Any way to get away with not doing water changes?

jason2459 said:
.

The one bullet is important to me. "No long term results" That is what shows if a particular set of methods can work. You have shown that a No water change approach can happen but I have stated that I, that is me, have no knowledge of anyone else that has been successful at doing it. That does leave room for me being totally and completely wrong. But I at this point in time have no knowledge of anyone else achieving your tank's longevity with no specific water changes.
NO PROBLEM, YOU CAN'T BE PART OF EVERY FORUM.
ON DUTCH FORUMS THERE ARE PLENTY REEFERS WORKING WITHOUT WC.

Some people, not me, do dismiss outliers. I see them as showing what's possible. So, when talking with me and grouping me in with others that are close minded is kind of insulting. I do state my opinions which to me doing a water change is useful and I see no reason for me to not to do them.

But you do show what's possible and I have suggested anyone looking to go the route of drastically reducing their water changes to seek you and your site out.
NO INSULT INTENDED, JUST SAYING DON'T JUDGE UNTILL YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THE FACTS.

There are many other outliers that I find extremely important in this hobby. You are one of them. PaulB is another. TimFish shows one can go skimmerless. etc. But I do look for those outliers with "long term results" That to me is very important.

THANKS..
OUTLIERS /PIONEERS DON'T FOLLOW THE HURDLE IT'S IN THEIR NATURE TO GO THEIR OWN WAY.
THEY OFTEN FIND UNCOVENTIONAL SOLUTION TO PROBLEM.
Click to expand...



Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
blasterman789 said:
My issue with the entire water change -vs- non water change or minimal water change argument is that we're doing just that; spending more time arguing than learning about the processes involved. As complex as this hobby is, and as little we know about reefing we need more knowledge and less bickering.

My main pet peeves on this whole topic are the following:

- Reef Stores that advocate over stocking tanks so that owners will resort to water changes to keep nitrate from reaching astronomical levels so they can sell them truckloads of R/O water and salt. I find this ludicrous and as bad for the hobby as couples buying 'Nemo' for their kid and throwing the poor clownfish in an undersized and poorly maintained tank. If you rely on water changes for nitrate export IMO you need a different hobby.

- Assuming that salt mixes are made in high tech lab with armies of scientists manning electron microscopes and chemical spectrometers to insure our salt mixes are have the best approximation of the sea water down to at least 50 boxes on the periodic table. The reality is that salt mixes are made in warehouses according to industrial formulas, and a good deal of those trace elements are coincedental contaminants. The fact I've tested bags of the same brand of salt that mixes with a difference of 5.5 dKH is proof enough of deviation to me. Fresh salt mix is not the equivelant of a 'normalization' in reefing terms. Commercial salt mixes are not equivalent to NSW in molecular composition. Not even close. The calcium chloride / Calcium carbonate ratio is radically different.

Not only have a seen amazing SPS tanks with minimal or no periodic water changes and just dosing or reactors, I've also seen SPS tanks with *no* dosing or reactors and just relying on normal calcium carbonate dissolution from substrate. First time I saw a tank growing SPS via only the elements the tank got from LR and substrate I was in shock, but I've seen them first hand. That again should warrant a conversation trying to understand and quantify the process involved without taking sides. More 'why' and less 'what'.
Click to expand...
Good idea.

Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Hi GlennF,

I like the idea of get away with no WC, so I appreciate if you could tell me you handle the dirt that the water and tank accumulate?

TIA.
 
Alfrareef said:
Hi GlennF,

I like the idea of get away with no WC, so I appreciate if you could tell me you handle the dirt that the water and tank accumulate?

TIA.
Click to expand...

Detritus is being removed by powerfilter
Deficient macro element are being dosed
No3 is being controlled by carbon dosing
Po4 is being controlled by Fe dosing.


Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Sohal Tang Tim said:
its like Russian Roulette...some times you win....
Click to expand...
I must be very lucky, because i have been doing it for nearly 14 years now.😂

This is a picture after rescaping

3f3ad0edb802aa5349f9bb770a0907b3.jpg


The system took care of the dirt and mess i made during the rescape (no water changes here)
cbb94b351fa8dbe794da34bcb0c4c9cd.jpg


Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
jason2459 said:
Well, you did do one very large water change (something over 100 gallons) in what 2011 or 2012 correct?
Click to expand...
Yes i did .. i won't argue about that.
That was also my start of understanding waterchemistry as i do now.
It was also to test my own reefsalt mix and to lower PO4 by dilution.
Nowadays lowering po4 is just peanuts, so the final conclusion is:
Knowing what i know now, I could have done without it.
Every year i last longer in this hobby, it give me new insights... so we are learning as we go.

if i can please anyone by saying my skimmer and frags does my water changes (by removal) for me i am fine with it.

But i don't do (periodic) waterchanges like most do to control their macro elements and nutrients.

Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Last edited:
glennf said:
Yes i did ..
to test my reefsalt mix and to lower po4 by dilution.
But nowadays lowering po4 is just peanuts, so the final conclusion is:
Knowing what i know now, I could have done without it.
Every year i last longer in this hobby, it give me new insights... so we are learning as we go.

Happy Reefing, GlennF
Click to expand...
It is very interesting to follow your journey.
 
Fish

Fish

Hi Glen

I only see one fish in the picture..are there more? One fish would be very low bio load to begin with... I did not check size of your tank....

Hats of to you if you can have success without water changes.


Tim
 
The only problem I'm having at the moment is phrosphate not sky high but 0.25. Any tips on how to lower these? I've added approx 400-500g of Rowaphos it's been about 2 weeks but it's not moving. I have a little cyno and little hair algae. It's a 220g set up. Sorry if it seems like I'm going off the topic but would like to know how it's done without water change?! Thank you in advance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I could not get Rowa to work...I could not get all the chemicals avail to work...the only thing that helped was water change and BIO BEAD REACTOR .
 
Sohal Tang Tim said:
Hi Glen

I only see one fish in the picture..are there more? One fish would be very low bio load to begin with... I did not check size of your tank....

Hats of to you if you can have success without water changes.


Tim
Click to expand...
What do you think?
would i be satisfied with a tank stacked to the rim with corals with 1 fish in my tank?
I don't think so.....😂😂😂

Watch my latest movie
https://youtu.be/ONZxYREi-K0

Tanksize 250x80x60cm 1425 liter with connected tanks

Look at the article links in previous posting.

Ecological and sustainable reefing is the future. There is yet a lot to be learned.
Mine is nearly 14 year now and still going strong.

Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Last edited:
Sa6hir said:
The only problem I'm having at the moment is phrosphate not sky high but 0.25. Any tips on how to lower these? I've added approx 400-500g of Rowaphos it's been about 2 weeks but it's not moving. I have a little cyno and little hair algae. It's a 220g set up. Sorry if it seems like I'm going off the topic but would like to know how it's done without water change?! Thank you in advance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Any po4 remover must do the job.
GFO is very effective, but hate the lack of control.
Use it properly and you get resul.
evaluate you fish population and feeding pattern.

I use iron dosing to keep my po4 in check . It's also one of the keys to the succes of my reeftank.

Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Sohal Tang Tim said:
I could not get Rowa to work...I could not get all the chemicals avail to work...the only thing that helped was water change and BIO BEAD REACTOR .
Click to expand...
Rowa is GFO..
When applied in the right manner very effective... but i hate the lack of control and replacing the messy stuff.


To much fish or heavy feedingTim?

Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Sohal Tang Tim said:
Glenn by iron dosing you mean GFO yes? Can you describe your *dosing* method .
Thanks kindly
Tim
Click to expand...
Nope ..
High concentrate Liquid iron supplement.
Dosing shedule according to po4 level.

0,02ppm - 0,15ppm Fe dosing per day keep PO4 in checked.
(I can't go further into because of conflicting interrest.)

This does not mean that you can feed limitless...


Happy Reefing, GlennF
 
Last edited:
yes I had very heavy bioload and the tank was extremely gorgeous!!!! Many fish and fed extremely well..never overfeed..just heavy feed...The price for
the beauty was high bio load and higher then ideal phosphate..steady war....
The bio bead reactor nailed the phosphates very surprisingly..almost too fast....
So is it ROWA that you use Glenn? Are you able to share your process? lolol
 
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