Water Change Question

[AydenLincoln]

I know regularly weekly or biweekly water changes are important whether manual or automatic in the first year or so. Is there a point when you can just stop doing them altogether? Even in a nano reef tank? Does anyone no longer do water changes or still does them after years…experiences? I know results will vary and it depends on what you keep.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Well you do them to solve a problem way I see it. It replenishes calcium and alkalinity while lowering nutrients and gives you a chance to siphon out algae, cyano, and detritus. You don't need to do them at all depending on how you run the tank and there is no set rule. It's impossible to apply a single rule to all tanks. They are all so unique in how they function.

 

[Sean Clark]

I'll say that I have not done "regular" water changes in any of my tanks since 2016. It is not for everybody but it has worked for me. If I do a water change it is usually due to some kind of maintenance that involved removing water. Not just because it has been two weeks and my salt manufacture said I should change out some water.

 

[CoralB]

I still do them after years of experience . My corals seem to perk up afterwards . Yes I could probably go without but for me I believe their are other things in the mixture that get depleted that I don’t wish to dose plus it helps to keep my tank clean as I always siphon out my sand bed while doing them . It’s a preference thing

 

[Jeffcb]

Have not done one on my reef tank since November. Its almost 2 yrs old now. I dose.

I do have a strong feeling I need to do one soon. Everything looks great... but just a feeling.

 

[Freddy0144]

There are a few different systems and methods for not doing water changes. each of these have to be evaluated for their complexity and what is going to fit with your tank and your life style. If this is your first tank, I would recommend 10% water changes once per week based on testing and water parameters. As your tank matures, and you continue to grow (sorry I am assuming this is your first tank). You will begin to see what the tank needs and how often things need to be done. I would recommend testing once per week, I recall that you have an apex so if you are monitoring PH you should see the ebb and flow of the daily changes in PH with the cycle of the lights.

 

[AydenLincoln]

There are a few different systems and methods for not doing water changes. each of these have to be evaluated for their complexity and what is going to fit with your tank and your life style. If this is your first tank, I would recommend 10% water changes once per week based on testing and water parameters. As your tank matures, and you continue to grow (sorry I am assuming this is your first tank). You will begin to see what the tank needs and how often things need to be done. I would recommend testing once per week, I recall that you have an apex so if you are monitoring PH you should see the ebb and flow of the daily changes in PH with the cycle of the lights.

Yes and I keep up with it.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I know regularly weekly or biweekly water changes are important whether manual or automatic in the first year or so. Is there a point when you can just stop doing them altogether? Even in a nano reef tank? Does anyone no longer do water changes or still does them after years…experiences? I know results will vary and it depends on what you keep.

Look at the tank of the month

REEF OF THE MONTH - June 2022: Reefer_punk's Beautiful DSR Reef! No Water Changes in 4+ Years!

R2R Username: @Reefer_punk Build Thread: Reefer_punk's new build thread Introduction: Hi to all of you, Reef2Reefers! First of all, I am unbelievably honored to have my tank picked as Reef of the Month! It is humbling to be selected and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Eh. What's a water change? Lol.
I prefer cash over change.

I think they restore balance as well as what's mentioned above.
D

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know regularly weekly or biweekly water changes are important whether manual or automatic in the first year or so. Is there a point when you can just stop doing them altogether? Even in a nano reef tank? Does anyone no longer do water changes or still does them after years…experiences? I know results will vary and it depends on what you keep.

It's a regularly debated topic, but dropping water changes doesn't come without a uptick in other means of husbandry.

There's no clear answer what is "best". It is clear that some great tanks can go without water changes, but it is rarely evident whether those same tanks would be better or worse if doing water changes in addition to whatever they currently do..

 

[bnord]

Your question about nanos is a good focal point.
Jake Adams has a tank that he set up in one day and went a year or 2 without a water change. It was also not terribly heavily stocked and it is Jake adams. (For goodness sake)

Have a 15 G desk top that is over loaded with LPS and splitting anemones and crustaceans, and do a simple 1 gallon switch every Saturday morning - takes 3 minutes and think its part of the tanks’ limited success

Both tanks are healthy and thriving and with my 2 years of experience and husbandry skills the changes are important. But who am I to argue with others sharing the same success.