Water Changes: Weekly, When needed, or Not at all?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Water changes are essentially for nutrient export and replenishing trace elements. The general rule in the hobby is weekly water changes. This has come up for debate over the last several years as more and more reefers adopt systems/methods of reefing that reduce or remove the need for weekly water changes and some even argue that water changes are detrimental since they cause a "shock" to the ecosystem. Still, more of us are simply infrequent/inconsistent in our water change schedules due to neglect/laziness, and perhaps some people are infrequent water changes by choice--choosing only to do them when they see a need. So where do you land on water changes, and what's your reasoning?

 

[Gtinnel]

AWC for me. I do around 1.5% per day. I used to hate doing water changes, now all I have to do is mix up a brute can of saltwater about once every 2 weeks.

 

[X-37B]

I started my 120 over 1.5 years ago with a plan as a no scheduled water change setup.
I have done 3 10 water changes in that time. One was after a fluconazole treatment.
I run a carx, dose trace, and carbon dose. I run a skimmer, filter sock and 1 cup rox changed every 3 weeks, thats it.

You need a plan if you want to try this method or any method including the standard 10% a week, imo.
Pick your parameters you want to keep your tank at and focus on keeping them in range.

 

[mindme]

I do water changes on my small tanks. A 5g bucket is a 20% water change.

Trying to not do them on my 180g tank. It will be only when needed, but I'm looking for other solutions to prevent the need. So far my refugium is keeping nitrates and phosphates low, and then dosing others.

 

[sp1187]

weekly.
not smart enough to figure out dosing.

 

[Mal11224]

I try my best to do weekly water changes and think it works well for me but considered every two weeks because salt is so expensive. Is there a negative for doing once a week? I wonder sometimes.

 

[Neros503]

I do about 2 gallons every other week on my biocube 29, but thinking about raising it to 2 gallons per week.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I used to do every 2 weeks. Then 3 weeks, then.... Nowadays my schedule is, I'll do it next week

 

[PeterC99]

I do weekly water changes. This water station and fill and return pumps make changing 10 gallons in my 90 gallon tank a 10 minute, weekly exercise. This system also serves as my auto top off system.

 

[CanuckReefer]

AWC for me. I do around 1.5% per day. I used to hate doing water changes, now all I have to do is mix up a brute can of saltwater about once every 2 weeks.

Similar. About 2% every other day now. I find nothing gets shocked in any way, and my balance remains pretty rock solid.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I do mine once a month maybe. I have crammed so many zoa into a 32 biocube led I have 0-1ppm nitrates. I dose reef + amino acids weekly. Everything is flourishing even my LPS so I don’t see the need to do them any more frequently. Also have a hammer coral that started as one dime sized head two months ago and is now two half dollar sized heads.

 

[00W]

My 75's been going for 2 1/2 years. 5 gallons a week every Monday. Religiously. Every tank for 30 years-weekly.
But been having some hated algae problems lately as my corals have grown. No nutrients left so I'm going for every other week. My wife has to restrain me and take away my buckets because I'm nervous not to do weekly but so far the tanks doing better.

 

[ReeferMaddne$$]

I do bi-weekly water changes (10%). My corals have always done better the longer I wait.

 

[WVNed]

AWC 1.5%
I have done every option listed at one time or another. This is where I ended up.

 

[rhostam]

As others have shared, I perform AWC using a Neptune DOS. The total volume of water changes is about 7% over the course of a week. The inhabitants of the tank seem happy, and the water parameters have remained remarkably stable with this rate. I don't yet dose because parameters look fine, but as the tank's corals grow I'm sure that will change.

 

[Dryanimtt]

I do 20% WC every 2 weeks. Bi weekly

 

[Joe's 220 Reef]

I do about 20% weekly. I know some may think this is excessive but it helps with trace elements and I can feed very heavy.

 

[galantra]

I like to add my input on this been in this hobby for years took time off came back a couple of times. I tried everything from the daily water change, weekly, bi- weekly. And I was truly always struggling from one issue to another( high p04, sps bleaching,Battling hair algae, and issues with overdosing).

I learn from my system only do water changes when needed works best for me. I dose trace, keep my parameters stable at all times. I run carbon randomly, Skim very wet and added official live ocean rock into my system. I have been stable ever since I perform water changes only cause I am cleaning the sand bed and sump and that’s only 10%
I dose aminos and feed heavy even add reef roids and my nitrates stay low 2 and p04 below .05

I must add the support from my fellow reefers has been a great help as well!!

 

[Vette67]

I keep an eye on my sump. When the bottom is covered in detritus, it’s time for a water change. Time to siphon out all of that gunk. Maybe every month or 2.

 

[Llebcire]

29 Biocube running 13 months.
Initially doing 5g every 2 weeks to battle bubble algae but changed to every 4 weeks last fall as I wasn’t seeing a change.
I’ve been dosing Vibrant (20
ml/week) for about 4 weeks and while the bubble algae is gone my acro is dark - assuming due to Vibrant and not the extended water change cycle.

-Eric