Water Changes

[Paul C.]

So, being new to the saltwater, i would like to know what u R2R'ers do for water changes...How often, amount, additives, etc.....

 

[ReeferBee]

Hey Paul I do a 10 gallon water change once a week in my 90g reef. As far as dosing I dose BRS 2 part (cal. & alk.) every other day, but I have a a lot of SPS and a clam.


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[BarbH]

Right now I am doing about 10 gallons once every two weeks on my 72 gallon. At this time not dosing anything but my tank is still really new, that might change once I start keeping corals will have to see where things are at that time.

 

[saltwaternoob]

I do a little over 20g in a 15 every week. I do manual dosing as I only have a few larger sps.

 

[Paul C.]

Thanks for the replays...I test the usual stuff, PH, Nitrate, KH, Calcium, and phosphate, and of corse salt level..For the 2 part, are u testing the alk?? something i should be doing? my calcium is at 420-460.. I have mostly zoas and polys, mushrooms, and some chalices.. I change 10 gallons a week, and am switching over to mesh filters in my sump, so i can change them every 2-3 days or as needed if sooner.. Just making sure I'm doing what is needed to maintain everything happy..

 

[carlos413]

I do 15all gallons every two weeks on my 75. I do a two part dose every day.

 

[Paul C.]

Do u test for the 2 part? how do u know what to add?

 

[Aquaph8]

Hi Paul, I do 25 gallons every other week. For two part, you want to test calcium and alkalinity. Alk is measured in meq. But you can also use a KH test for Alk which is measured in dkh. To convert meq. to DKH, 1meq = 2.8dkh or 50ppm. If you don't have a bunch of corals and you keep up on water changes it's very possible your salt mix is all you need for the most part. Magnesium is another element you'll want to learn to test for along the way, low mag makes it very difficult to keep cal/alk where you want it but again your salt mix may be enough to maintain this also. Hope this helps, any other ?s please ask away.

 

[Paul C.]

Thanks Brett.. So if my KH is running around 10-11, then my ALK is about .56...Gunna sound like the new guy here, but....what should it be?? Tank is more coral loaded, but seems that my KH and Calcium don't move numbers wise..I guess thats a good thing, the salt is capable of keeping the numbers where they should be at this point, right? Thoughts?

 

[Aquaph8]

I'm sorry that conversion is for ppm. But 1ppm= .02 meq

 

[Aquaph8]

1 Meq=2.8 dkh, again I apologize for being unclear.

 

[Aquaph8]

Between 8-11 dkh is a good place to shoot for. The key is keeping that number stable, especially with the more delicate SPS corals. Sounds like your salt mix is keeping up at this point.

 

[mallorieGgator]

I do a 10-12% WC every week. A few days after I start doing 1 drop of lugols iodine a day. I top off daily with fresh RO/DI water from my own RO/DI system( I would get your own) . That's it! And I've got excellent coral growth.

Oh and I use Red Sea Coral Pro. It's great salt!

 

[Built347]

10% weekly.. I have to add calcium and mag every week as well

 

[wysiwyg]

i do 20% water changes by weekly and daily top offs with freshwater from my own ro/di water system. and mallorie is right if you dont already have an ro/di system it is one of the best pieces to get

 

[KSzegi]

Depending upon my schedule my tanks get a 10-15% weekly ..... to 20% bi-weekly when something comes up that the weekly one can't be done. About once a year I do a week of daily 10-15% changes. The only dosing I do is daily 2 part and magnesium as needed.

 

[Paul C.]

Thanks for all the responses. I currently do 10% weekly. I use ro/di water from my LFS. A system is on the "TO DO LIST". Mallorie posted about using iodine. Can we discus this and its importance? I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. My test dont seem to move. Guess imy tank isnt loaded enough with corals to consume what the salt mix is putting in...Thoughts? Also Mallorie talked about using Iodine, can we talk about the benefits? Thanks again everyone. Paul

 

[beaslbob]

I don't do water changes.

Longest mixed reef ~9 years. Longest fw also 9 years.

I did dose the diy 2 part

my .02

 

[Chameleon]

I do infrequent water changes...1 every couple of months...just to keep up with nitrates which is enough for my system.
Without the water changes I noticed the importance of dosing magnesium in addition to 2 part.
Eventually I plan to move to calc reactor for stability, but right now I don't need too much 2 part and its cost efficient. Also with a calcium reactor I have to worry about equipment malfunctions a bit more.
Very important thing I think to maintaining happy reef is using Kalkwasser in topoff water. it has many benefits including buffering your system against pH swings and keeping the pH up.
As you get more stony corals you will need to add calc and alk to your system to keep up with your calc and alk demand unless you plan on doing 50% or greater water changes weekly (not recommended as its hard on your system). Check out Randy-Holmes Farley's article on the matter.
If you are keeping up with your demand now with water changes that is great just be aware eventually dosing will be necessary so keep testing.
I test calcium maybe biweekly to monthly however I test Alkalinity a few times a week. If your alk is in check your calcium is usually good if you are using either 2 part in equal parts or a calcium reactor. Magnesium I check about once a month as since I do infrequent water changes I need to keep up with this as well. If you need links to any articles on the this just holler and Ill post some.
I would always recommend doing 20-30% water changes monthly, although I don't follow this myself. In the end it is whatever works for you. I do use carbon now to keep up with any allelopathic coral warefare. My corals are brightly colored and grow like crazy so until I get set up to do continuous water changes (minimal stress on system) I am opting out as I am more afraid that during a water change I could shock my system. You can see both extremes to water changes done with great success.
-Cham

 

[velrui]

10% weekly water changes and if you get lazy skip a week i have a full tank of diffrent coral and all is well i only dose purple up for calcium and lugio's and all is good ...just knocked on wood also..good luck ...