Water Changes

MrPex · 09-01-2009, 11:11 PM

My tank is 2 months after cycle, 3 months old total. 60 gal FOWLR with 5 damsels, 40 snails, a conch and a hermit.

Recently, my nitrates dropped to 0 as my sand began to bubble from, apparently, nitrobacter establishing itself and creating the bubbles of nitrogen I can see bubbling up from my sand.

Since my nitrates are 0, can I back off of doing weekly 10% changes and, while continuing to monitor my params, drop to bi-weekly 10% changes (unless, of course, I begin to detect nitrates again) instead? I wonder this since it's not like I really need to worry about replacing any "exotic" nutrients/chemicals that my reef salt provides since they are not being used up by any real reef inhabitants yet. (I'm using reef salt since, when I get the free time from work, I'm going to start off with some rics and get going more towards corals than fish...)

Thanks!

lcstorc · 09-01-2009, 11:16 PM

If your parameters allow then yes you can back off the water changes.
What are you using for your biological filtration?

BigAl07 · 09-01-2009, 11:46 PM

I'm with Lynn (again). Just follow your test results and how your tank looks/acts. When in doubt WATER CHANGE

MrPex · 09-02-2009, 12:18 AM

Thanks guys...

Lynn- Just LR and LS is the only filtration I have right now. Even though I feel I don't NEED it, I'm looking to pick up a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer probably next week since I'm going to be increasing my bioload in the next couple of months.

(Please look at this thread? Aqua C Remora noise)

Pex

StirCrayzy · 09-06-2009, 11:00 PM

Skimmer will help keep everything stable, i recommend getting one with a surface skim attachment, unless yer running some other sort of surface overflow.
BTW i use a prizm HOB and its not real loud, but noticable.
Its on 24/7, even though it doesnt fill up within a month.
How bout some pics !!

09-01-2009, 11:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
MrPex Star Polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 173 View Gallery Karma Komment	Water Changes My tank is 2 months after cycle, 3 months old total. 60 gal FOWLR with 5 damsels, 40 snails, a conch and a hermit. Recently, my nitrates dropped to 0 as my sand began to bubble from, apparently, nitrobacter establishing itself and creating the bubbles of nitrogen I can see bubbling up from my sand. Since my nitrates are 0, can I back off of doing weekly 10% changes and, while continuing to monitor my params, drop to bi-weekly 10% changes (unless, of course, I begin to detect nitrates again) instead? I wonder this since it's not like I really need to worry about replacing any "exotic" nutrients/chemicals that my reef salt provides since they are not being used up by any real reef inhabitants yet. (I'm using reef salt since, when I get the free time from work, I'm going to start off with some rics and get going more towards corals than fish...) Thanks! __________________ WATER CHANGES... and patience. 3 months into my 60 and I'm already thinking about a 180.

09-01-2009, 11:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes If your parameters allow then yes you can back off the water changes. What are you using for your biological filtration? __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

09-01-2009, 11:46 PM	#3 (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 I'm with Lynn (again). Just follow your test results and how your tank looks/acts. When in doubt WATER CHANGE __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *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

09-02-2009, 12:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
MrPex Star Polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 173 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes Thanks guys... Lynn- Just LR and LS is the only filtration I have right now. Even though I feel I don't NEED it, I'm looking to pick up a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer probably next week since I'm going to be increasing my bioload in the next couple of months. (Please look at this thread? Aqua C Remora noise) Pex __________________ WATER CHANGES... and patience. 3 months into my 60 and I'm already thinking about a 180.

09-06-2009, 11:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
StirCrayzy Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: East Detroit Posts: 285 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes Skimmer will help keep everything stable, i recommend getting one with a surface skim attachment, unless yer running some other sort of surface overflow. BTW i use a prizm HOB and its not real loud, but noticable. Its on 24/7, even though it doesnt fill up within a month. How bout some pics !! __________________ Josh, SW 40g tall http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...tml#post666037 60 lbs LR 30" JBJ Dual Actinic/10,000K Eheim Pro2 Prizm HOB w/ custom overflow FW 65g S.American Cichlids Hybrid Paludarium Project http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...aludarium.html Other Critters here http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g4...ayzy/Critters/ Dont complain about anything until you change 25 % every 2 weeks ! Thank you everyone for making mistakes for me!! If you can relate.... your welcome.

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