Water changes?

[LordJoshaeus]

Forgive me for asking a question that has probably been asked a million times (but which I could not quickly find an answer when I searched for it on here)...what size water changes should a beginner to reefing expect to perform each week? I was thinking of 12 liter weekly WC's on a 10 gallon (roughly 30%). Thanks

 

[dwest]

Forgive me for asking a question that has probably been asked a million times (but which I could not quickly find an answer when I searched for it on here)...what size water changes should a beginner to reefing expect to perform each week? I was thinking of 12 liter weekly WC's on a 10 gallon (roughly 30%). Thanks

10% weekly is a great starting point.

 

[Double monti 61]

Hi maybe when you are beginning the new tank it might not be a bad idea?

 

[cmoore806]

It depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Early on a large water change could slow things down by removing too much ammonia from the water which removes a food source for the nitrifying bacteria.

If you can be patient and not load the tank up with living things it will make it easier to adapt your life to the new requirements as you add living things. The water changes add/dilute and subtract waste.

After the cycling of a new tank the water changes remove waste, dilute toxins, and add nutrients to the tank. How often you do water changes could be determined by how much waste your inhabitants create, nitrate and phos levels, and how much you need to supplement magnesium, calcium and alkalinity.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

So...small water changes while the tank is cycling, and larger water changes (perhaps the 30% I mentioned above?) once the tank is cycled and stocked? Any saltwater tank I set up will likely be macroalgae dominated with a few soft or LPS corals (maybe even a sun coral, which I am very fond of and have done well for me in the past). In a macroalgae tank, I would likely be dosing small quantities of nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, etc) and baking soda (which will be torn apart to take the carbon for photosynthesis) daily as well.

EDIT: I like species tanks, so I would really like to have a pair of a fish species and try to spawn them (and raise the resulting fry).

 

[Reef.]

I would try 15%, then if you need to do more, maybe do 2 changes a week. You don’t want to change a lot of water in one go, too many parameters to match to the tank water, small changes are best.

My tank is 14g I change 5 litres a week and 2 litres everyday. It’s a new tank so that might reduce in time.

 

[cmoore806]

For the first two months I had my 52 Liter I only added cleanup crew. I did a 6L water change weekly and sometimes 2 weeks if I didn’t get to it. But I daily monitored salinity ph alk and temp. Since I added an anemone and a couple LPS corals I’m doing more regular 6L weekly changes Every 1-2 weeks I check Calcium magnesium nitrate phos Soon I’m sure I’ll add enough corals that I will need to dose additional mag alk and calcium but until the the water change will suffice

 

[Uncle99]

10% weekly forever.

 

[Hectorg214]

10% weekly forever.

I have a 72 gallon tank and do a 20 gallon water change once a month. Been doing this for a year now. Just wondering if thats the best way or should I do a weekly or bi weekly water change. At the end of the month I always go get my water tested before doing a water change and even though they tell me my water is not that bad I still do it.

 

[SPR1968]

As already said, 10% is a good guide because it will have little effect on the tank parameters and therefore keep everything stable.

You generally wouldn’t want larger changes unless their is good reason to do so, but some may change 20% every 2 weeks for example if that fits there lifestyle

Personally I do 5% total weekly water changes automated with Apex DOS split up into daily amounts.

 

[Reef.]

I have a 72 gallon tank and do a 20 gallon water change once a month. Been doing this for a year now. Just wondering if thats the best way or should I do a weekly or bi weekly water change. At the end of the month I always go get my water tested before doing a water change and even though they tell me my water is not that bad I still do it.

“Not that bad” could mean anything, to me that doesn’t sound that great?

if they are good then you could try doing a little less next time and see what that does to your numbers.

 

[Birddog61]

Planning a specific water change amount with planning dosing no3 & po4. Is a plan for problems. You need to plan to monitor water quality. And adjust as necessary. plan to be prepaired for a large water change at all times

 

[Bosreef]

Currently doing 20% bi weekly.
Future plans auto water change 1 gallon a day.
20 gallon tank

 

[dvlpr]

I'm in the minority, but I haven't done a single water change and not planning to. I dose NoPoX and KH and so far all params are stable, fish and corals are happy and I have one less headache I'm following someone who hasn't done a water change in years and has a successful reef tank on display to prove it, not to mention him being the LFS owner.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm in the minority, but I haven't done a single water change and not planning to. I dose NoPoX and KH and so far all params are stable, fish and corals are happy and I have one less headache I'm following someone who hasn't done a water change in years and has a successful reef tank on display to prove it, not to mention him being the LFS owner.

It is obviously possible to have a nice tank without water changes.

The true question, IMO, is:

1. Whether that same tank might benefit if a water change was done.
2. Whether the things needed to be done to maintain a great tank long term might be done more easily or more cheaply to attain the same results with water changes than without.

 

[X-37B]

For someone new to the hobby 10% a week is simple and easy to implement.
Thats 1 gallon a week.
You could make up a 5 gallon bucket of new salt water and it would last you a month.
That makes it pretty easy imo.

 

[brandon429]

what I like best about the water change/no water change battle: when we get tanks that are wrecked by complete allowance takeover, and a 150% water change plus sandbed tap rinse is what it takes to fix them without waiting three years for a half turnaround. I enjoy that transition period between they did it without a water change, why didnt it work for me, and right before I get out of reefing Ill try your heinous aquarium-illegal method. then it works lol. Its neat when mass water changes rescues the no water change tanks, and then they can go back to no water change again, at least for a while

 

[vetteguy53081]

10% is an industry standard and bi-weekly is sufficient. Water testing dictates the true need for water change

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[piranhaman00]

Large fish only tank (with few softies) I do monthly or even every two months 50% w/c to remove nitrate and dont care about matching other parameters, besides sg.

Reef tanks, 10% bi weekly to replenish trace.