrates and Nitrites. Is that true? If not waht does it do?
Sorry for the long post, but I just want to be as knowledgable as I can in this hobby.
Thanks guys

 

[volitan]

Damn! Two months with no water change? Everything in my tank would be a memory! I guess it's possible you have the perfect combination of fish, lr, ls, cleaners, etc. I wouldn't change a thing. Just make sure your testing kits are accurate, and keep an eye on the levels. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!

 

[fshhub]

you ahve not yet done any water changes??, i would do one, every week of about 10% especially if you have no skimmer, this too, may help your ammonia problem you are having
HTH

 

[hondo]

water changes should be done to replace trace elements in the water. Anyone doing water changes to reduce nitrates is not fixing the problem. I would not add any more fish if you have an amonia reading in the tank. Definitely run the skimmer. Most people say you should do a monthly 10%- 20% water change. Personally I try to do this but would be lying if I said I always acomplished this. I have gone two months without anything but fresh water top offs done nightly with no ill effects to fish or corals in the tank. If your worried about nitrates what kind of substrate do you have? If you have a DSB then you'll be fine just let you tank finish it's cycle and age a little more before adding more fish.

 

[kyarnkid]

So Hondo,
I have a DSB, does this mean there is no need for water changes?
I do fresh water top offs too. However, I do mine weekly. I always add Stress Coat after I do it and I hope it does its job. I mean I have 2 damsels and a True Perc. I know they are resillant fish and I hope when I add more challenging(hard to take care of and that demand great water quality) fish this does not pose a problem. Do you think it will? or do you think my water will be fine.
Thanks

 

[diatom]

Kid~
Do the water change...it's not hard and it's good for your tank. 10% every saturday

 

[ocellaris_keeper]

kyarnkid,
that fact that you have not done a water change yet is not a bad thing. Letting your tank establish itself is the right thing to do for a month or two (topping off the water). You should have in your arsenal trace elements to keep your tank's LR/LS - animals (critters on the LR) happy.
I would start to think about a water change about now though. Your ammonia level is a touch high whihc is an indication that your ditritous material is adding up.
A lot of times too many water changes stresses the fish/animals even if you take every precaution.
Your tank is sounding good.

 

[jakob4001]

depends on size of your tank, bioload, and filtration/skimmer...we've had the 135 up & running for about 5 months now and have done no water changes; only freshwater topoff as needed w/in acceptable parameters

 

[josh]

Hello,
I would encourage atleast a 15% change every month or so, more for tanks that are not established. However, has anyone done any reading on a self sustaining reef? I read that thread posted a while back, that is fascinating! I personally still wouldn't do it, but I think with older tanks weekly water changes are a bit much. Mine has been up for alomst 5 years and i do changes every month 1/2 to two months. Anyway
- Josh _