How do you know when you need a water change?

[reefchaser]

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[reefchaser]

I check my parameters and my pH, nitrites and nitrates are good. I did a 5 gallon water change 3 weeks ago. I have 75 gallon fowlr

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[kuansreef]

High nitrate or phosphate or corals not as normal as they look.

 

[alliecat]

Maybe I'm lazy... But... I notice my tanks look better if I leave them alone when no change is needed. At least that's the case for my 20. My 55 tends to not be so stable. If I have an algae bloom (GHA and cyano) I know my phosphates and nitrates are up and I do a change. Also if my corals look a little off- I do a change. That's the method that works for me anyway.


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[alliecat]

Also- if something dies (like a big turbo snail) ill assume my ammonia might spike as a result and do a change then too. I also dose pH buffer every other wk and trace elements weekly


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[reefchaser]

Yeah my tank looks clean and every thing looks healthy

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[Connie]

My xenia stops pulsing.

 

[alliecat]

@connie- I use that as an indicator as well.


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[mfinn]

I have always done water changes on a set schedule. Every two weeks.
If you wait until there is a problem in the tank, then IMO it's too late.

 

[ak_reefer]

The one thing you also have to take into consideration is water changes help replenish trace elements. I dont dose my system therefore water changes are the only thing I use to keep my Ca and Mg up.

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[ca2or]

I do water changes once every month or 2

 

[Connie]

My xenia stops pulsing.

This rarely happens anymore as I do a 10 gallon water change weekly. I vacuum the sand and/or sump every other water change.

 

[YodaHart]

If it's Saturday, then my tank needs a water change. I've found doing it on a weekly schedule has helped my tank a lot!

 

[Rockhead]

I do 5 gal once a month on my 120gal system , all sps

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[Dan1789]

I generally do 20% monthly unless something is wrong. I work on the road 8 months out of the year so I pay someone a ridiculous amount to do it for me when I'm gone, my girlfriend even makes the water for him ahead of time. One day she will be able to do it herself (maybe).


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[LisaD]

I do a 10-20% wc on all my tanks every Sat. Including my 55 freshwater. If I was a fish I would want a breath of "fresh air" pretty often. My fish are pleased and I think the corals enjoy a replenishment of trace elements.


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[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have always done water changes on a set schedule. Every two weeks.
If you wait until there is a problem in the tank, then IMO it's too late.

This.

I hope to do better myself!

 

[beaslbob]

Yeah my tank looks clean and every thing looks healthy

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So why change water?

Sorry I can't help as I don't do water changes. My tanks are/were balanced out and stabilized by marine macro algae or by plants in freshwater. My 55g ran for 6 years with soft corals, a heavy fish load and no water changes. I have ran FW tanks with 20-30 fish (guppies, platties) in a 10g tank several times in different cities for up to 8 years.

But that just me and my .02

 

[kuansreef]

So why change water?

Sorry I can't help as I don't do water changes. My tanks are/were balanced out and stabilized by marine macro algae or by plants in freshwater. My 55g ran for 6 years with soft corals, a heavy fish load and no water changes. I have ran FW tanks with 20-30 fish (guppies, platties) in a 10g tank several times in different cities for up to 8 years.

But that just me and my .02

If you have hair algae take over your tank and color of corals is off or not looking good

 

[GHill762]

water change? what is that? I have been getting lazier and lazier on wc's and everything looks better.. dosing 2-part.