Water Changes

Xtreme1024 · 08-28-2007, 08:14 PM

I wanted to poll some of you reefers that had your tanks setup for a year or more. Do most or all of you do weekly/monthly water changes, or don't change the water at all just add chemicals. I was trying to see if I could cut back on the water changes once my reef is more established or is this something I will have to do religously every week/month.

Melanie · 08-28-2007, 08:31 PM

I have a 72 gal. DT and I change 8 - 10 gal. a week. I also use that time to clean the sponge filters, clean the glass, wipe off the light fixture, clean any salt creep and blow detritus off the rocks. I am beginning to enjoy the water changes because I spend the time to take an in-depth look at the tank that I don't normally get to. Plus it's nice to do my water tests every week since my tank is new and I need to keep an eye on it.

caitrina · 08-28-2007, 08:35 PM

My tank has been up and running for over a year and I do them every other week. At first I did them monthly, but now I do them bi-weekly . My babies love me for it!

AQTCJAK · 08-28-2007, 08:59 PM

Common rule of thumb is change @ minimum 40% per month

cheeks69 · 08-28-2007, 09:23 PM

My current tank has been setup for over 3 years and some of the rock and sand is over 4 years old so I would say my tank is established. I used to do weekly W/C's in the 15-25% range then I went about 8 months with only one small W/C and now do about 10% on a weekly basis. IME doing weekly water changes is best and the % will depend on your parameters. How large is your tank ? What are your parameters ? Which skimmer are you using ? How many fish do you keep and how often do you feed ? What other methods are you using for nutrient export ?

rdz1 · 08-29-2007, 12:09 PM

15% weekly

BigAl07 · 08-29-2007, 12:14 PM

10 - 20% weekly (sometimes gets over looked while out of town etc). But I have a light bio-load and I feed sparingly.....

Allen

goldenmean · 08-29-2007, 12:48 PM

10-20% weekly

Cougra · 08-29-2007, 01:27 PM

After having my tank up for 7.5 years I still do weekly water changes in the tank most weeks. I'm not too concerned if I miss them occassionally but as a rule I still do the frequent water changes.

Nervoustime · 08-29-2007, 03:30 PM

I do 10% water changes on a weekly basis. It has been working well for my tank.

blue_eyes53813 · 08-29-2007, 03:31 PM

10% weekly here as well

burning2nd · 08-29-2007, 05:22 PM

1- 1/2 year old.... started with monthly water changes.. then went to weekends... and now i pritty much do em every few days... no order... just every few days..... you can tell just by looking at the tank. when it needs it..

30 gal 10 gal on weekends at least... some time 20 gal or 100%

BEELZEBOB · 08-29-2007, 06:15 PM

i do 2-3 5.555555555% (1gal) a week at least.

sometime ill throw an 11%-er in ther to mix it up.

sometimes i get lazy and just do 1.

but i strive reall for 2 -3 1 gal WC's in my 18 gallon weekly.

wait, what were we talkin about...

framerguy · 08-29-2007, 09:43 PM

I have ~120g in my system and I change 2gal/day which which is 14g/week or just over 10%. It's easy and takes just a few minutes and seems to work for me.

burning2nd · 08-29-2007, 09:50 PM

oh on the 5.5 nano i do a 1.5 gal change on the weekends...
but i dont feed the tank at all...

my levels are 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 and 8.2 and 0 0 0 0 0 0

but then ageain theres nothing in there but sps and some snails... i throw some cyclopezzz everyone and while

08-28-2007, 08:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Xtreme1024 Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Williamstown, NJ Posts: 145 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Water Changes I wanted to poll some of you reefers that had your tanks setup for a year or more. Do most or all of you do weekly/monthly water changes, or don't change the water at all just add chemicals. I was trying to see if I could cut back on the water changes once my reef is more established or is this something I will have to do religously every week/month.

08-28-2007, 08:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes I have a 72 gal. DT and I change 8 - 10 gal. a week. I also use that time to clean the sponge filters, clean the glass, wipe off the light fixture, clean any salt creep and blow detritus off the rocks. I am beginning to enjoy the water changes because I spend the time to take an in-depth look at the tank that I don't normally get to. Plus it's nice to do my water tests every week since my tank is new and I need to keep an eye on it. __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

08-28-2007, 08:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
caitrina Golden Moray Join Date: May 2007 Location: Somewhere in Florida Posts: 2,700 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes My tank has been up and running for over a year and I do them every other week. At first I did them monthly, but now I do them bi-weekly . My babies love me for it! __________________ A reef tank is like a potato chip, you can't have just one! Chronicles Cat's Healing Gift: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ling-gift.html Cat’s 90 Gallon Toy: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...allon-toy.html 24 G Mystery Pod: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...stery-pod.html

