what's your take? Water Changes

[reefes pieces]

Do you think there can be such a thing as too many water changes? Such as doing too often or too much at once (minus the obvious of %100)?

Can't point my finger to it but before I moved I would do 10 gal weekly water changes on my 80g and had trouble keeping corals. After I moved, I did rebuild the tank, but with the same equipment and only do 10 gal bi-weekly water changes and have successful growth of all types, softies, lps, and SPS. Like I said, i can't point this to water changes but it was one variable that was changed. So I want to know everyone's thoughts or opinions.

 

[Reefomeez]

If you dose and have good filtration the 1-2 a month is enough IMO. I'm assuming 5-10% of volume.

If you don't dose and/or filtration sucks/can't keep up then weekly is a must for stable levels IMO. Here again 5-10%.

 

[Zoarder]

Do you think there can be such a thing as too many water changes? Such as doing too often or too much at once (minus the obvious of %100)?

Can't point my finger to it but before I moved I would do 10 gal weekly water changes on my 80g and had trouble keeping corals. After I moved, I did rebuild the tank, but with the same equipment and only do 10 gal bi-weekly water changes and have successful growth of all types, softies, lps, and SPS. Like I said, i can't point this to water changes but it was one variable that was changed. So I want to know everyone's thoughts or opinions.

I do 20 gallons on my 135 every week but its because I have big bio load and everything seems to be happy. I know every tank is different so if thats working for you, I would keep doing the same.

 

[Reefcube29]

I only do a 5 gallon change on my 4o gal system once a month. Dose in between and of course top offs.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Keeping in mind that I'm a noob I would say that changing to much to often can be detramental to the tank. Think about it. We spend all this time putting stuff in the water to help our corals thrive like food vitamins etc just do take it back out with a water change. I think the goal is to find that happy medium that will remove excess waste without removing abunch of the stuff our tanks need.
Of course I could be wrong I am still learning.
JMHO

sent to you from Davy Jones' s locker

 

[reefes pieces]

Some really good points! But do you think it would be possible that too frequent or too large of changes can be a negative effect to stability?

 

[Zoarder]

I don't dose either, so the weekly water changes give my corals the nutrients it needs.

 

[reefes pieces]

BTW not trying to advocate that too many water changes is wrong at all or vice versa but trying to see some good perspectives

 

[Roie]

So if I do weekly water changes of 20% to lower nitrates I am hurting my tank?

 

[reefes pieces]

Not at all. This is hypothetical, but definitely follow along and hear what everyone's thoughts and there regimens are.

So if I do weekly water changes of 20% to lower nitrates I am hurting my tank?

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Some really good points! But do you think it would be possible that too frequent or too large of changes can be a negative effect to stability?

I would say, yes it could, if the chemistry of the make up water differs. Of course ideally the make up water should be an exact match for what's in the tank to minimize any negative impact.
At least that's what I've gotten from what I've read.
Again I could be wrong.

sent to you from Davy Jones' s locker

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Hopefully we can get some morw experienced peeps to chime in.


sent to you from Davy Jones' s locker

 

[lowbudget]

there was a guy who does 100% wc i read on reefbuilder one day his tank looks fabulous you tell me

 

[Reefomeez]

So if I do weekly water changes of 20% to lower nitrates I am hurting my tank?

Do you test before and after? What other filtration do you have? Maybe you just need a better skimmer or something else.

Bottom line, change is bad for your reef. The only reason to introduce change in your water chemistry is if you need to add something good or remove something bad. This is to say if you do water changes for no reason other than you think you should, you might be hurting your tank. If you're doing water changes based on test results that show you're lacking something good or have a surplus of something bad then it's the right thing to do. Change for the sake of change isn't the best policy for your reef. Test and then react to those results.

 

[Six2seven]

It really depends on your tank needs and the type of water you changing it with.

If you have high nitrates and phosphates, the more frequent water changes will help you. Example: your tank is 90g and is reading .50 in phosphates. Completing a 10g water change will only slightly lower that number and that's if the new water is .00 in phosphates. You would need a series of water changes to get it down.

If you dose and have the nutrients you want in your tank already, when you complete a water change with water that has less or more nutrients then you have it will hurt your tank.
Example: your tank is 90g and your alkalinity is 7dkh. Completing a 30g water change with water that has 12dkh will increase your alkalinity and hurt your corals as the immediate swing in alkalinity with hurt your corals.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Do you test before and after? What other filtration do you have? Maybe you just need a better skimmer or something else.

Bottom line, change is bad for your reef. The only reason to introduce change in your water chemistry is if you need to add something good or remove something bad. This is to say if you do water changes for no reason other than you think you should, you might be hurting your tank. If you're doing water changes based on test results that show you're lacking something good or have a surplus of something bad then it's the right thing to do. Change for the sake of change isn't the best policy for your reef. Test and then react to those results.

I think this is the best policy to take when it comes to anything related to this hobby
I you test regularly you can catch problems before they potentially cause harm. This is especially important for smaller tanks as they tend to change rapidly when compared to larger ones.
sent to you from Davy Jones' s locker

 

[Six2seven]

You can do a 100% water change without hurting your tank as long as you match your Ph, alkalinity, calcium, temperature and salinity. The only. Match all these for any size water change and the only thing you will change is nitrates and phosphates. its not a good idea to dramatically drop phosphates but if your considering changing that much water you might have bigger problems that you are already worried about.

 

[reefes pieces]

Got a link? Got me curious about the process

there was a guy who does 100% wc i read on reefbuilder one day his tank looks fabulous you tell me

 

[Six2seven]

Do you test before and after? What other filtration do you have? Maybe you just need a better skimmer or something else.

Bottom line, change is bad for your reef. The only reason to introduce change in your water chemistry is if you need to add something good or remove something bad. This is to say if you do water changes for no reason other than you think you should, you might be hurting your tank. If you're doing water changes based on test results that show you're lacking something good or have a surplus of something bad then it's the right thing to do. Change for the sake of change isn't the best policy for your reef. Test and then react to those results.

I don't agree with this. Change is not bad unless your changing something you shouldn't. You can change all you want as long as your tank is stable. Monterey bay aquarium is on a continuous water change all day long and the water turns over 6 times a day. But the key is obviously the ocean and its stable parameters.

 

[Reefomeez]

I don't agree with this. Change is not bad unless your changing something you shouldn't. You can change all you want as long as your tank is stable. Monterey bay aquarium is on a continuous water change all day long and the water turns over 6 times a day. But the key is obviously the ocean and its stable parameters.

Change so long as it's stable...so basically, no change at all. My point was to not introduce change without knowing factually, why you are doing it. Testing should drive change, not guidelines or online polls for what a good regimen for change is.