Thoughts on water change frequency
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LiveWire
Master Electrician/Certified RODI Guru
There are a lot of reefers that have constant water changes going on in their systems so a gallon every 3-4 days is no issue. You would be changing about 7.5-10 gallons a month which is fine IMO.
I do bi-weekly 5% TO PREVENT A PROBLEM!. He is doing much less than that. I figure there is a lot of stuff chemistry wise going on that I don't know about. Substances that aren't really even looked at in the hobby. I guess you could run carbon for the same issue. But it takes out good stuff without replacing it. Which makes water changes better imo.
What is a water change????
But seriously, for a 32, depending on bioload, coral consumption of elements, etc. etc. You are only doing 7.5 to 10 gallons a month, as Livewire mentioned above. Also, with the changes being small, the stability of the tank will be better than a 25% water change a week like some people do. Less water over a shorter period is great for stability IMO.
But seriously, for a 32, depending on bioload, coral consumption of elements, etc. etc. You are only doing 7.5 to 10 gallons a month, as Livewire mentioned above. Also, with the changes being small, the stability of the tank will be better than a 25% water change a week like some people do. Less water over a shorter period is great for stability IMO.
cancun
Valuable Member
IMO I think every tank is different with different needs. I do a 10% water change every week on my 200 gallon. If I try to cut it to every other week, things get a little out of whack. I don't see a issue with doing a gallon every few days at all. It all depends on how your tank looks, and how your live stock is doing. You might find it easier to do two or three gallons once a week. There isn't a hard and fast rule that's for sure. [emoji16]
Sarah24!
2500 Club Member
Hello,
This is such a loaded question with about 9 billion answers because all the tanks are diffferent. Water changes were pointless for me, I did 80 gallons a week and still couldn’t drop my nitrates and I had to dose noprox. Now with that said if one can keep their tank stable with water changes that would be my preference even on my tank.
Changing the water is good but you also want some of the good bacteria to stay. Changing the water also helps replace trace elements which is necessary. Example for me I have to dose trace elements. Yes I still do some water changes but not as much because it throws everything else off and my tank doesn’t like change much.
The best answer is to look at your corals and see how they are doing and test once a week. This also varies depending how old or new the tank is.
This is such a loaded question with about 9 billion answers because all the tanks are diffferent. Water changes were pointless for me, I did 80 gallons a week and still couldn’t drop my nitrates and I had to dose noprox. Now with that said if one can keep their tank stable with water changes that would be my preference even on my tank.
Changing the water is good but you also want some of the good bacteria to stay. Changing the water also helps replace trace elements which is necessary. Example for me I have to dose trace elements. Yes I still do some water changes but not as much because it throws everything else off and my tank doesn’t like change much.
The best answer is to look at your corals and see how they are doing and test once a week. This also varies depending how old or new the tank is.
nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
Same thing happens to my tank, I can totally tell something is up when I skip a weekly water change.
cancun
Valuable Member
Yeah me too! So I just stick with once a week. Some people can do every other week, some can even do one large one once a month. Doesn't work for my tank though! [emoji16]
cancun
Valuable Member
You are welcome! Years ago when I had a Biocube 29 (my first tank), I did a three gallon water change once a week. The LFS told me 20% once a month. I tried that but as a newbie back then, I had issues. So finally I did 10% once a week. Things drastically improved. I kept that water change schedule of 10% once a week when I upgraded to a 80 gallon, and now with my newist upgrade my 200 gallon.
