Well you of all people SHOULD be vocal about not doing water changes: Anyone with a 10 year old reef should be spreading the news… I’m listening
Heck it’s also a goal, it’s especially my goal with 450 gallons of Aquariums to change and a titanium hip…
On a small tank 2 buckets and voila, no ICP needed, no Tridents, heck not even dosers are needed, some of the equipment and testing minutia is close to silly (if only from a results only perspective)
I will clarify. My tank rock and sand were all setup about 10 years ago. I built it into a sps mixed reef under halides and t5 with many fish. It struggled between years 1 and 2 with uncontrollable algae issues. Not “out of control” but algae in spots that persistently would grow back and uglify my display. Phosphate reactor with gfo and a full cheato fuge emptied weekly has no impact.
I installed a algae scrubber and in 2-3 months all my cheato died out, and all my display algae died out. I lost a few sps due to reduction in nutrients but then everything rebounded and tank was successful for about 1-2 more years. I grew nubs and sticks into colonies. Everything pretty much started as a frag.
I ended up with this after 3-4 years. Including the start up year where things are slow, and phases come and go, and then a slow second year dealing with algae and phosphate issues.
I did not do water changes since installing the scrubber. I grew lost of that between years 3 and 4 and you can see, I had good growth and no more display algae. I used brs dosing pumps and 2 part. I never had a ato or anything computer controlled. Everything was stable and doing sell. But then, I lost almost everything from a 5+ day power outage during a hurricane. I rebuilt. And I was doing good. I don’t have photos. Then I moved 800 miles. Prior to move I sold off acro colonies and fish and kept what I wanted to keep. I packed up my sand, live rock, critters and yes…50 gallons of tank salt water in brute garbage cans and hauled a trailer behind me for 800 miles. Live stock was in buckets with aeration and heaters on inverters in my vehicle. I had a local aquarium supplier set up tanks in advance in my new home. Upon arrival I spent overnight rebuilding everything the best I could. And the next few days also.
My 75g tank was put in its current place about 8 years ago. I started adding acro frags and easy corals and was doing well. Then I had a baby, and My job field was unstable and I went through several jobs. I let my tank go. Barely touched the tank. Just added top off water when the return pump started spittin bubbles out. Whatever survives will survive. I didn’t have the time or motivation. 2 years ago I decided it’s time to rebuild again and I took a look at what I had to deal with
Well. We have life and colorful life so things can’t be too bad. Obviously some nutrient abundance and hair algae. But I’ve seen worse and rebuilt from less.
And I decided. I’m doing something different. I like my no water change method and it’s been successful for me, but if shtf then what’s the first to go. The acros and sps. What survived. The zoa and lps. So I decided to go full on low maintenance and build a killer lps reef. And over two years I now have this
When I make saltwater it’s to replace water and/or to maintain proper salinity
When I rebuild tanks or experience a disaster I follow up with a few water changes. And currently I’ll say things like “this tank hasn’t had a water change in 2 years or 4 years”. I view those technically as water changes but the purpose wasn’t to do anything other than replace water from evap or skimming. Or as a proactive measure. I took my skimmer offline over a year ago. This further eliminates my need to make saltwater. I just add fw top off with all for reef.
So while the coral and fish in this reef aren’t 10 years old, the rock, sand, and bulk of the water is. The tank has changed directions a few times, both intentionally and unintentionally. But one thing has been consistent, no matter what I was keeping over the last 10 years, water changes were not part of my weekly or monthly or even annual maintenance. I use them “as needed” to remove a medication or correct an occasional salinity issue. I honestly wouldn’t even count them as water changes, but some know it all will be like “water left the tank and you made sw so that’s a water change!” So I agree, technically I’ve had a few “water changes” over a decade, but it’s not a routine or requirement for the tank, especially in its current state.
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