water changes whats the point

[FaviaFreak]

I find doing water changes enjoyable, maybe I'm just crazy

 

[Isoprene]

+1^ to the above, if I had nothing to fiddle with in my tank on a weekly basis I would go insane, broke, and really anxious

 

[beaslbob]

The point of water changes is to export nurturance andimport minerals. What the point of them if your nitrates and phos are at 0 andyou have a ca reactor that give your everything else you need..

the other side of this is that water changes will limit but no prevent build up of everything.

IMHO and IME balance the tank with macro algae, or an ats, keep the calcium alk mag in line with the diy two part, provide the light and food for the corals and the tank can run for years with no water changes.


my .02

 

[Paul B]

Frank Burr has been running a tank for over 20 years with no water changes. Frank Burr | Fourreef Consortium LLC | ZoomInfo.com I saw him speak at Reefstock and as long as you have a self sustaining biosphere, you don't need to do the water changes. Now, exactly what corals he is keeping, I have no idea.​

Frank Burr proves my theory that people do to many water changes and he also proves that "some" people can get away with out them. I rarely change water but I do change it ocasionally. Maybe I don't have to but it is easier than dosing.

 

[mcarroll]

Since most people stock their tanks so densely, to me running without water changes is akin to pulling a stunt. Fine if you wanna try it yourself, but that can never be a tenet of good husbandry.

If we need a metaphor, we're running a marathon not pulling a stunt. I'm sure a runner "could" finish a marathon without stopping to quench or relieve himself, but could that ever be considered a good running style? Of course not.

That doesn't say "It can't be done" but it says what it says. Drink water!!

-Matt

P.S. Seriously, unless you take very special care in the set up and stocking of your system, you will want to do at least "some" water changes. Ultimately, the exact setup and livestock you choose are what determines how many water changes you should or shouldn't be doing as well as how big those water changes will have to be.

 

[YodaHart]

I think a water change is also a good time to clean up some other parts of the tank, too. Before the change, blow off the detrius from the rocks. After it settles on the sand, go suck it out with a water change. You get 2 benefits in 1. Less junk in the water and fresh, clean water to replace it.

 

[jelly]

All good information. Thanks guys let's keep this going and see all the other ideas out there.

 

[ionix]

I do probably 30% of water changes over a bi-monthly period, but not because of my amm, NO2/3 levels.

I like to make sure I am on key with my trace (agreeing with others). And,also to prevent/reduce the build-up of any harmful contaminants from unknown sources (i.e. tobacco smoke being indirectly pulled through the skimmer intake).

As many things as we can test for, there are probably that many and more mixtures/compounds that are in the water that we cannot test for and probably wouldn't know exactly where what came from and how it plays into the chemistry.

 

[beaslbob]

Frank Burr proves my theory that people do to many water changes and he also proves that "some" people can get away with out them. I rarely change water but I do change it ocasionally. Maybe I don't have to but it is easier than dosing.

(frank Burr has a tank running for 20 years)

Big deal. Paul b's tank had been running for 40. :lol: