Possible to never do water changes?

[QuinnLee512]

I've had my tank running for almost a year now. I'm trying not to have to do water changes. However I've been running into high nitrate and phosphate issues. I've started vacuuming the sand bed to try and get the nitrates down. I have to essentially do a water change when vacuuming the sand bed. So was wondering if it's possible to never do a water change when there's a sandbed capturing detritus?

 

[homer1475]

Do you have a sump?

When you vacuum, place the other end of your hose into a filter sock in your sump. You can then vacuum all you want until the sock is full.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

It is possible, but you will need to dose if you have hard corals, and have some form of nutrient export. I recommend an algae scrubber for efficiency, and a refugium if you want to maximize copepod populations. I hope that this helps!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Easy answer, no.

Besides devolved nutrients, there are Dozens of other elements that will need to be replaced.

Even if you're dosing those, an issue very well may require an immediate change of water.

 

[QuinnLee512]

Do you have a sump?

When you vacuum, place the other end of your hose into a filter sock in your sump. You can then vacuum all you want until the sock is full.

Interesting. I will have to try this thanks.

 

[homer1475]

Interesting. I will have to try this thanks.

It's the only way I vacuum my sandbed.

 

[QuinnLee512]

It is possible, but you will need to dose if you have hard corals, and have some form of nutrient export. I recommend an algae scrubber for efficiency, and a refugium if you want to maximize copepod populations. I hope that this helps!

I dose all for reef. I have a klir-4 and a filter sock and skimmer in my sump. I also started carbon dosing nopox when I started having this high nitrate and phosphate issue.

 

[stephanjupillat]

Only do a quarter of your sand bed at a time, maximum. Then a week or 2 later, 2 being better, vacuum the next quarter. Never do all your sand bed at one time. Check our reef moonshiners. Technically if you can keep your nutrients in check it’s possible with dosing their program. However I would recommend small water changes even using their program.

 

[homer1475]

Only do a quarter of your sand bed at a time, maximum. Then a week or 2 later, 2 being better, vacuum the next quarter. Never do all your sand bed at one time. Check our reef moonshiners. Technically if you can keep your nutrients in check it’s possible with dosing their program. However I would recommend small water changes even using their program.

I would also add a caveat here.....

Depends on the size of your tank. I have an 80G cube. I do my entire sandbed about once a month, never have had an issue.

 

[QuinnLee512]

Only do a quarter of your sand bed at a time, maximum. Then a week or 2 later, 2 being better, vacuum the next quarter. Never do all your sand bed at one time. Check our reef moonshiners. Technically if you can keep your nutrients in check it’s possible with dosing their program. However I would recommend small water changes even using their program.

My goal is never having to do water changes. :⁠-⁠) Even having to vacuum the sand bed is a pain lol

 

[QuinnLee512]

I would also add a caveat here.....

Depends on the size of your tank. I have an 80G cube. I do my entire sandbed about once a month, never have had an issue.

I have a 75G. I guess I should have asked if it's possible to not have to do water changes and vacuum the sand bed. I want to be a lazy reefer. Lol

 

[stephanjupillat]

Have plenty of critters to clean and move the sand bed around. You will need to use a dosing program like triton or reef moonshiners. And your nutrients obviously need to be controlled. It’s possible. Plenty of people do it. Few do it well though.

 

[Roli's Reef Ranch]

 

[homer1475]

Sorry but LARS reefers, usually don't make it long in this hobby. There is always something that needs to be done.

Kind of like taking care of any animal. Walk the dog, change the cat box, etc, etc.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Check our reef moonshiners.

Where is this to be checked at?

 

[homer1475]

Where is this to be checked at?

Believe they have a very large FB presence. I'm not on that cesspool so I do not know for sure, but have read thats where most of it is.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Believe they have a very large FB presence. I'm not on that cesspool so I do not know for sure, but have read thats where most of it is.

Yeah I'm aware of that, just wondering what the poster ment.

 

[QuinnLee512]

Sorry but LARS reefers, usually don't make it long in this hobby. There is always something that needs to be done.

Kind of like taking care of any animal. Walk the dog, change the cat box, etc, etc.

I don't mean being neglectful. Some people will do stuff manually to save money. I'd gladly spend money for automation to keep my critters happy and healthy. Even with automation, there's still enough manual work like filling up the ATO reservoir.

 

[QuinnLee512]

Have plenty of critters to clean and move the sand bed around. You will need to use a dosing program like triton or reef moonshiners. And your nutrients obviously need to be controlled. It’s possible. Plenty of people do it. Few do it well though.

I use conchs to move the sandbed.

 

[stephanjupillat]

I have 2 in a 60 and they don’t do much. I’m talking copepods, narcissus snails, every snail that goes under the sand bed really, maybe a starfish, and fish. Get the correct gobies that burrow, not shrimp goby as the shrimp is who digs. Though that would be good too. You will be required to clean the sand bed, or at least move it around. Critters and fish help, but you can’t beat a good vacuum. Usually no water changes are reserved for very large tanks. Not small ones like yours. I’d find a way to do automatic weekly water changes as that is my plan with new 225 gallon tank. Good luck!