Does it have to be 10%

[estevenson78]

Hey all! I’m looking to upgrade my tank. I’m going sizes. It’s either gonna be 70, 90 or 120. The only issue with a 120 is the fact that It’s really much easier to do a 10 gallon container for a water change. Adding in my sump means 130ish gallons. I really don’t want to have to do more than a 10 gallon container because it’s tough logistically!

Thoughts???

 

[X-37B]

10 gallons is fine for the 120. Dont sweat the 3%.

 

[estevenson78]

Ok, I'll maul it over a little longer

 

[BayouReefer]

I have a 125 and I do 10 gallon one week than 20 the next. Some may think it’s overkill but my tank is only 8 months old. I believe the consistent water changes have helped my tank remain stable throughout these first months.

 

[estevenson78]

I have a 125 and I do 10 gallon one week than 20 the next. Some may think it’s overkill but my tank is only 8 months old. I believe the consistent water changes have helped my tank remain stable throughout these first months.

The positive on my end is I have live rock that has been established for a long time as well as Chaeto.

 

[X-37B]

This is my 120 today at 3 months and zero water changes. I dont do them anymore. Have not done any on my 25 nano in 14 months.
If your new to the hobby waterchanges

are the best insurance you can give your tank.

 

[Billldg]

I have a 120 gal tank and I shoot for a 25 percent water change monthly.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hey all! I’m looking to upgrade my tank. I’m going sizes. It’s either gonna be 70, 90 or 120. The only issue with a 120 is the fact that It’s really much easier to do a 10 gallon container for a water change. Adding in my sump means 130ish gallons. I really don’t want to have to do more than a 10 gallon container because it’s tough logistically!

Thoughts???

Don't forget, don't chase numbers.......
Take it from me, I'm a doctor.

 

[Peace River]

It is a trade off between frequency and volume. Additionally, do regular water quality test and that should help you determine if you need to do larger or more frequent water changes. Good luck!

 

[melanotaenia]

Hey all! I’m looking to upgrade my tank. I’m going sizes. It’s either gonna be 70, 90 or 120. The only issue with a 120 is the fact that It’s really much easier to do a 10 gallon container for a water change. Adding in my sump means 130ish gallons. I really don’t want to have to do more than a 10 gallon container because it’s tough logistically!

Thoughts???

You can do smaller changes more often, which would solve the problem entirely. But that would create more work on your end. The 10% suggestion is just that, a suggestion, rather than a hard and fast rule

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

You may not even need to do that much if you have the established rock & cheato

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

I'd say do water changes if your tank needs it. As in test all your parameters, and see what they are. These days it's easier to add certain elements that your tank requires, instead of doing a water change.
Water changes can help and that always seems the first thing to do if your having issues.
I used to do them at 10% of a 90 litre tank every week, then 2 weeks then got lazy and went 6-8 weeks now not really bothering to do them very often.
I'm having an issue of zero detectable phosphates, so doing a water change for me is pointless, as reducing phosphates even further, would be a waste of time. All I do now is clean all the glass and filter all the water out through a filter sock into a bucket then put the water back in, then top it back up with a little extra natural sea water.
This was my tank with 2 weeks of not cleaning the glass (hard to leave it) and over feeding to help raise phosphates.

then tonight I couldn't leave the tank any longer and gave it a clean and added about 4 litres of fresh sea water.

about 2 mins before lights out.
The tank is 90litres, no sump, no skimmer. The live rock is about 14 years old now.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Very beautiful, @Nicholas Dushynsky .

 

[estevenson78]

I'd say do water changes if your tank needs it. As in test all your parameters, and see what they are. These days it's easier to add certain elements that your tank requires, instead of doing a water change.
Water changes can help and that always seems the first thing to do if your having issues.
I used to do them at 10% of a 90 litre tank every week, then 2 weeks then got lazy and went 6-8 weeks now not really bothering to do them very often.
I'm having an issue of zero detectable phosphates, so doing a water change for me is pointless, as reducing phosphates even further, would be a waste of time. All I do now is clean all the glass and filter all the water out through a filter sock into a bucket then put the water back in, then top it back up with a little extra natural sea water.
This was my tank with 2 weeks of not cleaning the glass (hard to leave it) and over feeding to help raise phosphates.

then tonight I couldn't leave the tank any longer and gave it a clean and added about 4 litres of fresh sea water.

about 2 mins before lights out.
The tank is 90litres, no sump, no skimmer. The live rock is about 14 years old now.

Beautiful! seems like the incredible hulk color scheme!

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

Very beautiful, @Nicholas Dushynsky .

Thanks it's been a struggle for the last 9 months, it heading the right way I hope.

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

Beautiful! seems like the incredible hulk color scheme!

Don't ask! It never used to be, I have some reds in there and my phone makes things greener than they appear in person. It used to be this.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hey all! I’m looking to upgrade my tank. I’m going sizes. It’s either gonna be 70, 90 or 120. The only issue with a 120 is the fact that It’s really much easier to do a 10 gallon container for a water change. Adding in my sump means 130ish gallons. I really don’t want to have to do more than a 10 gallon container because it’s tough logistically!

Thoughts???

Wise man once said, " I find that sometimes the less I care, the better it does."

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Beautiful! seems like the incredible hulk color scheme!

Go Greenbay!!!!

 

[W1ngz]

Subtract the equipment, rock and sand displacement, and you probably only have about 100 gallons of water in there anyway.