Water changes on large aquarium

[Darth_man]

I am looking into purchasing a 400g aquarium. I will have a 180g sump. Just wanted to see how often you guys change your water on large tanks and what quantity.

 

[shrimped]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[naecO rM]

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.

 

[Sallstrom]

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

 

[Darth_man]

Those are interesting methods, especially the triton method and cwc. I am going to take a look at those.

 

[ReeferBud]

Where can you buy the cwc manager?

Haven't heard of that one before.

 

[joro]

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!

 

[naecO rM]

Those are interesting methods, especially the triton method and cwc. I am going to take a look at those.

Where can you buy the cwc manager?

Haven't heard of that one before.

You can read here about the CWC manager.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uOvGAEb6S5K87FMVdnjJcXmi9h-tfpkW0Czj9PRmOfo/edit?usp=drivesdk

https://docs.google.com/document/d/132R6Br5u6ODnTfhRbMC-vONguX2ELNtaIeJpckEfh04/edit?usp=drivesdk

 

[cumbeje]

I have a 700 gallon SPS/LPS tank. I setup up a DOS with my Apex to do 2.64 gallons a day automatic water change.

 

[glennf]

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

 

[George209]

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!

 

[RamsReef]

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?

 

[Jose H]

Just curious...do any of you guys who don't do water changes, or have automated changes, use a nitrate reactor?

 

[Jakepen]

For those that change water by hand, how do you drain the tank? Use a pump, or vacuum?

 

[Sealion]

For those that change water by hand, how do you drain the tank? Use a pump, or vacuum?

I use a power head with a hose to the kitchen sink. Take it down to a mark on the tank, then refill with fresh saltwater that's at temp and pH.

 

[glennf]

Beautiful tank Glenn! I’ve seen your tank thread!

Thanks m8

Then you also know my "claim" is genuine and sustainable[emoji6]

 

[saltyfish808]

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.