Switching WC schedule

[flchamp89]

In my FW planted life I always started weekly WC and moved to monthly for nutrient build up. I'm old school and come from the low light low bioload heavy filtration world. I'm running a 90 percent soft coral nano. I know my nutrients are low. I was thinking about month 3 going to every 2 weeks and month 6 monthly. For those that have done this give me your thoughts. Thank you.

 

[WV Reefer]

In my FW planted life I always started weekly WC and moved to monthly for nutrient build up. I'm old school and come from the low light low bioload heavy filtration world. I'm running a 90 percent soft coral nano. I know my nutrients are low. I was thinking about month 3 going to every 2 weeks and month 6 monthly. For those that have done this give me your thoughts. Thank you.

I’m from the high light, high flow, no filtration world.

I do monthly changes on my 75 gallon and weekly on my 12 gallon long. (Both would be considered high nutrient tanks.)

If you need to get your levels up I would just make the switch immediately. If you don’t like the results just switch back.

 

[flchamp89]

I’m from the high light, high flow, no filtration world.

I do monthly changes on my 75 gallon and weekly on my 12 gallon long. (Both would be considered high nutrient tanks.)

If you need to get your levels up I would just make the switch immediately. If you don’t like the results just switch back.

I assume the 12 is heavily fed? What's your reason for holding on to the weekly changes in it?

 

[WV Reefer]

I assume the 12 is heavily fed? What's your reason for holding on to the weekly changes in it?

Neither are heavily fed..... I don’t feed corals and I do not dose anything in my tanks and I just find the 12 gallon does better with weekly changes. (It’s only 3 gallons changed so it’s quick and easy.)

 

[flchamp89]

Neither are heavily fed..... I don’t feed corals and I do not dose anything in my tanks and I just find the 12 gallon does better with weekly changes. (It’s only 3 gallons changed so it’s quick and easy.)

That's what my dilemma is. In 50 min I can do all the maintenance I need. Which I know will keep the tank pristine but probably won't give me much growth. That's the balance thing we all look to achieve right lol. Hard question to answer I know. Maybe meet in the middle with bi monthly is the happy medium.

 

[WV Reefer]

That's what my dilemma is. In 50 min I can do all the maintenance I need. Which I know will keep the tank pristine but probably won't give me much growth. That's the balance thing we all look to achieve right lol. Hard question to answer I know. Maybe meet in the middle with bi monthly is the happy medium.

I would try it and see what happens.

the good thing is it’s an easy switch to make.

 

[flchamp89]

Thank you

 

[sghera64]

I have a mixed reef (LPS / SPS / Zoas - - and the SPS are taking over for some reason).

I stopped doing WC on a sch: Instead, I measure Ca, Alk, N, P, pH, (Mg, K and I limitedly). I do daily dosing of Fe and NO3 when there is an imbalance. I have a 20 gal fuge packed with chaeto, ulva and pods. Maybe 1 - 2 times per year, I get an ICP-OES to inspect trace elements more thoroughly, but I would not for a softie tank.

I will do WC when:
- Corals ask for it (color, polyp ext., growth rate). I’m not a ‘coral whisperer - no’.
- elements are out too much (or have been for too long) out of whack, and where I cannot correct them with targeted adjustments.
- when I “clean” the sand, bare bottom areas (sump, fuge, frag bins) to cull the detritus.
- (this one is stupid), when salt goes on sale and I just miss doing water changes.
- Not happened yet, but: if an ICP-OES came back show significant deviations (too high) in a number of trace elements - - don’t know how that would really happen. And I would look for some validation (coral health) too.


As you have a softie tank, you could look for poly opening / extension. Zoa’ are great indicators especially if you have a variety. Watch out for leathers - - they give off lots of false signals. When there is a stressor, some softies, signal one day and then start a rapid decline the next. I would be comfortable going with carbon (2 day / week on a timer change monthly) and a decent skimmer to battle chemical warfare and then try for quarterly 30% water changes. That’s like almost changing out 75% of your water 1x per year.