Water changes

05grandprix · Jun 16, 2013

I know this probably been answered before but I can't find it.

What's everyone's opinions on water changes and how often?
I've been using reef crystal salt and now changed to seachem salinity now that I've got my own RO/DI unit. What's the best way to start switching from one to the other. I've started with a 28 gallon water change in my Red Sea max 250. And I'm wondering if by doing a 14 gallon water change weekly what my benefits will be to my tank and coral.

The corals in the tank are frogspawn, burbinki acan, other acans, hairy mushrooms, merlittie blastos, superman chalice, several different Zoe's, several other chalice, Duncan's, long tentical plate, and gsp

bknapp · Jun 16, 2013

In my opinion water changes are one of the most important thing you can do for you tank and it's inhabitants. Now only does it help with nitrate issues it only helps to maintain your other important parameters such as calcium and alkalinity. It also help to maintain the smaller trace elements that are also essential for coral growth and coloration.

schooleyosis · Jun 16, 2013

I like to perform 10% water changes every other week. When I was changing salts the first WC was completed with 1/3 new salt and 2/3 original salt. Next WC was 2/3 new salt and 1/3 original. Third WC was all new salt. I like RedSea regular salt, works well for bio-pellet users.
I also blow all the rocks off with a power head just before I perform a WC.

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Dowtish · Jun 16, 2013

I do 5 gallons every weekend on a 100 gallon system. It takes less than 5 minutes, it doesnt change my parameters(looking for stability, no swings), I dont have to have it to perfect temp because its not enough to change the temp of the whole tank, and I know I will actually do it because it doesnt take any time at all. At the end of the month I have changed 20% of the water in my system.

NanaReefer · Jun 16, 2013

I do 5 1/2g bi-weekly

on My 26g

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calvo15290 · Jun 17, 2013

I did 5 every other week on my 55 but now with my 75 I'm going to do 5 a week

Calvo

kwandrsn · Jun 17, 2013

I've got a smaller tank (36g +10g sump). I change out 4 gallons weekly, which reminds me I'm a little past due oops.

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05grandprix · Jun 17, 2013

I figure my tank should be ok with 14-15 gallons changed out weekly that comes to be about 60 gallons changed monthly. I know some coral like the tank to kinda dirty, some like it fairly clean then others (SPS) like it to be clean.

Reefing Madness · Jun 17, 2013

I do a Water Change every 6 months. If your parms are good and you dose whats needed to the tank, why do a water change?

jservedio · Jun 17, 2013

I agree water changes are super important, but doing water changes like you are talking about can also be a bad thing. Doing a 50% water change is going to be VERY hard on your coral - the pH, Alkalinity, and Magnesium are going to be rapidly fluctuating and changing when you do that - and that is a very bad thing. Alkalinity swings in particular can spell death for your corals...

You would be MUCH better off doing smaller water changes more frequently (like a few cups per day) and not shocking the system. Stability is probably THE single most important thing in keeping a reef - especially if you plan on having sensitive LPS or SPS.

For reference, my 20g is a primarily SPS system and I keep mostly deep water/smooth skinned acros which are the most finicky and I only change about 2-3 gallons of water every 2 or 3 weeks for stability's sake and dose Alk, Ca, and Mg using a dosing pump. However, I also have a very large skimmer and run reactors for GFO and GAC - if you don't have those you will want to do bigger water changes. I wouldn't do more than 20% per week in water changes just for stabilities stake.

IMO you should never need to do more than 20% per week in a nano even running NO filtration at all for nutrient export - if you have to do more than that you are overstocked with fish.

pickupman66 · Jun 17, 2013

I disagree... to a Degree.

water changes can be un-necesary in certain systems. I DONT change my water. that is not to say I WONT or havent ever before, but I do not do it on any schedule. ONLY if my Nitrates or phosphates are WAY out of line will I perform one. but, if my nitrates are zero or very close to it, and my phosphate is .05 or below, ill roll with it. for a stable system running bio-pellets and a CaRx, I feel confident I can do without and be pleased with my results.

I will confess that I did several 50 gallon changes this spring. I doubled my bioload overnight and this put my biological filter way out of whack. my nitrates got up to 70 and my phosphate to .26.

shellynjason · Jun 19, 2013

I do 12gallon water changes (10%) on my 120 gallon tank weekly for a number of reasons

1. to keep me consistent (no slacking off)
2. assuming the new salt mix is also adding back slight trace minerals
3. I like to shift and vaccum my sandbed once a week during this change to keep it white looking
4. always seem to be fighting high p04 (.10 - .07) so removing 10% of unknow organics make 'me' feel better
5. id rather do smaller weekly changes then a bigger bi-monthly or monthly change - so I don't have to turn off pumps and stuff
6. I don't have a sump or refugium so I feel water changes are more important

so far so good