Can I start extending my water change schedule?

[yambeezy23]

Hi!

I currently have a waterbox 35.2 at 8 months old
stocked as a mixed reef.
I have two clownfish, cleaner shrimp, royal grama, and a lawn mower blend. I have 3 cardinal fish ordered and will be here in about a month. That will be the end of my stock list.
I also dose all4reef and Red Sea Mag

Anyways, I do a 5 gallon water change every Sunday.

Today I tested ( Hanna and Salifert)

Nitrates - 5.1
Phosphates.06
Alk 8.7
Mag - 1430
Calc - 490

With nitrates and phosphates being low can I start doing my water changes every 2 weeks?

 

[MDReefguy]

I'd extend it a week and keep on a 2 week schedule for awhile and see where you are. Certainly can stretch out a bit with Nitrate and phosphate at those levels. Just keep an eye on Alk, but if you're dosing AFR shouldn't move much.

 

[fish farmer]

Personally I would stay the course you are on....you are getting 3 more fish in a month for a total of 7 fish, you'll be feeding more. You could also just change out 3 or 4 gallons weekly and see what that does for your levels.

 

[yambeezy23]

Personally I would stay the course you are on....you are getting 3 more fish in a month for a total of 7 fish, you'll be feeding more. You could also just change out 3 or 4 gallons weekly and see what that does for your levels.

Thank you. I thinking of changing things up after observing for 2 months after the next trio of fish come in. Appreciate the input

 

[rtparty]

Keep the course. Nothing good comes from extending water changes. It does far more than slightly lower nutrients and slightly replenish some elements. It removes pollutants we can’t test for. It removes organic and inorganic compounds we can’t test for.

In 20 years there are few things I call a solid truth in this hobby but the beginning of the end is lack of water changes and basic husbandry.

 

[yambeezy23]

Keep the course. Nothing good comes from extending water changes. It does far more than slightly lower nutrients and slightly replenish some elements. It removes pollutants we can’t test for. It removes organic and inorganic compounds we can’t test for.

In 20 years there are few things I call a solid truth in this hobby but the beginning of the end is lack of water changes and basic husbandry.

appreciate the input!