Why should i do water changes?

[Jake_the_reefer]

So on both of my nano tanks I have been avoiding water changes for some time now. Maybe one every month or so I'll do a water change but i have no idea why i am doing so lol.
I dose seachem 2 part which keeps my alk, calcium and magnesium where it needs to be. Also from my understanding the 2 part has trace elements in it.
I run skimmers and refugium so my nitrates and phosphate is low my corals seem to be happy and colorful so my big question is. Why should I be doing water changes during this time?
If theres a big reason to be doing water changes I'll be increasing my water change frequency!

 

[fishguy242]

hi imo,only if you need to

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

hi imo,only if you need to

Like ocassionally I'll get an algae or cyano bloom and I just ignore it/leave my fuge on longer and it goes away quickly

 

[fishguy242]

imo no probs,no changes

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

imo no probs,no changes

It's just one of those weird feelings. Things are going good. I'm not doing water changes what am I doing wrong lol that sence of paranoia that comes with contentment

 

[vetteguy53081]

Water changes are probably the most procrastinated task in this hobby but you can compare the question of water changes to " When one takes a bath, would they bathe in the same water the next day and the next day ?"
Fish emit poop and other waste in the environment in which they breathe and eat in as coral emit toxins and other waste matter. An exchange is essential in keep toxin levels down and providing the highest saturated oxygen possible.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Water changes are probably the most procrastinated task in this hobby but you can compare the question of water changes to " When one takes a bath, would they bathe in the same water the next day and the next day ?"
Fish emit poop and other waste in the environment in which they breathe and eat in as coral emit toxins and other waste matter. An exchange is essential in keep toxin levels down and providing the highest saturated oxygen possible.

Totally agree with that but with mechanical filtration such as my filter socks removing poop and food and a protein skimmer my nitrates and phosphates are low. I'm not worried about the dirtiness factor because my sandbed, rockwork and water are crystal clear with no detritus settling down

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Btw I'm not posting to just shoot down reasons why I should. I genuinely curious

 

[reeferfoxx]

I'm not worried about the dirtiness factor because my sandbed, rockwork and water are crystal clear with no detritus settling down

What's your secret?

 

[fishguy242]

he will never tell LOL.....

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Fish emit poop and other waste in the environment in which they breathe and eat in as coral emit toxins and other waste matter. An exchange is essential in keep toxin levels down and providing the highest saturated oxygen possible.

All the job of filtration.
Jake's fuge not only processes the poop, as does his skimmer, it removes heavy metals & turns CO2 into O2, saturating the water with oxygen.
Some filter floss also removes organic matter - poop.
The coral won't release toxins unless they are competing for space with a different species. And the skimmer, or more potently - GAC removes that stuff.

Plenty of successful reefers don't do water changes, Glennf & Farmer Ty come to mind. I don't think Lasse does either.

 

[Gernader]

You do not have to increase your water change frequency. I think it’s fine for now. Well for my 29g, I do a 15% water change every week since I do not run a skimmer, no dosing, and no sump lol. At least all of my corals, anemone, and fish are happy and growing crazy fast

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Let me start with a statement about most of my tanks (60, 80, 100, 125): I don't do water changes unless there is a problem that can only be solved via water changes.

On the nanos I work with (10 & 20) I have found doing water changes simply to be marginally cheaper and less stressful than frequent testing and dosing. Those tanks also don't have refugiums or skimmers, just carbon for absorbing toxins and tanins.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

What's your secret?

I have no idea.
For my 10g i have a filter sock cleaned every week, $10 skimmer, carbon, marinepure in the back, and dosing 2 part. I feed reef roids 2x a week, phyto 2x a week, aminos 2x a week, and feed frozen food every day.

For my 20g modded aquaclear hob fuge with chaeto, cheap $50 skimmer, marinepure, 2x a week roids, amonos 2x a week, phyto 2x a week, and frozen/freeze dried brine every day.

That's basically it..

 

[Quietman]

So don't.

 

[vetteguy53081]

You do not have to increase your water change frequency. I think it’s fine for now. Well for my 29g, I do a 15% water change every week since I do not run a skimmer, no dosing, and no sump lol. At least all of my corals, anemone, and fish are happy and growing crazy fast

I typically change water 2X per year. On new tank- about 8X per year

 

[Gernader]

I typically change water 2X per year. On new tank- about 8X per year

Wow that’s awesome! My tank is currently almost 10 months old.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I typically change water 2X per year. On new tank- about 8X per year

I notice after like 5 months weekly changes drop to almost never

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I typically change water 2X per year. On new tank- about 8X per year

So on an established system you don't do regular water changes.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

So on both of my nano tanks I have been avoiding water changes for some time now. Maybe one every month or so I'll do a water change but i have no idea why i am doing so lol.
I dose seachem 2 part which keeps my alk, calcium and magnesium where it needs to be. Also from my understanding the 2 part has trace elements in it.
I run skimmers and refugium so my nitrates and phosphate is low my corals seem to be happy and colorful so my big question is. Why should I be doing water changes during this time?
If theres a big reason to be doing water changes I'll be increasing my water change frequency!

My reef is like the canary in the mine. If something is off my children of the sea let me know way sooner than testing the water parameters. I do minimal water changes when need be.