Are water changes enough?

[nkyreef]

My concern in my 45 gallon reef aquarium is the amount of waste that builds up. I decided to run bare bottom due to sand beds being a haven for nitrates (I know that's debatable). I have a sump where the water passes thru filter floss. My protein skimmer pulls a lot of nastiness out. I also run carbon and GFO in a reactor. However, the amount of detritus buildup is significant. I do weekly 4-8 gallon water changes (using RO water and IO salt). During the water change I siphon rocks and bottom glass.

Stock List (all small in size)
1 Royal Gramma
2 Clownfish
1 Yellow Clown Goby
1 Kole Tang (I know; however the LFS suggested for algae control)
2 Peppermint shrimp
1 Rock Flower Anemone
1 Emerald crab
2 Trochus snails
2 Astrea snails
Many coral frags (mostly Zoa and other LPS)

I feed once daily. Sometimes frozen (1/3 cube). Sometimes flake (small pinch) and pellets (2-4).

Do I need to do 2 water changes a week to keep up with the demand? That seems much considering some do 2 a month. Is my clean up crew lacking? Although they create waste as well.

Any words of advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Mr.Rocc]

To reduce the amount of junk on the bottom of your tank, I would totally try to increase flow or the pattern so its stays in the water as appose to settling

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Numbers aside, One thing about good flow in the DT is to keep particle suspended so they get to the sump.

On the sand question, if more folks would do this, it would be a non issue.

 

[happyhourhero]

increase flow. That is the beauty of a BB tank. You can have flow ripping through there so most debris will get picked up by the skimmer or settle in a single spot so you can easily siphon.

I believe flow is in the top 2 most important aspects of a reef tank. I have not found a coral that did not end up liking med to high flow once it got used to it.

 

[nkyreef]

I'm going to give that a go when I do my next water change. First change will be to turn the IceCap Gyre perpendicular and mount it on the back glass. Second thing I may do is stick an extra power head on the bottom, opposite the gyre.

Thanks for the help all

 

[themcnertney]

Are water changes enough? I say yes. I never dose my 220 and never have.

Increase flow and add a skimmer maybe?

 

[nkyreef]

I have an Eshopps PSK-75 that pulls out a ton. I empty and clean the cup every 1-2 days. I'm definitely going to increase the flow on the bottom.

 

[cloudisback1997]

My concern in my 45 gallon reef aquarium is the amount of waste that builds up. I decided to run bare bottom due to sand beds being a haven for nitrates (I know that's debatable). I have a sump where the water passes thru filter floss. My protein skimmer pulls a lot of nastiness out. I also run carbon and GFO in a reactor. However, the amount of detritus buildup is significant. I do weekly 4-8 gallon water changes (using RO water and IO salt). During the water change I siphon rocks and bottom glass.

Stock List (all small in size)
1 Royal Gramma
2 Clownfish
1 Yellow Clown Goby
1 Kole Tang (I know; however the LFS suggested for algae control)
2 Peppermint shrimp
1 Rock Flower Anemone
1 Emerald crab
2 Trochus snails
2 Astrea snails
Many coral frags (mostly Zoa and other LPS)

I feed once daily. Sometimes frozen (1/3 cube). Sometimes flake (small pinch) and pellets (2-4).

Do I need to do 2 water changes a week to keep up with the demand? That seems much considering some do 2 a month. Is my clean up crew lacking? Although they create waste as well.

Any words of advice is appreciated. Thanks.

I honesty do a water change maybe once every 3 weeks. Point a power head at the bottom left and one at the top right to make a gyre. Circular flow. I like to dose reef biofuel everyday same time. It will help ur skimmer out.