Is it true you don't have to do any water changes?

[The_Paradox]

Wow that is amazing. Carrying 100 gallons of water in buckets from the tank to the toilet. I can barely do ten gallons!

Is that how you do it?

 

[homersimpsonlikesfish]

Is that how you do it?

yeah why?

 

[The_Paradox]

yeah why?

Just never heard of doing that. I’m lucky enough to have mine basically plumbed back into the gulf, but even before I lived here I just used a python and put it down the sink.

 

[homersimpsonlikesfish]

Just never heard of doing that. I’m lucky enough to have mine basically plumbed back into the gulf, but even before I lived here I just used a python and put it down the sink.

I am not going to call a plumber to have them install a pipe that connects my tank to the sewage line. My aquarium is 20 gallons, and I am not a public aquarium.

I tried the python method, but there was very little suction and it just led to wasting my water only.

 

[Jekyl]

Probably close to a year since my last water change.

 

[homersimpsonlikesfish]

Probably close to a year since my last water change.

How big is your tank and what do you have in it?

 

[The_Paradox]

Probably close to a year since my last water change.

Same other than pulling 3 gallons every couple months just to confirm it’s still optically clear. If it is it goes right back in. If it’s not I throw some carbon in the sump.

 

[homersimpsonlikesfish]

Same other than pulling 3 gallons every couple months just to confirm it’s still optically clear. If it is it goes right back in. If it’s not I throw some carbon in the sump.

So does this mean my brand new 20 gallon aquarium is fine to be left how it is, other than topping it off with distilled water daily? The live rock and sand will keep my tank clean?

 

[angelsandtangs]

Wow that is amazing. Carrying 100 gallons of water in buckets from the tank to the toilet. I can barely do ten gallons!

Brute trash cans . And pumps to pump water in and out

 

[Spare time]

Based off of your questions, do not go this route. You are not ready for that level of reef/fish keeping. It often requires lots of (often advanced) testing and supplementing. I do not do water changes on my 75 gallon reef except when siphoning the sump or overflow corner, and while its convenient, you have to have full awareness of your tanks water parameters and know what your filter is and isn't exporting as well as what exactly is entering your tank's water via food, additives, etc.

 

[ScottJ]

So does this mean my brand new 20 gallon aquarium is fine to be left how it is, other than topping it off with distilled water daily? The live rock and sand will keep my tank clean?

No, you really should get into a water change/tank cleaning routine. Every week or every other, what ever works for you. Do a small (10%) water change, check and clean equipment, remove unwanted algae and detritus, all that good stuff. Aquariums, whether they areFW, FOLR, or reef, ate not maintenance free.

 

[The_Paradox]

So does this mean my brand new 20 gallon aquarium is fine to be left how it is, other than topping it off with distilled water daily? The live rock and sand will keep my tank clean?

No way of knowing until you test. If you are low phosphate and nitrate skip a week and test again. Without coral though it’s gonna build up.

 

[14 foot reef]

Small water changes weekly or a little bit larger water changes monthly is absolutely the cheapest way to maintain this tank with incredible success. 10% weekly would be where I start that's 2 gallons, very easy to do. Don't over complicate this with "Forum advise" from people keeping SPS dominate reef tanks that are hundreds of gallons. A lot of these replies are not replying to your needs, they are replying to their needs. if I had a 20 gallon FOWLR I would buy Instant Ocean salt and do 10% water changes weekly and sit back and enjoy the tank. Test water every week for Nitrate, alkalinity and Phosphate. watch you trends and adjust up or down in quantities as needed. You are doing the simplest saltwater tank imaginable. Enjoy !!!!! Happy reefing my friend !!!!!!

 

[ScottJ]

Is it true that you don't have to do any water changes if it is a 20 gallon FOWLR tank? How and why is that possible, and how come for a freshwater tank you have to do frequent water changes?

Looking through your threads, it looks like your just starting out with your tanks. You started out with a 10 gallon, did you upgrade to the 20?

When you first start out is the time to get into the habit of regular maintenance. Aquariums do best with consistency. You really don't want to try to cut corners with water changes, cleaning, general care, especially when a tank is new. It just will not end well. It's not necessarily a LOT of work, just a regular schedule you want to keep. And when you are first starting out is the time to get into those good habits.

 

[nevar71]

I’m not an expert, but there are some good ideas here, I think. I started with a 10% water change weekly on a 75 gallon. I have an hob filter running carbon and an Octo 2000 skimmer, which I think is a good size for a 75. It gets rid of a lot that might otherwise make water changes more critical for me. I miss a week or two now and then, but if I notice some algae build up, I do a change.

I have only a few soft corals, so I just test for nitrates (well, I check ph and salinity, too, since I mix my own salt water at times.). When I started (only back on February), I watched nitrates as my system was stabilizing. I used water changes to get rid of unwanted nitrates. Eventually things settled down with the aid of live rock and sand.

The bottom line is your tank has it’s own needs and will change. Water changes do help. I can see the difference when I do them regularly.

 

[The_Paradox]

Just curious but for the WC people, if you have 2ppm nitrate and 20ppb phosphorus today and a week from now it’s the same you change some water out anyways?

 

[Jekyl]

How big is your tank and what do you have in it?

90g. 9 fish, bunch of nems and softies. No sump either.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What would you say is the minimum for a 20 gallon tank?

2-3 gallons

I do 2gallon daily changes and reason for change is to removes some organics and restore traces used by corals

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just curious but for the WC people, if you have 2ppm nitrate and 20ppb phosphorus today and a week from now it’s the same you change some water out anyways?

No need to but you dont want to wait for it to climb either

Range- po4 .06-.08 up to .1 and nitrate 145-20 or below but dont allow either to zero out. This is where testing will determine a need for water change

 

[LPS Bum]

Is it true that you don't have to do any water changes if it is a 20 gallon FOWLR tank? How and why is that possible, and how come for a freshwater tank you have to do frequent water changes?

Hmm, not sure where you got that info. ALL aquariums benefit from water changes. That doesn't mean it's absolutely necessary to do them, but on balance every tank will benefit from removing some of the old water and replacing it with new water, at least some of the time.

For reference, I do a small monthly 15 gal water change on my 240 FOWLR. It allows me to syphon out detritus and clean out the skimmer and canister filter. And my FOWLR is more than 10X the size of yours. My advice: do regular partial water changes.