Water changes with low nutrients

[blebs]

My tank always has run with low nutrients, ~0.1 nitrates and undetectable Phosphate with the Hanna low range reader (not ULR). I always did water changes out of habits, but now I am wondering, do I really need to do water changes? What are your guys thoughts?

run chaeto 24/7, but no other media (like GFO, carbon etc)

 

[JoshH]

How often are you doing water changes?

 

[blebs]

I have been doing them every 2 weeks, ~ 10% total volume.

 

[JoshH]

Are you finding your levels are lower than you would like them? If you wanted to raise them you could stretch the WCs out over a longer period and see how that effects your parameters. Or cut the volume in half and do 5% bi-weekly.

 

[Chris Villalobos]

Do you have any problems with cyanobacteria? How are your corals doing?

I run the Triton Method because I really hate water changes. One of the big problems with my tank was that even though I had low NO3 and PO4 there were still metal ions building up in my tank to dangerous levels. It took ICP tests to spot the problems. Even after finding the offending piece of equipment that was causing my high Tin issues there still are low level contaminants from other sources. I wish I didn't have to do water changes when running the Triton Method but for my tank it's just not practical. I'm now doing monthly 30% water changes and sending in quarterly ICP tests.