Water changes weekly? Bi-weekly? Monthly? Or NEVER?

[Natescorals]

I have a 20 gallon nano with 2 clownfish and some soft and LPS corals and I don’t know how often I should be doing water changes. Any suggestions? What do you guys do? Thank you!

 

[Spare time]

It depends on what you are doing water changes for (ex nitrate and phosphate control, elements, etc). If you don't dose alk and calcium, then you need to do water changes to keep that up (not efficient). If you do so do to keep nitrate or phosphate in check, 1-2 gallons a week may do the trick. It all really depends on how fast waste builds up or elements deplete

 

[Kellie in CA]

I like to do small weekly water changes. Usually 2 gallons at a time. However, if I miss one here or there everything is just fine. I'm nearly fully stocked with corals and I have just a clown pair and clean-up crew.

 

[Natescorals]

I like to do small weekly water changes. Usually 2 gallons at a time. However, if I miss one here or there everything is just fine. I'm nearly fully stocked with corals and I have just a clown pair and clean-up crew.

Do you dose?

 

[Natescorals]

It depends on what you are doing water changes for (ex nitrate and phosphate control, elements, etc). If you don't dose alk and calcium, then you need to do water changes to keep that up (not efficient). If you do so do to keep nitrate or phosphate in check, 1-2 gallons a week may do the trick. It all really depends on how fast waste builds up or elements deplete

Do you know how to dose? I have no idea how to start dosing

 

[SPR1968]

Check this out it may help you decide

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[PerplexyHexy]

Im currently test driving the no water change method... Haven’t done a water change since October... so far so good

 

[tyryfin]

I do 5 gallons every night, or should I say the APEX DOS does it

 

[Kellie in CA]

Do you dose?

Nope. My tank is as easy as it gets. No dosing and only a bag of carbon in the media rack. Don't even have a powerhead at the moment.

With such a small volume of water, I feel like dosing is too risky. Small frequent water changes replenish whatever is needed. Especially for softies and LPS.

 

[fish farmer]

I do 5 gallon water changes every other week on a 29 gallon. I tend to do other reef duties at this time and try to stay in the routine, but sometimes skip a week.

 

[Sailfin11]

I always tell myself I'm going to try no water changes, but I usually end up doing one everything month. I feel like my corals always respond after and I see more growth.

 

[PR_nano]

I also have a 20 and was doing biweekly which was great until I returned from a trip where my auto feeder was been too generous and my nitrate skyrocketed. Lost some sps frags that weren't doing good, cheato die off, and obtained some GHA in the process. When everything stabalize I will go back to biweekly.

 

[Spare time]

Do you know how to dose? I have no idea how to start dosing

You would get a test kit for primarily alkalinity and calcium. Magnesium and the trace elements are usually fine if you keep up with water changes. If you have LPS or SPS coral you have to test alkalinity since it can drain so fast

 

[danieyella]

I always tell myself I'm going to try no water changes, but I usually end up doing one everything month. I feel like my corals always respond after and I see more growth.

Same here, usually a small one every other week for me... about 6-10%

 

[SuncrestReef]

My Apex runs 2 gallon daily water changes on my Reefer XL 425 using a DOS mounted by my garage mixing station through 30 feet of 1/4" tubing. I haven't hauled a bucket or dragged a hose into my house for 2 years.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

Sun Crest how are you enjoying those lights over the radions

 

[SuncrestReef]

Sun Crest how are you enjoying those lights over the radions

Still love them! My corals are growing like weeds with good coloration and polyp extension. I posted a whole thread about my ReeFi experience here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reefi-duo-extreme-led-unboxing-and-first-impressions.643718/

 

[Jimmeh lee]

I do 10% weekly in both my display and frag tank, dosing all for reef daily and vibrant every other week in the display. Frag tank isn’t consuming enough to dose much yet, and it’s using chaeto in a fuge, so no vibrant.

 

[Cell]

The frequency of necessary water changes depends on your nutrient import and waste export.

 

[Valentine6384]

Check this out it may help you decide

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

Great read! Thank you