What are the most crucial things to get right and how do you do it?
Water changes with Acropora domination
- Thread starter Reefahholic
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I keep my alkalinity the same as my salt mix. Other parameters i test occasionally. But alk i test weekly or more.
Salinity is important too but a reliable ato covers the need to test that as often.
Salinity is important too but a reliable ato covers the need to test that as often.
OP
OP
What if the water change is 50% or more. Can they tolerate that monthly or will they STN / RTN?
If you need to do more than 50% water change a month would look at other ways to maintain your alk/ca and reducing nutrients. Simply from a save yourself the work point of view.
But If you broke that down to 25% biweekly your corals with not notice.
I do 10% a week, totaling 40% monthly.
But If you broke that down to 25% biweekly your corals with not notice.
I do 10% a week, totaling 40% monthly.
OP
OP
I’m just trying to figure out how far you can really push some of these more finicky Acro’s w/o them RTN/STN’ing. I know stability is key, but I’ve heard of guys doing nearly 100% water changes with Acro dominated tanks and they pull it off. If I tried that, I’d likely see some RTN. What’s the secret?
People would never daily manually add freshwater to top off their tanks because it's a hassle, could potentially fluctuate their salinity too much, and might eventually forget.
People would never manually dose carbonate or calcium every day. It's a hassle, you could get busy, or you could forget.
So why would water changes, which not only add the minerals back in your tank, but also export excess nutrients be any different? Would you dose carbonate once a week? Every two weeks? Would you turn your GFO reactors on once a week? Once every two weeks?
Work out how to use a stenner pump and call it a day. Instead of weekly/biweekly swings, parameters are stabilized. Instead of nutrients leaving your tank at large swings, you can have a continual export.
Folks have zero issue spending $50-200 on an auto top off, or $500+ on a skimmer. However, why haven't you automated daily water changes? It's a game changer beyond any other piece of equipment that you can own yet it never caught traction. Not sure why.
People would never manually dose carbonate or calcium every day. It's a hassle, you could get busy, or you could forget.
So why would water changes, which not only add the minerals back in your tank, but also export excess nutrients be any different? Would you dose carbonate once a week? Every two weeks? Would you turn your GFO reactors on once a week? Once every two weeks?
Work out how to use a stenner pump and call it a day. Instead of weekly/biweekly swings, parameters are stabilized. Instead of nutrients leaving your tank at large swings, you can have a continual export.
Folks have zero issue spending $50-200 on an auto top off, or $500+ on a skimmer. However, why haven't you automated daily water changes? It's a game changer beyond any other piece of equipment that you can own yet it never caught traction. Not sure why.
OP
OP
Can you just test your nutrients pre water change- NO3, PO4, IRON, Potassium, Strontium, Iodine, etc..and add these back with the NSW.?
If we can balance a small change, can’t we also balance a bigger change.?
If we can balance a small change, can’t we also balance a bigger change.?
A water change with a good salt is like hitting the reset button to natural levels. Why go through the troubles of testing, calculating, dosing, etc when you can hit a mild reset button everyday? It's reefing for dummies, which I very well might be.
The notion of figuring out a small water change versus a large one is like figuring out dosing alk daily versus dosing alk weekly. One is clearly the better option.
Spend the $300 for the single most influential piece of equipment that you can add to your tank, and enjoy the health of your tank.
The notion of figuring out a small water change versus a large one is like figuring out dosing alk daily versus dosing alk weekly. One is clearly the better option.
Spend the $300 for the single most influential piece of equipment that you can add to your tank, and enjoy the health of your tank.
The only peoole I have heard of doing 100 percent changes are people that use natural salt water.
Its common in pico tanks. Less common as tank volume increases. Changing 100% on bigger than a 10g is not that cost effective, compared to just about any other supplement plan.
I’ve done several large 50-75% water changes on an sps dominant system without issue after I accidentally introduced contaminants into the system (ie Bayer or aromatics). I’ve only matched salinity and alk. Most Acropora continue to look good after the water change. Others look even better.
OP
OP
I remember a while back that Triton was saying a larger water change was just too much.
For me it would appear that the lack of nutrients in the NSW could cause issues. If those are added into the NSW then it should be ok.
Wish I had the money and a nice easy plan for continuous water changes.
For me it would appear that the lack of nutrients in the NSW could cause issues. If those are added into the NSW then it should be ok.
Wish I had the money and a nice easy plan for continuous water changes.
speedstar
Well-Known Member
I must be an odd one, I have dosed 2 part daily for years, I can't commit to trusting a relay wouldn't stick in the on position. Or a triac was properly loaded. Though I'll give you it would be near impossible to weld the contacts using a dosing pump. I have considered staging 2 relays
If the parameters of the fresh water match the tank, then you can change as much water as you want. Temp is very important along with salinity, but then alk and calcium should be pretty close as well - you can use Muratic Acid to lower alk in freshly mixed salt and dowflake (calcium chloride) to raise the calcium. If you want to change a ton of water in a SPS tank and avoid parameter swings, then you are probably going to need to doctor your freshly mixed salt.
OP
OP
I agree with that for sure. I try to match the water as close as possible.
What in-particular would you say something like a Tenuis wouldn't like about a big water change? Say all the parameters were matched perfectly. I still feel like they would not like that change.
vetteguy53081
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S T A B I L I T Y has more meaning than expressed. I agree on alk as well as MAG and salt used as well as lighting type and intensity
X-37B
Fight The Good Fight
My current tank I do 3gal/10% every other week. Its a 18" cube nano. Did every week for 8 months. 6 months later doing every other did not notice any difference.
I think most people dont do daily changes because the tank is in the living room with no space.
Currently setting up a 120. Would love to do daily but im one of the people with the tank in the living room with no available space to set it up.
I think most people dont do daily changes because the tank is in the living room with no space.
Currently setting up a 120. Would love to do daily but im one of the people with the tank in the living room with no available space to set it up.
sawdonkey
Valuable Member
Well, I don’t disagree with you that a continuous water change is the bet way to go, but for many, it’s just not feasible. I put my tank, and I assume a lot of others do too, in one of the most visible spots in my house where I can enjoy it the most. That spot happens to be nowhere near a closet, drain, or water source. I m not cool with hoses going across my main living area.
