Need help with this

[Muney Mun]

I just did a 20% water change two weeks ago on my 55 gal. Mixed reef and my parameters are still good and was wondering do I have to do another change right now or wait until my chemistry starts changing?


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[Mr. E Wrasse]

Your chemistry shouldnt really be changing unless something bad happened. Stable parameters are needed to maintain a healthy reef. Most peopl do water changes once every 2 or 3 weeks. Sometimes 1 if its an sps only. I noticed you posted this in the new to hobby forum. If your tank is cycling then let it cycle, test your water, and whenever its stable then you can do a water change

 

[cdness]

Water change schedule depends on many different factors including but not limited to:

- Parameters (high nitrates or ammonia or low Ca/Alk/Mag in low utilization reefs)
- Trace Element Replacement Need (do you dose trace elements?)
- Length the aquarium has been up and running (More water changes required at the beginning when the tank is maturing)
- Bio-load (Number of Fish)
- Coral appearance (new growth, coloration, polyp extension)


Each tank requires a little different husbandry techniques. Waiting for the parameters to get "out of whack" will end up with trouble in the long run. Water changes are there to prevent the parameter changes, not correct them. However they can be used for correction as well if it is left long enough to be an issue. It all depends on your individual tank's needs, but I can say you really can't do too many water changes if you keep yourself at the two week mark. You will have a very stable tank with a constant supply of fresh trace elements...

Personally do not use me as a good example. My tank is 6 years mature so I do not do many changes. I typically change 30 gallons every month all at once. I really should be doing more than that but I have an issue finding the time to keep up on the changes. Because of that I dose a few different trace elements to keep up on the ones I find are needed in my tank. In a perfect world I would be changing 15 gallons every two weeks, but due to schedules that is not always feasible.