Water Changes

[spfahnestock]

I was thinking this morning and looking for information from the smart people.

What is the max percentage that can be done on a water change? I see people doing 50% changes can it be 75%?

Also how frequent can water changes be conducted. If a tank is suffering higher than preferred levels often water changes are suggested. How frequent can these be daily, every other day, weekly?

Just looking for input from the masses.

 

[homer1475]

Typical maintenance change is 10% weekly.

With that said, as long as you match parameters(ALK, CAL, MAG, PH, Temp) doing 100% WC isn't out of the question if you need to correct an issue.

If I was having an issue and could match parameters to my tank, I wouldn't be afraid to do 40 to 50% change in a 24H period.

 

[mike550]

I had a problem with nitrates in my 120G (figuring 100G of water) so I did a 30G change each day for three days to bring my nitrates down. Nothing “bad” seemed to happen.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Typical maintenance change is 10% weekly.

With that said, as long as you match parameters(ALK, CAL, MAG, PH, Temp) doing 100% WC isn't out of the question if you need to correct an issue.

If I was having an issue and could match parameters to my tank, I wouldn't be afraid to do 40 to 50% change in a 24H period.

Maybe I am missing something here... lord knows I am not an expert, but...

A mass water change 50% or more... wouldn’t that take you back to having to fully cycle the tank?

 

[R.Weller]

If you are really wanted details...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[Bosreef]

100% water change is the max. Lol

I have seen many tank builds which incorporate 100 percent or close to 100 percent water changes on a consistent basis...

 

[Bosreef]

Maybe I am missing something here... lord knows I am not an expert, but...

A mass water change 50% or more... wouldn’t that take you back to having to fully cycle the tank?

Biological filter is carried in live rock not so much your water column

 

[Heabel7]

I generally do a 15-20% water change on my 90 but I’ll do a 40%+ occasionally. I just figure doing larger water changes keeps my trace elements more in check. Tank seems to look best after any size water change with no ill affects.

 

[homer1475]

Maybe I am missing something here... lord knows I am not an expert, but...

A mass water change 50% or more... wouldn’t that take you back to having to fully cycle the tank?

Very little bacteria lives within the water column. 99% of them live on the hard surfaces in your tank. Replacing water does nothing to the bacterial populations, which would not cause another cycle.

Typically when cycling a tank, the eventual high nitrates are erased by doing a nearly 100% WC right after it cycles. This is the typical recommendation on tank cycling threads.

Take a look at @brandon429's rip clean threads, they do 100% WC all the time with 0 effect on the inhabitants.

 

[Hydrored]

Well I just went from a 120 to a 210 with a new large sump and I used 128 gallons of new water along with the old and coral seem happier lol.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Very little bacteria lives within the water column. 99% of them live on the hard surfaces in your tank. Replacing water does nothing to the bacterial populations, which would not cause another cycle.

Typically when cycling a tank, the eventual high nitrates are erased by doing a nearly 100% WC right after it cycles. This is the typical recommendation on tank cycling threads.

Take a look at @brandon429's rip clean threads, they do 100% WC all the time with 0 effect on the inhabitants.

Thank you