I have a 75 g reef tank. It's new as of end of January. Lots of corals and some fish, shrimp, hermits and an urchin. We started out with a tap water, water change( I know - we learned by educating ourselves on that one), but we make our RODI water now and have been doing a 10g water change weekly for the past 3 weeks now. Our nitrates are higher and was wondering if we should do a larger water change or leave it alone because everything looks like it is doing really well? Those test kits seem a bit confusing and I second guess myself every time. We use the Red Sea test kits mostly. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!!
Water changes
- Thread starter Lmdw121
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I have a 75 g reef tank. It's new as of end of January. Lots of corals and some fish, shrimp, hermits and an urchin. We started out with a tap water, water change( I know - we learned by educating ourselves on that one), but we make our RODI water now and have been doing a 10g water change weekly for the past 3 weeks now. Our nitrates are higher and was wondering if we should do a larger water change or leave it alone because everything looks like it is doing really well? Those test kits seem a bit confusing and I second guess myself every time. We use the Red Sea test kits mostly. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!!
dbl
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When you say your nitrates are high, it might help to know what the actual measurement is.
EDIT...or what @Robink said?
EDIT...or what @Robink said?
jsker
Reefing is all about the adventure
If it is not broke, do not fix it.
I should listen to myself some times
I would be surprised if your nitrates are over 5ppm. Purchase a good test kit and you will know for sure.
I should listen to myself some times I would be surprised if your nitrates are over 5ppm. Purchase a good test kit and you will know for sure.
K. Steven
Well-Known Member
Test your tap and RODI water for nitrate to find your issue. If your tap tests high and your RODI is zero, then the residual tap water is the likely culprit (assuming you're not overfeeding). I would continue water changes with RODI if you find this is the case.
Sarah24!
2500 Club Member
Hello,
I can’t say I would ever recommend tap water, but I do believe in two things, water changes and leaving your tank alone.
(Sorry I know my first paragraph lacks proper structure I’m just too exhausted to care at the moment). Anyway lol on smaller tanks water changes are very very important, larger tanks you can get away if you forget one or two. If it’s 90 or less I’d say weekly water changes 20% is ideal.
Secondly, if it’s not broke don’t fix it like others have stated. The more you mess with it the more you will sing Brittany Spears song “oops I did it again, my saltwater tank has crashed once again oh oh). So learn tm leave things along and hands off. It’s super hard trust me, but worth it.
Please feel free to ask me anything if you need help. FYI no I do not listen to Brittany Spears.
I can’t say I would ever recommend tap water, but I do believe in two things, water changes and leaving your tank alone.
(Sorry I know my first paragraph lacks proper structure I’m just too exhausted to care at the moment). Anyway lol on smaller tanks water changes are very very important, larger tanks you can get away if you forget one or two. If it’s 90 or less I’d say weekly water changes 20% is ideal.
Secondly, if it’s not broke don’t fix it like others have stated. The more you mess with it the more you will sing Brittany Spears song “oops I did it again, my saltwater tank has crashed once again oh oh). So learn tm leave things along and hands off. It’s super hard trust me, but worth it.
Please feel free to ask me anything if you need help. FYI no I do not listen to Brittany Spears
.
Ha ha ! Thank you ! I'm going to test it again so I can post what the reading is. My husband did it and he forgot naturally, but we knew it was off the charts.Hello,
I can’t say I would ever recommend tap water, but I do believe in two things, water changes and leaving your tank alone.
(Sorry I know my first paragraph lacks proper structure I’m just too exhausted to care at the moment). Anyway lol on smaller tanks water changes are very very important, larger tanks you can get away if you forget one or two. If it’s 90 or less I’d say weekly water changes 20% is ideal.
Secondly, if it’s not broke don’t fix it like others have stated. The more you mess with it the more you will sing Brittany Spears song “oops I did it again, my saltwater tank has crashed once again oh oh). So learn tm leave things along and hands off. It’s super hard trust me, but worth it.
Please feel free to ask me anything if you need help. FYI no I do not listen to Brittany Spears
