Do you do water changes with your nano tanks?

[ReefBug]

3 gallons every 3rd day on my 24 AquaPod.

No fuge, no skimmer, no dosing, no dripping, no additives, etc.
Water changes only.

Healthiest tank I have ever had, bar none. Little tanks rock!

 

[Aliie]

No. I never do them. I do a tare down every 8-10 minths. I do the same for my big tank too.

 

[Paladin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8630002#post8630002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aliie
No. I never do them. I do a tare down every 8-10 minths. I do the same for my big tank too.

Do you take out and replace most of the water, say >90%? And do you replace your sandbed (if you have one)?

 

[herostar]

Is this a joke?

There is no easier way to keep your tank healthy than change out 10-15% of the water every week or so.

 

[Aliie]

I'm not joking. I completely tare down the tank. I replace the sand bed, scrub & sanitize the tank, run RO & prime for a hour and refill with jug salt water.

 

[Cody Ray]

5g on a 29g once a week.

 

[GobyJohnKenobi]

Allie:

Not trying to give you a tough time, but I was wondering if all that work is actually easier than just siphoning out a few gallons every week and pouring new water in?

What else are you trying to accomplish with that practice?
Just curious.

 

[GinaSofia]

5 gallons every 5-6 weeks.

 

[dawnskaybug]

I get a 5 gal gas can fill er up after I dive and change out about 2 gallons in my Nano and 3 in my 55 weekly

 

[Aliie]

I just found it easier to do it that way. The main reason is that I never new that I was suposed to do a water change every week until a month ago when I read about it on one of these threads.
I use the nano to grow the little guys for the big tank. I asked if I should start doing them now and most of the people said it would just disrupt the balance the critters are use to. I caught a bunch of flack for it on that thread also. I was hoping that this thread would help support what I was doing, but NOT! I get it, I am suposed to do a water change but like I said I'm afraid to change now.

 

[DarkXerox]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8633871#post8633871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aliie
I just found it easier to do it that way. The main reason is that I never new that I was suposed to do a water change every week until a month ago when I read about it on one of these threads.
I use the nano to grow the little guys for the big tank. I asked if I should start doing them now and most of the people said it would just disrupt the balance the critters are use to. I caught a bunch of flack for it on that thread also. I was hoping that this thread would help support what I was doing, but NOT! I get it, I am suposed to do a water change but like I said I'm afraid to change now.

Well correct me if I'm wrong, but if I remember, Anthony Calfo does near 100% changes on his nano. The argument was that in the ocean, you have the equivalent of a constant water change.

 

[Aliie]

I'm don't argur that fact for a minute. I totally agree with that statement. I just didn't know any better and since I haven't had any problems I am afraid to change the way I do things. Sorry to ruffle everyones feathers.

 

[Lpabsolute]

Mine is a 5g. nano...I usually do about a 1/2 g water change once a month in it...Everything looks fine and have never had any probs.

 

[Lpabsolute]

Aliie - Different things work well for different people...We have to realize that not everyone on this site has the same tank or the same lighting, or the same bio load, or the same fish, or the same anything for that matter. 10 people on the site could setup a zoa only tank today and keep it for a year and every one of them would be setup different and run different. If you don't do a water change every week it's not the end of the world nore are you doing anything wrong. I personally have always done water changes once a month and have never had any problems with anything in my reefs. Don't let others get you down. If you find a system that works for you and your tank then i say stick with it and you'll do fine. if you have trouble though with anything though.....9 times out of 10 a good water change will only benefit you. Good Luck

 

[wickedfood]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8627719#post8627719 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paladin
I change 2g/week on my 12g tank and 10g every 2-3 weeks on my 29g tank. I wonder how he removes his nitrates? Maybe he constantly harvests macroalgae and/or has a good skimmer to remove some water...

Some of us don't have to deal with nitrate build up it seems. I have a bit of caulerpa (not in a fuge, but in my tank) that seems to absorb the nitrates in my nanocube 12g. I just prune it back once a week and have not had any problem with rabid growth, it going "sexual", etc. Nitrates have never been beyond 5 ppm, with 2 fish and daily feedings. I do weekly 1 gal. water changes regardless though to replenish trace elements and whatnot.

 

[chelskisw6]

Allie, i dont think that doing water changes now would disrupt anything, and trust me, it is ALOT less work than what you are doing now. Im not bashing you, i just think you could have an easier time with water changes than a whole tank tear down. Cheers!

 

[TopNotch]

7 Gallon Mini Bow, 2.5 Sump/Fuge....

2 Gallons water change every week (~20%). Change that water and you really cut alot of stress out. Top offs once a week with RO/DI, and you got perfect water parameters.

Also make sure not to overfeed, spot feeding so not to have rotting food left in the tank.

 

[Aliie]

Thank you both for your response. I did not mean to come across as angry just frustrated at the lack of knowledge that I have. I am going to try to do a water change, not weekly but possibly monthly and see if that will work for my system. I haven't had any problems and hope that I am not going to create one. I don't mind any information that I get from you guys it just seems that I am doing everything wrong.
I don't have the refug or a sump, at least I don't think I do. I thought I had it together but as I can see I don't.
I want to do it the right way and make them better tanks. If I put a pic of my nano cube up can someone tell me if I have the refug or sump? Or is this the wrong place to put those Q:?

 

[Krazy]

2 10 gallon tanks here, each of them get a 2.5/3 gal water change WEEKLY

 

[110galreef]

Yes,
How else are you going to replace loss trace elements and remove build up nasties????

If you don't need to on a nano, why would you on a Large tank any more???