I'm doing %40-%50 water changes weekly (too much?)
- Thread starter funman1
- Start date
funman1
Active member
No "real" stock.
I have 10 astra and turbo (total)
and 10 blue and red hermits (total)
And I just got a frag of GSP tonight.
Although because WMC (www.wmc2006.org) is this weekend I plan to add all sorts of goodies... (no plan on fish though this weekend)
Space is an issue where I live but cost is not, so if it's not bad for anything that would be great.
I also mix it in a 5G bucket which makes measuring salt easy.
Good / Bad / Neither??
PS.The tank is 2 months old.
I have 10 astra and turbo (total)
and 10 blue and red hermits (total)
And I just got a frag of GSP tonight.
Although because WMC (www.wmc2006.org) is this weekend I plan to add all sorts of goodies... (no plan on fish though this weekend)
Space is an issue where I live but cost is not, so if it's not bad for anything that would be great.
I also mix it in a 5G bucket which makes measuring salt easy.
Good / Bad / Neither??
PS.The tank is 2 months old.
I wouldn't say it is bad, but there is no reason to do that much of a water change, remember it is a nano, so water parameters can change very quickly and drastically. I would keep to the 10% rule myself, plus it might save a few bucks you can have towards some livestock or equipment upgrades.
piberoptikz
Premium Member
do it every other week only. 
Big % Water Changes
Big % Water Changes
I too change 40-50% every week and it has worked great for me so far. On such a small tank (12G) it's easy to mix up 5G of new water. I read a thread recently(can't find it now) where someone was doing ~100% water changes at least monthly and had a beautiful tank. Apparently he would drain the tank down and leave just enough water for the fish to be submerged and then fill her back up. As long as your temps and salinity match I can't see too many problems cropping up.
Big % Water Changes
I too change 40-50% every week and it has worked great for me so far. On such a small tank (12G) it's easy to mix up 5G of new water. I read a thread recently(can't find it now) where someone was doing ~100% water changes at least monthly and had a beautiful tank. Apparently he would drain the tank down and leave just enough water for the fish to be submerged and then fill her back up. As long as your temps and salinity match I can't see too many problems cropping up.
Actually, if the alk or ph differs (from your new sw to your tank water), that could be a problem for your fish/corals/inverts by doing such a large water change.
If you bought a new coral, and checked the salinity and temp to your tank water, would you just throw it in the tank if both waters were the same?
I wouldn't!
I'd say do 2 gallon a week change, that should be good.
Stewie
If you bought a new coral, and checked the salinity and temp to your tank water, would you just throw it in the tank if both waters were the same?
I wouldn't!
I'd say do 2 gallon a week change, that should be good.
Stewie
IsThisNameTaken?
New member
I do 2 50% water changes every week on my 4 gallon. Just make sure your matching the different parameters and you'll be amazed with the improved health. This hobby isnt as complicated as some make it out to be. It's a saltwater aquarium... the better condition of the saltwater.. the better the health of everything sitting in it. I cant think of a single instance where fresh water isnt accredited to greater health.
IsThisNameTaken?
New member
None. The only problem is that going a month without a water change in a way starves your inhabitants of many trace elements that are essential to their growth and health.
By doing frequent water changes you are not only removing waste but more importantly importing in new trace elements. Because there is always an abundance of what the corals need to consume and those elements are constantly being replenished the growth and health of the corals is greatly improved.
By doing frequent water changes you are not only removing waste but more importantly importing in new trace elements. Because there is always an abundance of what the corals need to consume and those elements are constantly being replenished the growth and health of the corals is greatly improved.
supernareg
New member
i do a 2 gallon change every 3 weeks on my 12 gal aquapod, skimmerless
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Water changes can be more stress than good. I try to keep them to once a month at most, and no more than 20%. The tank's LR and such should be able to export all the bad stuff when the tank is broken in, and any trace elements can be dosed if needed...or come from the byproducts of feeding the fish, critters, etc. If you have a high bioload, then skimming halps as well.
But frequent water changes can be just as bad as none at all, because many salt mixes contain multiple heavy metals that cause stress for a while until they are removed (macro, carbon, skimming, etc). But doing weekly water changes could be so much that your reef never has a chance to 'level out' and do its thing...hindering coral growth, etc.
But frequent water changes can be just as bad as none at all, because many salt mixes contain multiple heavy metals that cause stress for a while until they are removed (macro, carbon, skimming, etc). But doing weekly water changes could be so much that your reef never has a chance to 'level out' and do its thing...hindering coral growth, etc.
IsThisNameTaken?
New member
If your water parameters are matched before doing the change you definitely will not have a problem doing as many water changes as you'd like.
Live rock doesnt eliminate waste hahnmeister the bacteria on the rock breaks nutrients down so they can be exported either through skimming or water changes.
In reference to your tank levelling out... your tanks stability comes from the maturity of your live rock. If your replacing water with virtually identical water your rock wont know the difference... nothing will die off.. and water params will remain stable.
Live rock doesnt eliminate waste hahnmeister the bacteria on the rock breaks nutrients down so they can be exported either through skimming or water changes.
In reference to your tank levelling out... your tanks stability comes from the maturity of your live rock. If your replacing water with virtually identical water your rock wont know the difference... nothing will die off.. and water params will remain stable.
Charlie97L
New member
i think you can have too much of a good thing...
now for nanos, frequent and large water changes are good.
in larger tanks, i think that, for example, doing a 50% water change once a month might stress the livestock. it's much better to do it in small increments, like 10% a week. also, when do you DO do a water change, you'll be pulling out a lot fo pods and other stuff of the water column, so again, smaller, more frequent isn't such a shock to that population.
nanos are a different animal, and basically you do whatever works for your tank. i've heard weekly, daily, and i've also heard of people who did weekly, then went to biweekly and their tanks did better. just depends.
now for nanos, frequent and large water changes are good.
in larger tanks, i think that, for example, doing a 50% water change once a month might stress the livestock. it's much better to do it in small increments, like 10% a week. also, when do you DO do a water change, you'll be pulling out a lot fo pods and other stuff of the water column, so again, smaller, more frequent isn't such a shock to that population.
nanos are a different animal, and basically you do whatever works for your tank. i've heard weekly, daily, and i've also heard of people who did weekly, then went to biweekly and their tanks did better. just depends.
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