Water changes on large aquarium
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- Thread starter Darth_man
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Wow that's a big tank but I'm sure the excitement is real. I would do 5-15% water change weekly-monthly for a half year to a year but remember water changes are not that great as it seems. Doing 25% water change only means the other 75% of unwanted nutrients are still present. Use a large Refugium with tons of macro Algae with a good skimmer and a few media reactors would work extremely well after a year of water changes. Check out BRSTV on YouTube they are doing a chatomorpha(spelling?) test soon to see if it will take away the need of weekly water changes. If water parameters get really bad do a water change when needed. Good luck!
Winschuc
Active Member
I think that this is a topic where you're going to get a lot of different answers. For my tanks, I've always show for about 10% every week or three (sometimes life gets in the way). As stated above, a good skimmer and some supplementary filtration via media reactors will help keep the system stable (if you need them). Probably best to set up the tank and evaluate what you need, WC/supplement wise, as it evolves.
Killer Karma
Active Member
I have a 350 gallon mixed reef tank with a 160 gallon sump and due to several life events have gone multiple months without a water change with no ill effects. I do run a skimmer and a refugium with chaeto. The refugium up until today when I get my new light has barely produced any growth. So it does not seem like water changes are a necessity, however it does depend on everything else. I do use part a/b solution which also contains all the major / minor trace elements. If you are not supplementing trace elements and you are not doing a water change I believe you will have an issue in the long run.
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
On a tank this large I would consider using the Triton method. The Triton method relies on ICP testing and dosing instead of water changes to manage water parameters. Paying $50 for testing once a quarter is expensive, but paying the cost of RO/DI water and salt mix for a tank that size is also nontrivial.
I would use Continuosly Water Change manager. It's cost around $300-$400 but no more buckets.
All what you need is one 1/4 pipe from your tank to the barrel with a fresh salted water and to the drain or another empty barrel. The CWC manager make the water change it self, just program how you need. Every hour it's can add the new water (programmed how much you wish up to 10L(2.5 gal) per hour) and then take out the same amount of water to the drain or to another barrel.
The CWC manager can make up to 120L(31.5 gal) of WC daily without you.
All what you need is one 1/4 pipe from your tank to the barrel with a fresh salted water and to the drain or another empty barrel. The CWC manager make the water change it self, just program how you need. Every hour it's can add the new water (programmed how much you wish up to 10L(2.5 gal) per hour) and then take out the same amount of water to the drain or to another barrel.
The CWC manager can make up to 120L(31.5 gal) of WC daily without you.
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Sallstrom
2500 Club Member
We have a couple of reef tanks at the museum. We quit water changes three years ago(just change some water if we vacuum the sand etc). Works well for us.
We use Triton tests and supplements for adjusting parameters and have calcium reactors and some algae refugiums etc.
This saves us a lot of work
/ David
We use Triton tests and supplements for adjusting parameters and have calcium reactors and some algae refugiums etc.
This saves us a lot of work
/ David
joro
That Guy
I have a 400G system (~340 in DT, ~60 in Sump) and plan on doing 10% water changes once a month unless something goes awry. I opted to go down the ZeoVit path and have been very pleased with everything thus far (about two months in now). I recently had a marine velvet outbreak with a new addition so no fish in the system right now but the corals (primarily SPS but some LPS/Sofities as well) are doing very well! Our local club just had a presentation from Joe C in re the triton method and it looks interesting but I haven't implemented it myself personally to give you my experience. I - like some of the other posters - have always stuck to the idea of using a large fuge and an overrated skimmer which has seemed to work for me over 4 tanks ranging in size from Nano's to the current system. Good luck!
300 gallon here, 12 years no waterchanges.
Minimal technics
Just dosing few elements
It don't get any easier than this.
I am on autopilot
Minimal technics
Just dosing few elements
It don't get any easier than this.
I am on autopilot
George209
Community Member
300 gallon here, 12 years no waterchanges.
Minimal technics
Just dosing few elements
It don't get any easier than this.
I am on autopilot
Beautiful tank Glenn! I’ve seen your tank thread!
300 gallon here, 12 years no waterchanges.
Minimal technics
Just dosing few elements
It don't get any easier than this.
I am on autopilot
300 gallon here, 12 years no waterchanges.
Minimal technics
Just dosing few elements
It don't get any easier than this.
I am on autopilot
Always love seeing your tank Glenn. Has any work been done translating dutch to English on your site, is your product available in north America?
saltyfish808
Active Member
I have a 600 gallon display and about 700 gallon total water volume. I change 45 gallons weekly. I know everyone has their own way but this works for my system.