08-28-2007, 08:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,267 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes Common rule of thumb is change @ minimum 40% per month __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com

08-28-2007, 09:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,386 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes My current tank has been setup for over 3 years and some of the rock and sand is over 4 years old so I would say my tank is established. I used to do weekly W/C's in the 15-25% range then I went about 8 months with only one small W/C and now do about 10% on a weekly basis. IME doing weekly water changes is best and the % will depend on your parameters. How large is your tank ? What are your parameters ? Which skimmer are you using ? How many fish do you keep and how often do you feed ? What other methods are you using for nutrient export ? __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

08-29-2007, 12:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
rdz1 Limpet Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 138 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes 15% weekly

08-29-2007, 12:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes 10 - 20% weekly (sometimes gets over looked while out of town etc). But I have a light bio-load and I feed sparingly..... Allen __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

08-29-2007, 01:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes After having my tank up for 7.5 years I still do weekly water changes in the tank most weeks. I'm not too concerned if I miss them occassionally but as a rule I still do the frequent water changes. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

08-29-2007, 03:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nervoustime Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Irvine, California Posts: 668 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes I do 10% water changes on a weekly basis. It has been working well for my tank.

08-29-2007, 03:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes 10% weekly here as well __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

08-29-2007, 05:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
burning2nd Golden Moray Join Date: May 2006 Location: PA Posts: 2,287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes 1- 1/2 year old.... started with monthly water changes.. then went to weekends... and now i pritty much do em every few days... no order... just every few days..... you can tell just by looking at the tank. when it needs it.. 30 gal 10 gal on weekends at least... some time 20 gal or 100% __________________ ________________________________________________ 30g, 10g DIY sump w/ mag7 Csr90 over flow. 36" sunpod 2x150 2 Tunze 6020 40 Lb's Live Rock 20 lb's of Ls Aqua C REmora mIxed reef, softies, pora's, clams, 1 Amphiprion ocellaris (hosting GTA) jake the jedi sexy shrimp, and brown bob

08-29-2007, 06:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
BEELZEBOB -CHAUVINIST PIG- Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boulder Colorado Posts: 4,851 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes i do 2-3 5.555555555% (1gal) a week at least. sometime ill throw an 11%-er in ther to mix it up. sometimes i get lazy and just do 1. but i strive reall for 2 -3 1 gal WC's in my 18 gallon weekly. wait, what were we talkin about... __________________ 18Gal Mantis Tank 28lbs LR 22lbs Black Sand D&D Typhoone Skimmer96W CL PC (10K + AC) 2 Rio 90 P.H., 1 Nano Korilla Bane the Mantis Shrimp (G.Smithii) LIFE LESSON 8/8/08: Dont Poke Squirrells... LIFE LESSON 8/12/08: Chicks dont dig comic books... LIFE LESSON 8/26/2008: Pain is relative... LIFE LESSON 9/13/2008: Sometimes you just gotta pee in the sink... LIFE LESSON 10/1/2008: Her eyes say more than her mouth... LIFE LESSON 10/1 B: In retrospect, the shooting range was a bad first date idea... LIFE LESSON 10/19/2008: Bleach doesn't work well with out DETERGENT... But with it, WOW! LIFE LESSON 10/25/2008: "You're Such a Man," isnt necessarily a compliment... LIFE LESSON 10/28/2008: RC Helicopters are not Bob Proof... LIFE LESSON 10/29/2008: Dont ** where you eat, UNLESS, you are the company pooper scooper... BARB FREGGIN RULES**

08-29-2007, 09:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes I have ~120g in my system and I change 2gal/day which which is 14g/week or just over 10%. It's easy and takes just a few minutes and seems to work for me. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

08-29-2007, 09:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
burning2nd Golden Moray Join Date: May 2006 Location: PA Posts: 2,287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes oh on the 5.5 nano i do a 1.5 gal change on the weekends... but i dont feed the tank at all... my levels are 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 and 8.2 and 0 0 0 0 0 0 but then ageain theres nothing in there but sps and some snails... i throw some cyclopezzz everyone and while __________________ ________________________________________________ 30g, 10g DIY sump w/ mag7 Csr90 over flow. 36" sunpod 2x150 2 Tunze 6020 40 Lb's Live Rock 20 lb's of Ls Aqua C REmora mIxed reef, softies, pora's, clams, 1 Amphiprion ocellaris (hosting GTA) jake the jedi sexy shrimp, and brown bob

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