Looking for those who DO NOT do water changes.

[eznet2u]

I know a very successful Reefer that had a tank that had not had a water change in almost 4 years.
This goes against everything that I have read. His tank was stuffed full of the nicest SPS, LPS you had ever seen.
The water was always crystal clear and levels were always textbook perfect.

I would like to hear of your experiences without doing water changes.

Please tell me;
- How your system is setup.
- If you have had any problems keeping any type of coral.
- How long has it been since your last water change.
- Livestock list.
- Show a picture of your setup.
- Problems you have/have nor overcome.

I would appreciate any input.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

1. ?
2. no but when i do usually it is my fault
3. since i set it up (2-4 months)
4. really don't want to list (too lazy)
5. here's a pic (little old)

6. if algae is a prob yes and simple GFO solved it

(for the tang police, Wiz is in search of a 200 gal upgrade for them)

 

[CyanoMagnet]

I am going the way of little water changes. Instead of going with a DSB I went with a sulfur denitrator and BB with alot of waterflow.

The denitrator has gotten nitrates down to .2 without any water changes so far (1 month).

I do plan on doing waterchanges, just not as much as alot of people.

 

[eznet2u]

Nice tank Wiz. What do your Nitrates run on average?

CyanoMagnet - How small are your water changes?

 

[CyanoMagnet]

Well I haven't done any in a month since I got the denitrator and nitrates are at near undetectable. I also skim pretty heavy. I also run carbon.

The only reason I see to doing waterchanges is adding trace elements, however I add additives(iodine ,strontium) topoff water and use corallife liquid gold plus (amino acids, trace elements).

I will play it by ear. So far the tank is chemicaly doing good. Alkalinity is in perfect balance with calcium (I have ca reactor which helps with this).

I think most of the waste products in my water are skimmed out because of barebottom , alot of waterflow keeping fish poop in water column.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13126782#post13126782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eznet2u
Nice tank Wiz. What do your Nitrates run on average?

CyanoMagnet - How small are your water changes?

Thanks also they are cool (i don't really test but when i do the API reads 0 but i'd say around 10 n under) with the help of my skimmer n fuge

 

[eznet2u]

Anyone else?

 

[myfin]

I change water every 6 months ie. 100 gal/ 290 gallon system. My nitrates are 0. I use a homemade coil denitator in the mixed LPS/ soft/ gonipora/ elegance corals with 5 tang, foxface and two clowns. I don't know why I change water every 6 months. The system has been set up for 3.5 years. Add Mg, Stronium, Fe, Iodine, buffer. I have 3/4 - 1 inch sand bed. With VHO lights.
go for it.

 

[Toddrtrex]

-58 gallon with 20 gal sump. 60-65 lbs of live rock, shallow sand bed, ASM 1GX skimmer, phosban reactor.

- Have been able to keep any type of coral I have attempted

- Been about a week, do weekly 5 gal water changes.

- Fish, pair of pink skunks, Potter's angel, golden sailfin algae blenny. Numerous SPS, zoas, 2 clams, acan, and 2 Haddoni anemones.

(( can see a fairly wrasse in this picture, recently sold it ))

 

[PhishEDELIC]

One thing that you have to remember is that there is more to water chemistry than Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates. Fish release pheromones and other chemicals into the water. I work in an aquarium store where I help customers who haven't done water changes in years! Just because life in an aquarium will survive without water changes doesn't mean it will thrive. I once read an article on freshwater discus breeding where they put 5 discus fry in a 10g tank. Then put 5 from the same spawning in a 90g tank. Both tank where keep at the same chemistry and temp. The only difference was the 10g tank was given 50% water changes every day while the 90g was give 50% once a week. After a month the fish in the 10g where 2x the size of the fish in 90g. Just some food for thought.

 

[danfrith]

Awesome tank Todd, can I ask what your lighting is?

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13129786#post13129786 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danfrith
Awesome tank Todd, can I ask what your lighting is?

Thanks.

I have 2*250 XM 20Ks over it. There is also 2*96 PC actinics, but I really can't tell when they are on, mainly use them for dusk/dawn effect. And to see the fish without killing my electric bill.

 

[rivoth]

If you want to experiment with no water changes then you probably don't want to start the experiment until your tank has had 6 months or more to mature. That way you won't be inheriting any toxins from a new tanks initial die off and cycling.

 

[dwilly]

I know 2 people who don't do them. 1 runs w/ a plenum system and only has lps and softies, so far has gone over 2 yrs. The other sort of does them by really wet skimming and replacement w/ salt water, all automated.

 

[rfd515]

The other sort of does them by really wet skimming and replacement w/ salt water, all automated. [/B]

Isn't that just a glorified water change?

 

[dwilly]

Yes, it is, but since it is all automated it doesn't take the time that a regular water change does. I mentioned in case Exnet was just looking for a way to get out of the work/time of a water change.

 

[builderguy]

I only do water changes if there's a problem or as a side-result of making changes to the sump, etc. I run a plenum system with a 6" deep sand bed and over 150lbs of LR in my 150. I have a 20gal refugium, run two phosban reactors, one with Purigen in it, and two 24" tall Precision Marine Media reactors...one as a fluidized reactor with GAC and the other with slow flow (40gph) and the other SeaChem's deNitrator media. I also have a big recirculating skimmer.

0 Nitrates. Great SPS growth and a bunch of happy fish...I hate water changes...pain in the butt....I've done this for years...no problems.

 

[eznet2u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13177540#post13177540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dwilly
I mentioned in case Eznet was just looking for
a way to get out of the work/time of a water change.

I have been in this hobby for quite awhile. The work/time is not the concern. I was wondering if it can
be repeated successfully over and over. If so, what was needed.

I have a confession...My tank has been up for over 10 months. I did a water change 2 weeks after I set it up,
and one last Sunday...that has been it. I have very little detritus build up in the sump or tank.
Coral are doing great, fish are happy, water parameters have never gotten out of line. It never went
through the diatoms/cyano/algae cycles. I feed very heavy and some would consider my tank to be
overstocked.

I did this as an experiment to try and duplicate my friends success.

I think I may have done it...but I won't know for a couple of more years.

I built the tank with the plumbing to facilitate a very easy 5 minute water change.
Hook up a hose, open valve, turn on pump, turn off pump, turn off valve, turn on another pump...
water changed. 5 Mins tops.

Now I need to find out what we all have in common. This would maybe lead to another way to
run a reef tank.

Here are my theories as to why this may be working. (Parts of the puzzle)

1. 55x plus turnover.
2. Large Refugium with DSB and Chaeto.
3. Very dry skimming.
4. Evaporation. (2-3 gallons a day)
5. SSB in display. (< 1" yeah it moves around a lot.)
6. Very mature Live Rock.
7. Sand from 6 different mature tanks.
8. Long photo period. (14hrs a day)
9. ????

Of those going without any changes, which of these apply to your tank?
Can you think of anything that I may have missed?

 

[builderguy]

If you have a refugium and DSB with a lot of LR and aggressive skimming you shouldn't have to do very many water changes.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13198722#post13198722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by builderguy
If you have a refugium and DSB with a lot of LR and aggressive skimming you shouldn't have to do very many water changes.

Yep