Water Changes: What "percentage" makes it worth doing?

[Idech]

2% every day

What’s your protocol ? Add 50% salt water and 50% RO/Di ? How much per day ?

 

[Sean W.]

I have a 55 gallon tank, which holds 47 gallons of actual water. I use a 20 tall to mix my water in, which actually holds 17 gallons. I don't quite fill it up all the way when making a batch for a water change, so I do 15 gallons, so that's a 31% water change.

I do water change probably once every 3 weeks or so, whenever my spidy sense tingles and says " I should probably do a water change ".

I gravel vac every time I do a WC

 

[Discordian]

I have a bit of an unusual water change set up. I have a drain in my sump which is set at the same height as my ATO. Every Sunday I open up that drain and pump about 10% of my water volume from my mixing station into the tank and let the waste water flow out the drain. Makes water changes a breeze.

 

[WVNed]

What’s your protocol ? Add 50% salt water and 50% RO/Di ? How much per day ?

I am using an automatic water change (AWC) system. It does it every day from my mixing station. I am actually about to install a new one using a Coralview Hydros XS and will do 6 gallons a day (1.5%) on a 400 gallon system. The one I have been using has gone faulty.

 

[Appoloreefer]

Dear Abby,

I was told that water changes have a positive effect on my aquarium but what percentage of water should I change to make it worth it?

Sincerely,

Confused Reefer

image via @Reef Hacks and their Exploring Water Changes article.

I have a 125 gallon and I usually do 20% every two weeks but have been thinking of cutting that back to 10% every two weeks.

 

[CoralB]

10% weekly is the minimum for my tanks

 

[hawk82]

Is 5 gallon a week good for a 40 breeder, not sure what percent that is.

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

I vote other. I do 10g in my 70 g system every weekend. when I have issues or doing maintenance such as algae control or some kind of medication ect I do 50%. anything over 50% I think is over kill and a waste of money. I use this method on fresh and salt tanks. above mentioned is my salt tank.

 

[Blumon18]

Not only are you removing waste but are replacing other elements with new salt mix water.
Personally I do 10% per week.
Each tank is different as to how much a change will be needed. Every bit helps

For my 40 gallon I do a five gallon water change when I do mine sometimes maybe ten gallon depends on how my Parameters are

 

[ChicagoReef]

For my 90 gallon reef, I have not done a water change since 2016. I do test my water every 3 months (Triton). I dose nitraphos and Aquaforest using the balling method. Tank looks great and my SPS, LPS, & softies are growing - too fast in most cases.

 

[Reefvision]

More of “just in case” but for me and 220g tank 5% every 2weeks seems ok . My main checks are alk,cal,temp, mag.

 

[efscamaro]

I have a Red Sea Reefer 525 XL mixed reef with about 18 fish, 4 tangs, 2 clowns, 2 wrasse, 3 anthias, 2 watchman gobies, 1 fire fish, 3 mystery fish and a gramma. There are 2 large blue legs, 3 huge snails, 2 peppermint's, 1, cleaner and a fire shrimp. Water tends to evaporate in the tank at a rate of a almost a gallon a day (California). On top of this I've been regretfully inconsistent on water intervals but on average it is 15 gallons every month or 2. I think my planted refugium and huge Nyos does the bulk of keeping the system clean but the tank looks healthy for the most part.

 

[Dragon5704]

I have a 75 gallon FOWLR and have plenty of live rock, so probably net somewhere around 60 gallons, I change 15 gallons a week or 25%. Water stays clear and parameters are stable. Tank has been running 6 1/2 months now.

 

[Dragon5704]

I have a 75 gallon FOWLR tank with plenty of live rock so I probably net around 60 gallons. I do water changes every week at 15 gallons or roughly 25%. Tank looks very clear and water is stable. Tanks been occupied for 6 1/2 months now.

 

[JKBrown]

I have a 110 DT and change 1% daily. I'm using three peristaltic pumps: new water to 110 gallon DT, DT to 30 gallon frag tank, frag tank to drain. Twice a day they run for 45 minutes. I have a low-level switch that opens when the new water tank is too low which stops the whole water ballet until I make new water.

 

[marcus07]

Is the question in regard to regular maintenance? or to correct a known issue? If I need to correct something I do more that my regular 20% water change. I think the question needs to be more specific.

 

[65Naja]

2% Every Night - Apex DOS here as well.

 

[maleshka21]

Dear Abby,

I was told that water changes have a positive effect on my aquarium but what percentage of water should I change to make it worth it?

Sincerely,

Confused Reefer

image via @Reef Hacks and their Exploring Water Changes article.

HI I'm new here and only been reefing for about 1.5 years. I do 20 % water changes every other week. I'm really hoping after 2 years when reef mature maybe it will not be necessary?

 

[tc760]

I do auto water changes of 2 gallons a day on my 180G. Every couple months a do a 15 -20% change

 

[tc760]

HI I'm new here and only been reefing for about 1.5 years. I do 20 % water changes every other week. I'm really hoping after 2 years when reef mature maybe it will not be necessary?

My last tank was a 100g that was 5 years old. I did 25% every few months and the tank was awesome but got to crowded to I upgraded now I couldn't imagine going less than monthly if I didn't have my AWC running. I ran mostly LPS before now I'm into more SPS so they are not as forgiving